AUGUILLA. 237 



pumped out and carried into the river Idua, that 

 river became so impregnated with vitriolic acid, 

 mercury, and iron ochre, that all the fish were de- 

 stroyed, save the eels, which were found uninjured, 

 and seemed to bid defiance to every thing but ac- 

 tual roasting or boiling. 



So well known is the eel, that it is unnecessary 

 to give a more minute account of its external ap- 

 pearance. 



A gentleman of veracity, residing on Cape Cod, 

 informs us that in the spring an eel makes it ap- 

 pearance in that section of the country, which 

 from its peculiar locality is called the sand-eel. 

 This fish is found at different places in the sand, at 

 a distance from the water. Probably, from his 

 remarks, this fish resembles, both in conformation 

 and habits, the hassar. He has not been success- 

 ful in obtaining a specimen, as at the time of wri- 

 ting, they were not to be found. It is also very 

 possible it may be the ammodytes tobianus, or 

 sand lance, of Europe. 



Aqueducts, which have their origin in still wa- 

 ter, as ponds, for example, should be carefully 

 guarded by metallic strainers, otherwise eels will 

 course through the pipes to the other extremity. 

 They seem to have a predilection for such hid- 

 ing places, but as they cannot turn round in the 

 log, nor make their exit the other way, vast ex- 



