FISHES 155 



and fresh-water species, but occurs round England only in the sea. It makes 

 its nest of seaweeds. 



THE EELS (Angmlla). 



The Common Eel (Anguilla vulgar is) needs no description, but note that 

 the species possesses only rudimentary scales, and, instead of separate fins, 

 has them united in a long fringe, except one pair behind the head. The life- 

 history of the eel has only in late years been discovered. It breeds only in 

 the sea and in very deep water. There the young, 2 or 3 inches long, 

 known as " elvers " at first shaped like very thin, transparent leaves, gradually 

 assume the eel shape, and make their way to the shores, where they 

 ascend the rivers and streams in thousands. They thus find their way inland, 

 and when necessary will even leave the water and travel over the land, in 

 this way reaching pools and lakes far from the sea. Here they grow to maturity 

 the males at five years, the females at seven years of age. Then they make 

 their way downstream again to the sea, where they breed. It is in autumn 

 that the migration to the sea takes place, and large numbers are caught in eel 

 pots and traps at this time of the year. (I may perhaps be allowed to 

 refer to the Eel's Story in Nature's Nursery Tales for further particulars.) 



THE SALMON FAMILY (Salmo). 



This is a large and important family, about a hundred species in all, among 

 which are the Salmon itself, Trout, Grayling, Smelt, and others. Their scales 

 are generally round shaped, and they have no barbels. By far the most 

 important in our waters is the Salmon (Salmo solar), one of the largest of the 

 family, which has been known to attain a weight of 80 or even 100 Ib. It is 

 almost a perfect fish in symmetry and shape, a rich bluish or greenish grey 

 above, and silvery white underneath, sprinkled above the lateral line with some- 

 what large black spots. After being in fresh water some time reddish spots 

 and lines appear, and the bluish tinge becomes duller. The Salmon are then 

 considered " foul fish," unfit for food. During the breeding season the male 

 assumes a curious hooked growth on the under jaw, which is used as a weapon 

 in its frequent combats with rivals. This fish preys on almost any creature 

 it can capture, but feeds chiefly in the sea. Indeed it is asserted that it 

 never feeds in fresh water. Whilst the Eel descends to the sea to breed, the 

 Salmon, on the contrary, ascends some fresh-water river, where the spawn is 

 deposited, from the autumn to the spring, in a bed of fine gravel. It 

 appears to return year by year to the same river : marked Salmon having been 

 observed several seasons running. To enable it to ascend over weirs and 

 waterfalls, fish-steps or ladders have in some cases been provided. A whole 

 vocabulary has sprung up round the Salmon. The fish after spawning are 

 called " foul " or " spent fish," or " Kelts." The males are " Kippers," (kip 

 being the name of the horny hook on the lower jaw) ; the females " Shedders " 



