40 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



some waters is simply incredible. But if the downward 

 passage of eels is remarkable, it shrinks into insignificance 

 when compared with the spring ascents. Many accounts 

 of th3 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 mul- 

 tiply 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, encrustia, 

 etc. , and in the case of the larger specimens upon small 

 fish. Mild winters are favorable 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 undeniably 

 nocturnal in disposition. 



THE PERCH* (Perca fluviatilis) flourishes in both stag- 



* The perch of English waters is the yellow perch of America (Perca 

 Americana). The white variety (Morone Americana), esteemed by us as a 

 table and semi -game fish, is not named by the angling writers of Eng- 

 land. 



