140 ANECDOTES OF FISHES 



and threatened with consumption, who are sent 

 to these marshes for the recovery of their health, 

 and live upon fish with the fishermen ; these men 

 are particularly occupied two seasons of the year. 

 The first is termed La Montee, when the eels are 

 small, and enter the basins, in which they are 

 assisted by the fishermen, and when the eels are 

 grown, and seek to go out, the basins are opened 

 from February to April, and this is called La 

 Descente. For a very interesting and most par- 

 ticular treatise on eels, see Spallanzanis Voyage 

 to the two Sicilies. 



THE LAMPREY. 



This is an eel-shaped fish with seven breathing 

 holes on each side of the neck, and somewhat 

 oblong mouth, with many rows of yellowish 

 pointed teeth ; these fish are of a dusky colour 

 marked with a dirty yellow, and often attain the 

 weight of three or four pounds ; they are in sea- 

 son in the spring, when they ascend the river 

 from the sea, and are of a most delicious taste ; 

 The Lamperey is a smaller fish, resembling an 

 eel, blackish on the back, with blue on their 

 bellies, they have the same holes on the neck as 

 the lampreys. The lampreys taken in the Severn, 

 between Worcester and Gloucester, are particu- 

 larly large and excellent. The edges of the 

 mouth being jagged, it enables them to adhere 

 more strongly to the stones. 



