SHARP-NOSED EEL. 285 



The general appearance of tlie Eel is so well known, and 

 so unlike that of most other fishes, as to require but a slight 

 description ; yet it was not till a period of very modern date 

 that naturalists became acquainted with the fact that the 

 fresh waters of several countries produce three or four dis- 

 tinct species which had previously been confounded together. 

 Thus the first edition of the Regne Animal, published in 

 1817, included but one species of common fresh-water Eel 

 as well known : the second edition, published in 1829, con- 

 tains a short notice of four different species ; three of which, 

 if not all four, are found in this country. 



The form of the Eel, resembling that of the serpent, has long 

 excited a prejudice against it, which exists in some countries 

 even to the present time ; and its similarity to snakes has 

 even been repeated by those, who, from the advantages of 

 education, and their acquirements in natural history, might 

 have been supposed capable of drawing more accurate con- 

 clusions. There is but little similarity in the snake and the 

 Eel except in the external form of the body : the important 

 internal organs of the two animals, and the character of the 

 skeleton, are most decidedly different. 



Eels are in reality a valuable description of fish : their flesh 

 is excellent as food ; they are very numerous, very prolific, and 

 are found in almost every part of the world. The various 

 species are hardy, tenacious of life, and very easily preserved. 

 In this country they inhabit almost all our rivers, lakes, and 

 ponds ; they are in great esteem for the table, and the con- 

 sumption in our large cities is very considerable. The Lon- 

 don market is principally supplied from Holland by Dutch 

 fishermen. There are two companies in Holland, having 

 five vessels each : their vessels are built with a capacious well, 

 in which large quantities of Eels are preserved alive till 

 wanted. One or more of these vessels may be constantly 



