38 THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH 



Many accounts of the marvellous number of young 

 elvers that pass up stream in the spring months, 

 have been given by various writers upon this and 

 kindred subjects. 



The broad-nosed species do not ascend the rivers, 

 but locate in holes and crevices in masses of stone. 

 In the winter they lie dormant in the mud. This 

 variety is not esteemed as an article of diet. 



The young of the eel are eagerly devoured by all 

 fresh-water fish, including the trout and salmon, and 

 even the adult eels themselves, hence it is that so few 

 live to become developed. Eels are vicious devourers 

 of fish spawn, and were they to multiply to any great 

 extent, the effect upon the higher order of fish would 

 be disastrous. Eels were long considered viviparous, 

 but this is now known to be erroneous. 



The spawn of the migratory or sharp-nosed variety 

 is usually deposited and buried in sand beds, that of 

 the non-migratory species is deposited in the mud 

 gradually, during a considerable length of time, which 

 accounts for the intermittent passage of the young 

 elvers or fry for months in the spring of the year. 

 Whenever there has been incessant heavy rain eels 

 turn out of their hiding places to feed upon worms, 

 the larvae of insects, crustaccza, etc., and in the case 

 of the larger specimens upon small fish. Mild 

 winters are favourable for their capture, as in the 

 flushed waters that are then usual, they are always 

 on the forage for food. Poachers often take the best 

 of these fish upon their night-lines, as eels are un- 

 deniably nocturnal in disposition. 



