86 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



the "sharp" and "broad" nosed varieties respec- 

 tively. We have already had occasion to remark 

 on the colours of fishes their beauty, their variety, 

 and, above all, the inherent power possessed by 

 most of rapidly changing from one colour to 

 another. In every case this is probably done 

 for protective reasons, and no fish is such an 

 adept at colour-transformation as the eel. There 

 is every shade of colour, from silvery white to 

 golden brown, and black ; and it is noticed that 

 these hues have direct relation to the haunt in 

 which the fish happen to be. 



One of the great characteristics of eels is 

 what is called their " eel-fare " the passage of 

 <: elvers." This passage is a most remarkable 

 part in the fish's economy, though it can hardly 

 be said to be constant. In some rivers it takes 

 place in spring, in others in summer, and always 

 in enormous numbers. The eels that take passage 

 up the rivers are about three inches in length, 

 and it has been computed that nearly twenty 

 thousand passed a given point in the space of a 

 minute. Nearly all eels are nocturnal in their 

 habits, though these tiny elvers travel only by 

 day, resting during the night. Their move- 

 ments vary in different rivers. Where the bed 

 of the stream is rocky, and its current swift, they 

 form themselves into a closely-compacted body, 



