252 



FISHERIES. 



grounds," or flats, the water is not more than four or five 

 feet deep, and these shallows occupy a very large portion 

 of the lake ; the main channel, which is about five fathoms 

 in depth, being very narrow. 



Though eels usually migrate twice in the year, that 

 is, to and from the sea, wintering in the brackish water of 

 its estuaries, and returning in early summer, they will 

 live and breed perfectly well in inland lakes and rivers at 

 a distance, or under circumstances rendering it im- 

 possible for them to have any access to the coast. 

 Therefore it is not easy to determine the question, 

 whether the eels of this lake and of the upper parts 

 of the river St. Lawrence — of which there are more 

 than one species — pass up and down the rapids which 

 lie between them and the Gulf. 



EEL SPEAEISG, LAKE ST. FEANCIS. 



