The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-13

The following is translated from the Garten-
laube German weekly, with an edition Of nearly
800 600 copies, of which many thousands md their
way 10 the United States. 1t forms part Of an
article illustrative of the wonders OF the swim
ming water world, and may serve to show how
much remsips for the naturalist 70 do to make
clear the modes of life even Of those animals
whose habils, by superficial observation, seem to
be most perfectly understood:
More intricate and wonderful still is the miera-
ton of eels-very common fsh-of which, In Ber-
lin alone, several thousands are daily brought to
market, have from the time Of Aristotle down to
the present scholars in natural history, remained
in many respects . subject OF wonder and re-
search. What we know of them is interesting
what we do not know excites still deeper interest.
10 the present day we know neither whence they
come nor whittier they go. Only one female ell
with we'll developed spawn has ever been found,
and male one has never YET been seen; The con.
troversy about the question OF the eel, with oil
the fables connected with it, together with the ono
originating with Aristotle, declaring 1t to be Gre
ated from the sure. like the sea-serpent, runs
Trough the whole history Of zoology.
Since 1888, from the researches OF Heinrich
Rsthke, we know that the eel. like other fish, has
ovsiies from which the young brood is produced.s
or the mode IN which this is accomplished 10 the
totsl absence of the male We are left entirely ig-
norant. All else known of the natural history Of
the eel is connected with its wander life. and may
be condensed into the following brief sketch:
We know that very many kinds Of fish ascend
the currents OF rivers in order to deposit their
spawn, and afterwards descend with their fry.
just the reverse takes place with the eel. In
the autumn immense droves of full grown eels are
seen TO leave the mouths OF rivers and enter the
sea. Their migration commonly takes place in
stormy or rainy nights. During the day time they
remain hidden in the muddy bed of the river.
This migration, called by the Italians "Calata,"
| has been for centuries known to the hshing popu-
latiop at the mouths Of rivers and is taken sdvsn-
tsge Of to catch eels in large quantities. spallan
| zan, noted Italian naturalist Of the past CEN
tury relates that in the shadows OF Comacio sew
H..
| one OF these wsDdernights. By the same OBJ
| server, and at the ab0ve-named locality. the
| "Calata" was employed for three successive
years 10 throw more light on the sexual relations
| of the eel without bringing the famous dispute
about the mode of their propagation single step
No doubt can be entertained that the eels thus
migrating to the sea really spawn there, a. the
the following spring enter the mouths Of rivers
by thousands Of millions, and make their way up
the fresh water currents.
This migration Of the eel-at that period no big
ger than piece OF twine two inches loDg-ex-
tending many hundred miles up the rivers TO the
| remotest creeks and streamlets. presents one Of
the most wonderful features which ichtbyology
OF indeed zoology presents.
Kari Vogh relates that IN France young eels
migrating frequently form large banks In the
rivers, and are taken out by means OF seines and
wooden tubs. They are used for food just Is they
are, mixed with eggs. and baked into pancakes
has often ascended the river Rhone without inter-
ruption for two weeks. These insignificant little
animals overcome during their migrations most
astonishing difficulties. An Englishman named
Davy mentions the following OF an eel migration
OBJ erved in Ireland:
"Towsrds the end Of July resided at Baly
sheppon, rear the mouth Of the river IN which
Where II forms it's cataract the river all black
with MILLIONS Of eels no longer than finger. They
| constantly tried TO climb the wet rocks near the
| banks of the falls, ard perished by thousands
| in the attempt. The wet and slippery bodies
| of the dead eeis served those that followed -
| enabled TO continue their way. Indeed, saw
them climb the vertical sides of rocks lined with
net moss holding on by the bodies Of others
| which had perished. Their perseverance was
| such that they forced their way in enormous num-
bers 80 far as Loeb Erne."
Add 10 this marvellous instinct of migration that
| the eel broods on their up-river journey, over.
cone the mighty Rhine fall. at Schanhanson. and
| make their way into the Lake OF Constance that
| nore of the old eels ever return 10 the rivers,
| whist We are ignorant of what becomes OF them
in the sea, and nnay, that In the whole river val
| lev Of the Danube and all j(s tributaries, not q
single eel has ever been caught, whilst in tho
rivers near them which empty into tbs North or
Baltic Sea. they are caught By thousands. We must
| own that ve stand before number Of unaccount-
able facts in the existence Of . single well known
animal, The final solution Of which problems might
render illustrious more than one Of the learred
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