COUNCIL — SEPT. 1912 — APPENDIX K — 136 — 



In rivers flowing out into the various sea districts, investigations of the 

 nature already described should be carried out with regard to the ascending fry 

 (elvers or older fry) in order to determine the time of ascent, size of the specimens, 

 their age and sex. It will here be necessary to determine, as in all cases when 

 dealing with young eels, down to what earliest stage it is possible to distinguish 

 their sex. 



An endeavour should also be made to fix as far as possible, by means ot 

 the investigations, the eastern and northern limits for the unpigmented elvers 

 as well as the time of their migrations. 



Marking experiments should be made with yellow eels in fresh as well as 

 in salt and brackish water, in order to obtain more exact observations as to the 

 grov;th and migration of the eel, as also with regard to the intensity with which 

 eel-fishing is carried on. 



As a test of Walter's supposition, partly based upon the unchecked experi- 

 ments of Bellini, that there exist in Europe two different species of the common 

 eel, special investigations should be made also with regard to age of the larger 

 eels. Everylhing possible should generally be done to test in every way, also by 

 means of othei' zoological methods, the questions here referred to. 



With regard to the practical and economical side of the question, the in- 

 vestigations mentioned should show how far and under what conditions a legal 

 minimum size limit for eels is necessary or desirable. They should also serve as 

 a basis upon which to proceed in determining what size limit is most suitable 

 under the various conditions and in various districts. 



While it is unnecessary to take any precautionary measures to prevent over- 

 fishing ofsilvereels,itisof great importance to investigate the efi'ect of the various 

 implements and methods of capture upon the stock of y e 1 1 o w e e 1 s. As in the case 

 of the plaice, a wasteful overfishing of undersized eels must naturally be avoided, 

 when it is not a question of capturing the small silvery males on their way to the 

 spawning grounds. In order to obtain as correct results as possible upon this point, 

 it will be necessary to consider the effect upon the stock of various fishing im- 

 plements, e. g. drift-seines or hand-seines, eel-prongs and long lines, as well as the 

 question of employing other bait than fish. 



As stated already at the commencement, eel fishery is of great importance 

 in several of the countries of northern Europe, while it is in others, as for instance 

 the United States, at least not inconsiderable. As however, the importance of eel 

 fishery could be considerably increased by the adoption of suitable practical pre- 



