COUNCIL — SEPT. 1912 — APPENDIX K — 130 



3. 8. 1912. 



Appendix K 



Proposals as to Investigations eoneerning the Eel. 



The eel {Anguilla vulgaris) is, from an economical point of view, one of 

 the most important fishes of northern Europe. This will be seen from the follow- 

 ing figures : — 



Value of Eels caught Value of total catch of 



at the coasts of: salt water fish: 



1911 Denmark Kr. 4,166,000 Kr. 15,230,000 



1910 Germany „ 1,879,020 1) 



1910 Sweden „ 1,250,000 „ 14,500,000 (in round figures) 



1910 Holland 285,000 



[1910 Ireland , 397,440 (fresh water only)] 



The yield of the eel fishery in rivers and inland waters cannot be stated 

 exactly. In 1910 however, eels to the value of at least 200000 Kr. were caught 

 in Danish inland waters, and in Sweden from 2 — 300000 Kroner's worth of these 

 fish were taken in lakes and rivers; these sums are, however, not included in 

 the above. 



The eel fishery in fresh water has in many places suffered considerably 

 during the last few years owing to contamination of rivers, draining of lakes and 

 ponds, building of dams etc., and this is naturally not without some influence on 

 the eel fishery from the coast. It is therefore not only a question of increasing, as 

 far as possible, the present or former value of the eel fishery; it is also necessary 



') The yield of eel fishery in German inland waters represents a much greater value; we 

 are, however, not in a position to give the exact figures. 



