AMBftOSE ON FISHES OF ST. MARGARET'S BAY. 89 



On first approaching the shore in spring these fishes are full 

 of spawn, but they begin to deposit it in April. By the end of 

 June the work of spawning is accomplished. Their food during 

 winter — judging by the contents of the stomachs of such as are 

 brought up from the mud on eel-spears— consists of eel-grass 

 and fine silt. Towards spring, as they become more active, they 

 burrow for sea-worms. But when once in shore they are ready 

 for the otFal of the fish-stages, and assist in disposing of much 

 waste matter. 



The Eel. 



As is well known, spends the winter in the mud. At first, on 

 the approach of cold weather, they burrow pretty deeply, and 

 live on suction from the surrounding mud. Towards spring, 

 they feel the relaxing temperature, and perhaps becoming hun- 

 gry after their long fast, work up a little towards the looser 

 mud, and pick the succulent roots of the eel-grass. They 

 leave the mud altogether, about the first of May, and ap- 

 proach the light and heat of the shore. Their favourite 

 haunts in winter are the coves into which the fresh water 

 of some river or brook mingles with and renders slightly 

 brackish the waters of the sea. In such places, probably, the 

 silt of the bottom is charged with a larger quantity of animal 

 matter, besides being the proper habitat of the eel-grass. 



Eels of the same species difler much in their habits. They 

 go up the rivers and brooks in the spring, and return to the salt 

 water, for warmth, probably, in autumn. But many remain in 

 fresh water all winter, burrowing in the muddy bottoms of the 

 lakes. In Hosier's river, near my residence, in March last, two 

 men speared in one day fifty dozen large eels. These were not 

 found to be so palatable as the eels taken in salt water at the 

 same season. Altogether, from the same place in the river 

 some eighteen hundred eels were taken, so soon as the un- 

 looked-for discovery of this new spot became known. 



In the semi-annual migrations, many eels are taken in weirs, 

 in our streams. This is considered rather destructive ; but one 

 has but little pity for a fish that devours so many of our youno- 

 salmon. 



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