386 THE ANGLER-NATUEALIST. 



whilst in fresh water is altogether much more rapid than 

 that of any other fish. 



It is asserted by some authors that this migration is 

 confined entirely to the Sharp-nosed Eels. Mr. Pinkerton, 

 who has given the subject much attention, is of that 

 opinion. In an able letter on this subject he says : — 

 " But the grand distinction between the two species (the 

 Sharp-nosed and Broad-nosed Eel) is that the Sharp-nosed 

 species is a migratory fish, while the Broad-nosed one is 

 not. I admit that the latter has its summer and winter 

 quarters — for Eels are very susceptible of the effects of 

 cold and electricity — and it wanders about a good deal at 

 night in search of prey ; but it does not migrate to the sea 

 in large shoals as the Sharp-nosed species annually does. 

 It is about this time of year that the annual migration 

 commences, the Eels moving in the night, and always 

 choosing a dark night for the purpose. A change of wind, 

 a clap of thunder, a cloudy night becoming clear and starry, 

 will at once stop the movement. I have frequently visited 

 the great Eel-fishery at Toome, on the Lower Bann, where 

 from fifty to sixty tons of Eels are annually caught in the 

 migi'ating-season. As many as seventy thousand Eels 

 have been taken at this place in one night, all of the Sharp- 

 nosed species, with the slight exception of perhaps a dozen 

 Broad-noses that have been accidentally mixed up with 

 the shoal — the exception thus confirming the rule. On 

 one night in 1842, when I visited the Toome fishery, there 

 were caught, in round numbers, 11,000 Eels. Now, as the 



