CHUB. EELS. 37 



forms food for their more aristocratic fellow-tenants 

 of the stream ; and they are to be taken with 

 almost every conceivable bait, from a minnow to a 

 midge. Their edible qualities are bad, but when 

 rubbed with saltpetre immediately after being killed 

 and cleansed, they form tolerable fare. 



EELS. There are two distinct varieties of these fish 

 that are indigenous to this country, viz. : the sharp- 

 nosed species (Anguilla vulgaris) which, as far as can 

 be ascertained, are migratory in their habits, and the 

 broad-nosed. The former annually descend to the 

 mouths of the rivers they inhabit to find brackish 

 water. This excursion is made in the autumn, the 

 main object being to find water of the right tempera- 

 ture for vivifying their ova, as, unlike all other species 

 of fresh-water fish, they would appear to require a 

 higher rate of temperature for this purpose. It is 

 well-known that the water in the tidal part of rivers 

 is several degrees higher in temperature than that 

 nearer the source, owing, first, to the greater elevation 

 of the sources ; and, secondly, to the contact of two 

 fluids of different densities, as salt and fresh water, 

 which causes an increase of temperature of at least 

 two degrees. The passage of the adult fish, during 

 or immediately after a flood down-stream in the 

 autumn, is well-known to the owners of fisheries 

 upon our large rivers, who place traps for their 

 capture. The immense numbers that inhabit some 

 waters is simply incredible. But if the downward 

 passage of eels is remarkable, it shrinks into insig- 

 nificance when compared with the spring ascents. 



