18 ORIGIN OF THE SILVER EEL. 



and I could see the eels twisting about its 

 legs to get themselves free. As to the beetle, 

 its life went with the birth of the eels. It had 

 ceased to move before they had half extri- 

 cated themselves. After they were fairly sepa- 

 rated from it, I brought up the beetle and 

 examined it. I saw nothing in it but a 

 white slough that covered the intestines, 

 and they were hardly perceptible. 



This year, two of the most striking events 

 in my life occurred. First, the discovery of 

 the origin of the silver eel, a subject that 

 had puzzled me for twenty-two years. 

 Second, the invention of the conical spindle 

 and the construction of a frame fitted for 

 working it. I had been annoyed for twelve 

 years with the old plan ; it was utterly un- 

 manageable by any mechanic. My plan 

 came up to my expectations, and has not 

 yet been superseded, although forty years 

 have elapsed since I invented it, and it 

 has been as widely spread as the art 

 of spinning. I may refer the reader to 

 whom the subject may be of any interest 

 to William Brown, Esq., Dundee, who was 

 then managing partner of the extensive mills 



