128 THE ZOOLOGIST, 



persons in charge of the traps, and less is credited by them of 

 their migration and breeding in the open seas. Yet, strange to 

 say, these countryfolk can seldom offer any explanation for their 

 movements down the river, or again for the young passing up 

 stream. That they breed in the mud is usually taken for 

 granted, and some will go so far as to maintain that they have 

 seen the young taken from a ripe female. 



The most favourable time of the year for the adult migration 

 of Eels towards the sea is from mid- July to mid-October. There 

 is also oftentimes a considerable spring movement about April, 

 when good catches are frequently made, and by some the pro- 

 portion of large Eels is considered greater at that time of the 

 year, but others are of the opinion that the majority of larger 

 ones come late in the autumn. Erratic movements occur during 

 almost any month of the year, and occasionally heavy catches 

 are made, even in the winter months, during a spell of mild 

 weather, as for instance, some 2£ cwt. were taken at Eaton 

 Socon traps in December, 1911. 



Some few Eels are occasionally taken during the daytime, 

 more particularly if the traps are inside the buildings or covered 

 in, and thick water is running at the time. When taken during 

 the day it is a most invariable sign for a heavy catch to follow 

 at night. As a rule Eels start to " run " about two hours after 

 sunset, and continue "running" until midnight, after which 

 hour very few pass into the traps, as I have frequently satisfied 

 myself from personal observation, throughout the dark hours of 

 the early morning. Neither can this limited movement be 

 accounted for by all the Eels in any section of the river having 

 been taken owing to the usual short distances between the traps, 

 as where much longer reaches of water occur the results are the 

 same. The darkest nights, with thick water and wind south to 

 west, are most favourable to migration, any moon considerably 

 checking their progress. After a thunderstorm the greatest 

 catches are usually made, and if such stormy weather or thick 

 water continues, their migrations will be prolonged for several 

 successive nights. Frosty nights immediately check their 

 running, and no Eels are taken in snow water. 



Water- weeds that have been cut and floated down the stream 

 and allowed to accumulate across the river above the trap 



