70 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



they were born of the mud ; another, from little bits scraped 

 off the bodies of large eels, when they rubbed themselves 

 against stones ; another, from the putrid flesh of dead animals 

 thrown in the water ; another, from the dews which cover 

 the earth in May; another, from the water alone, and so 

 forth. All these notions, however, are now exploded, and 

 the process more satisfactorily explained. 



The following statement wears a reasonable appearance, 

 and will account for the story from Bowlker, quoted in 

 " The Angler's Sure Guide." 



The eel proceeds from an egg. The egg is hatched in 

 the body of the female as in fish of the "ray" species. 

 A slight pressure on the lower part of the body of the 

 female facilitates the egress of the young ones. But in 

 order that the eggs may be capable of being hatched, 

 there must of necessity be some intercourse with the 

 male. This, we may presume, is accomplished in the 

 same manner as amongst snakes. The eggs are of course 

 more or less numerous in different fish. It sometimes 

 happens that the female eels disembarass themselves of 

 their eggs, before they are hatched; but this must occur 

 very seldom, because it has never yet been clearly ascer- 

 tained where, in such cases, the eels deposit them. 



Now, this, which is an abridgment of the more 

 elaborate account of a French author, seems to be a plain 

 and rational account of the matter, and is, in all pro- 

 bability, not far from the truth. 



Many anecdotes have been told about the nocturnal 

 migrations of eels. The fact of eels having been found in 

 detached ponds which had not been stocked with them, 

 has given rise to many marvellous notions, and many 

 extraordinary conjectures. It is not at all improbable 

 that eels may wander about at night amongst the long 



