FISHES 
valuable fish will remain in it. The spawning season 
in our waters commences in June and seems to last 
till August. The fish are very prolific, make rapid 
growth, and attain a large size, specimens weighing 
over twenty pounds having frequently been taken in 
American waters, while in Europe they have been 
known to reach ninety pounds. 
ORDER APODES. (The Eels.) 
Aneurtiipar. (The True Eels.) 
19. American Eel. Anguilla chrysypa (Rafin- 
esque).—Common in Lake Ontario and all waters 
falling into it. Until recently the reproduction of 
the Eel has been involved in mystery, but the careful 
investigations of competent observers have resulted 
in showing that the Eel spawns in salt water, usually 
on mud banks off the mouths of rivers, to which they 
resort in late autumn. When the young Eels are 
from two to three inches long they ascend the rivers 
in vast numbers, travelling continually until they 
meet some obstacle which cannot be overcome. Pro- 
fessor Baird has estimated “ that in the summer one 
may see hundreds of waggon loads of young Eels at 
the foot of Niagara Falls, crawling over the rocks 
and squirming in the seething waters.” Where the 
obstruction to their passage permits it, the fish will 
leave the water and travel through wet grass in order 
to continue their journey. As a food fish Eels are 
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