Class IV. CONGER EEL. 197 



3. The irides are of a bright silvery color. 



4. The lower jaw is rather shorter than the 

 upper. 5. The side line is broad, whitish, and 

 marked with a row of small spots ; (Mr. Ray 

 says a double row, but we did not observe it 

 in the fish we examined.) 6. The edges of the 

 dorsal and anal fins are black. 7. It has more 

 bones than the common eel, especially along 

 the back quite to the head. 8. It grows to a 

 much larger size. As to the distinction that 

 Mr. Ray, and other writers, make of the small 

 beards at the end of the nose, we think it not to 

 be depended on, they being sometimes found in 

 both kinds, and sometimes entirely wanting. 



We believe they generate like the fresh-water 

 species : innumerable quantities, of what are 

 supposed to be their fry, come up the Severn 

 about the month of April, preceding the Shad, 

 which it is conjectured migrate into that river 

 to feed on them : they are called Elvers. They Elvers. 

 quite swarm during their season, and are 

 taken in a kind of sieve made of hair-cloth, 

 fixed to a long pole ; the fisherman standing on 

 the edge of the water during the tide, puts in 

 his net as far as he can reach, and drawing it 

 out again takes multitudes at every sweep, and 

 will catch as many during one tide as will fill a 



