EELS. 271 



The habits of these fishes in relation to breeding, 

 migration, &c., are still but obscurely known. 

 " That eels migrate towards brackish water," ob- 

 serves Mr. Jesse, " in order to deposit their ova, 

 I have but little doubt, for the following reasons : 

 From the month of November until the end of 

 January, provided the frost is not very serious, eels 

 migrate towards the sea. The Thames fishermen 

 are so aware of this fact, that they invariably set 

 their pots or baskets with their mouths up stream 

 during those months, while later in spring and 

 summer they are set down stream. The best time, 

 however, for taking eels, is during their passage 

 towards the sea. The eel-traps, also, which are set 

 in three different streams near Hampton Court (the 

 contents of which, at different times, I have had 

 opportunities of examining), have invariably been 

 supplied with eels sufficiently large to be breeders, 

 during the months I have mentioned. This migra- 

 tory disposition is not shewn by small eels ; and it 

 may therefore be assumed that they remain nearly 

 stationary till they are old enough to have spawn. 

 I have also ascertained that eels are taken in greater 

 or lesser numbers during the months of November 

 or December, all the way down the river to the 

 brackish water. From thence the young eels 

 migrate, as soon as they are sufficiently large and 

 strong to encounter the several currents of the 

 river, and make their way to the different con- 

 tributary streams. I have also been able to trace 

 the procession of young eels, or as it is here 

 called, the eel-fair, from the neighbourhood of 



