330 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



antipathy is probably owing to its serpentine form. There really is, how- 

 ever, little similarity between it and the snake, except in external form, 

 the character of the skeleton and its internal important organs being 

 totally different. The following may be said to technically describe the 

 characteristics of the eel family : 



The body much lengthened, and covered with a thick and soft skin, 

 without the visible appearance of scales ; openings of the gills small and 

 simple, situated, as regards the pectoral fins, anteriorly beneath. The 

 fins without firm or bony rays, and in the British species the dorsal and 

 anal fins are united to the tail, thus forming a single fin ; no ventral fin, 

 on which account they are termed apodal fishes. Lateral line straight, 

 when visible. 



It may be observed, as bearing upon the anatomical characteristics of 

 the eel, that in view of the fact that in embryo fishes the ventral fins 

 are the last to be developed it might be supposed, from the absence of 

 them in the eel, that this fish is especially low in the scale of organisa- 

 tion, and from the apparently undeveloped condition of the scales, such 

 supposition would be strengthened. The skin is thick and tough, and, 

 as noticed by Shakespeare, is occasionally in some countries used as 

 a purse ; in our own land it is frequently also made use of by ostlers, on 

 account of its tenacity, for cleaning horse's bits and other metallic parts 

 of harness, in preference to leather. This fact, and its slimy texture, in 

 which the scales are so perfectly embedded as to give the idea that none 

 exist, taken with the extreme tenacity of the skin of fishes well provided 

 with scales, and undoubtedly true fish, have, as I say, militated against 

 the position of this creature as a fish in the scale of creation. In the 

 conger the scales are absolutely deficient ; but, says Couch, " to obviate 

 the conclusion that these opponent deficiencies of development are marks 

 of a low condition of these creatures in the scale of nature, the far more 

 important organisations of the brain and nervous system, and even of the 

 muscles, are displayed in a higher degree than in a large proportion of 

 other fishes, and in consequence the faculties of intelligence are in a 

 corresponding degree of perfection." This is eminently apposite, and I 

 can, from abundant observation, give testimony that next the carp the 

 intelligence of the eel is first among fishes. The structure, indeed, of 

 the brain being of great length, with the lobes well back as well 

 as the high development of the sensory powers lend aid to the opinion, 

 were it not independent of such aid, by reason of actual evidence of 

 sagacity in the fish. 



Indeed, there is plentiful example of the taming of the eel. Aristotle 

 has noticed how they are attracted by agreeable scents, and this I have 

 verified, using in the experiment attar of roses in a minute quantity. 



