312 
THE FAMII.Y OF EEV.S. 
gentleman of high scientific acquirements. As evidence to the 
same purpose we quote some remarks from a paper in the 
“Quarterly Review”, written, I may be permitted to observe, 
by the Rev. William Houghton, F.L.S., of Preston Rectory, 
near Wellington, Shropshire; in which he refers to Mr. Young, 
who, by digging in the month of October in the gravel 
banks of the River Shin, found the place, as he says, “alive 
with young Eels, some of them scarcely hatched, at the 
depth of from five to fifteen inches.” 
At the place where a river passes into the sea, the salt 
water, from its greater specific gravity, flows beneath the 
fresh, and there the young Eels are seen to mount from 
below into the latter, although perhaps the downward current 
may offer a more considerable obstruction to their progress. 
This passage upward is performed by day, and it is said to 
be suspended after night; but these little active creatures, all 
of which are of one size, and not larger in the body than a 
darning-needle, are persevering in their exertions, and, as far 
as I have observed, go on in a loose arrangement near the 
bank; but in the larger and deeper rivers they are described 
as forming a closely-compacted company, m a rather narrow 
but long extended column, where they are ready to seize the 
advantage of every eddy or slack water in order to ease the 
labour of their efforts. A formidable obstruction causes them 
to sink to the bottom, and perhaps to hide themselves, but 
the exertion is again renewed, and never without ultimate 
success. 
They are known to climb up over high and steep ascents, 
even to the extent of twenty feet above the water, when these 
stand in their way; and this they do not only with perseverance, 
but with no small amount of skill; of which we possess some 
remarkable evidence from observation. This passing upward is 
indeed in some degree regulated by the state of the season, as 
being mild or cold; for while very young Eels have been 
obtained at the ebb of the tide so early as the 2nd. of January, 
after watching a river with care they have not been observed 
passing up the stream until the middle of March, and rarely 
even then. The more usual season begins with April, but 
may not be until May, after which they do not cease through 
the day, except under particular circumstances, presently to be 
