Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-10-14
SOMETHING ABOUT THE EEL.

Robert L. Pell, in the Transactions OF the
N. Y. State Agricultural Society, says:
"ln one of my ponds placed a stock of
three hundred cells, weighing from six
ounces to two pounds each, and eudcavored
to study their habits. Barring the day they
partially conceal themselves under stones,
stumps and mud, exposing the head only to
view; and in this manner they watch for
their prey. They delight particularly in
still, muddy water; and notwithstanding
naturalsts have decided that they are viyi-
parous, and that Jumps of little eels have
been found in them the size of sewing
needle, have come to the conclusion that
it is mistake, and arose from the fact that
GELS are often infested with small worms,
which have been taken for small cells. They
are undoubtedly oviparous and go to brack.
ish water~to deposit their sova, because tits
more than two degrees warmer than the
ocean, or water in rivers, and being impa-
ticnt of cold, have sufficient instinct to direct
them to suitable localities. i found in the
fall my GELS all left the pond, not one remain
ing to br reed in it, and many returned the
following spring o: all sizes. / then stocked
the pond again, and i'll the fall placed fine
salt in it; the GELS then remained, deposited
their ova in the pond, which in due time
hatched there, and produced great quanti-
ty Of young GELS. !! am convinced, though
have never seen either spawn or milt in
cells, that they have all the necessary parts
,of generation as well as other fish; they are
very tenacious of lite. | have known them
to live tive days in II grass meadow, and
when returned to the water swim with their
usual rapidity. The reason that they are
enabled to respirc when out of water for Il
longer period than are any Others, is in con-
aperture for the escape of water from the
bronchial cavity. When taken from the
water they instantly close this opening with
great facility, and retain the water. have
placed them one hundred rods from the
pond. and found that they would invariably
turn towards the water and make their way
to the nearest point, cvincing a strong mig.
Mtory instinct. Ecls are supposed to DC
spread over the world more universally than
any other animal except man, but none are
seen III situations where they cannot get to
salt water For example, they are not found
in Lake Erie, above the Falls of Niagara
Ecls were never seen above the Falls of
Paterson, until the cannal was cut; ever since
that period they have been found in inl
Lncnse quantities and of exquisite quality
They are nothing more nor less than water
scrpcnts and may bc called the connecting
link between amphibous ami aquatic rep
tiles. They have been caught i'll New York
ha:bor weighing thiiteen pounds. AS an
article of food they are extremely nutritious
and rich, but contain n large quantity of
oil, and unless eaten with an acid, are apt
to occasion arrangements of the digestive
organs. Eels are covered with a mucous
substance. which makes them difficult to
hold, and has led to the notion that they
are devoid of scales This is an error, as
have discovered them readily with magni
flying glass"