Devonshire 1 1 3 



scent of an otter, and others would never enter to it, but 

 those that did so got very fond of it and became very 

 keen. The constant wet, however, tried their feet very 

 much, and they got footsore if they had to travel far by 

 road to reach their kennel. 



One day when otter-hunting, someone further down 

 the stream raised the cry, " The eels are coming," and in a 

 few minutes a black, wriggling mass appeared, looking at 

 first sight as if the bed of the river had suddenly become 

 covered by a huge bed of weeds. 



It is a curious sight to watch the ascent of these tiny 

 eels when they leave the sea and fill the rivers in the 

 spring, literally in myriads. The life history of eels has 

 yet to be discovered, though much has been found out 

 of late years that was never before suspected. It seems 

 certain that they never breed in fresh water, and that 

 after staying there for a period, they descend to the sea 

 in the autumn months, from which they never again 

 return. Their breeding-places may be in very deep water, 

 as is now very generally believed, but surely they cannot be 

 a very long way from the shore, for when the eel-fry seek 

 the rivers they are very tiny little things, and would 

 scarcely make a very long journey in the sea to look for 

 their country residences. Still, they are most persevering 

 when once in fresh water, and not only force their way up 

 waterfalls and weirs, but ascend also field drain pipes, 

 thus gaining access to remote ponds, and even the metal 

 pipes of water mains. They grow to an immense size in 

 New Zealand rivers, eels of from 20 lb. to 30 lb. in 

 weight being quite common, and the Maoris are very 

 clever in catching them. One of their practices is to take 

 advantage of their migrating habits, and choosing a bend 



