FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 39 1 



Young of the Common Eel were the only fish found in the upper waters of 

 Swan River, although other kinds have been taken there frequently. 



The eel is usually not much disturbed by fire lighting at night, unless the moon 

 shines brightly. At a certain stage of the tide, usually on the first of the flood, it is 

 found in very shallow water near the shore, and frequently in the grass almost out 

 of water. The peculiar smacking sound it makes while feeding can be heard from 

 many directions. Its prey includes silverside, killifish, and other small fishes. 



Eels taken during the summer of 1901 in Great South Bay had been feeding 

 upon shrimp, soft edible crab, mussel, killifish and silverside. The best bait for 

 eelpots was found to be horseshoe crab ; pieces of sand shark were tried but 

 without success, only two small eels having been taken in the pots during the night 

 when such bait was used. 



Eels caught in the night of September 6, igoi,at Smith's Cove, had been feeding 

 upon common killy and soft edible crab. 



As a rule eels enter the pots almost entirely on the flood tide. 



A large eel seen at the mouth of Horse-foot Creek in 1898, was standing on its 

 head boring for worms when it was speared. Another large one was seen swimming 

 at the surface at the mouth of Widow's Creek, September 26, 1901. It was 

 uninjured and its sight was perfect, but the thick grass appeared to prevent its 

 escape and it was caught with a dipnet. 



Male eels were caught in moderate numbers during the summer of 1901 in various 

 parts of Great South Bay. A number were taken in eelpots set off the mouth of 

 Swan River. 



Male eels were also obtained at Smith's Point, Brown's Creek, Swan River, and 

 in Great South Bay near the mouth of Swan River in the fall of 1901. All of them 

 were much smaller than the average of females. They are easily distinguished by 

 the short snout, large eye, and silvery belly. A considerable number of them were 

 obtained at Smith's Point, October i. 



It is said that the Silver Eels all leave the bay before winter sets in, but the 

 Common Eels remain in the mud. A fyke trap is set near Fire Island to catch 

 Silver Eels on their way out. 



* In Brown's Creek, Sayville, a female eel with eggs well developed was speared in 

 one of the hibernation holes. Male eels were also taken from such holes. 



Eels sometimes bunch together in the hibernation holes H. E. Swezey states 

 that he has taken as many as four at one thrust, and sometimes two on one beard 

 of a spear. 



