CULTURE OF EELS. 219 



CHAPTER VIII. 



CULTURE OF EELS. 



Probability of eels being of sufficient importance to be culti- 

 vated. General remarks on eels. Eel culture at Comacchio. 



OWING to the rapid diminution and enhanced price of 

 the better kinds of fish, it is not improbable that eels may 

 at some future day be of sufficient importance to be culti- 

 vated. At present the prejudice existing against them on 

 account of their serpent-like form, and the, as yet, fair 

 supply of scale-fish in our markets, cause them to be under- 

 rated. In Europe they are thought worthy of cultivation, 

 as is attested by the extensive eel fisheries at Comacchio, 

 in Italy. In most Roman Catholic countries they form a 

 large portion of fish-food, which is necessarily consumed 

 on account of the many fast days. To those who can di- 

 vest themselves of prejudice, there are few more palatable 

 or more nutritious fishes than the eel. 



As we have no occasion to refer to the family of lam- 

 preys (Petromyzontida&), or the electric eels {Gymnotidsz), 

 we will take a cursory view of those which are generally 

 eaten (Mursenidse). These are so abundant in autumn, when 

 they are taken in all of our streams as they return to hy- 

 bernate in salt water, as not to be appreciated. 



The eel at one time was considered hermaphrodite, be- 

 cause it is never found with spawn. After the fact was 



