Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-14
FUR IN FULTON MARKET.
An Eel that Couldn't bo Held Even Sc
Well as An Ordinary Eel.
Fronl the ~ York 81.

From tho Neao York sun.
"AuY one who lifts that eel out Of the
tank may have it," said Eugene Black
ford yesterday to a crowd OF persons who
stood in Fulton Market before an open
aquarium, watching large eel moving
gracefully about in the water. 1t at
tracted attention because it was not a
common looking eel, such as may be
bobbed for any day At low tide in Newton
creek. A hardy-loOking fisherman, VINO
had probably caught many cells in his
time, asked Mr. Blacklord II he was in
earnest, and being assured that the offer
was made in good faith, he tucked up the
sleeve Of his pilot jacket, and after brief
/ ly explaining to the crowd the precise
manner in which an eel should be
grasped to prevent it gliding through the
fingers, ne plunged his hand into the
water TO practically illustrate how the
thing was done. He seized the eel very
artstically, but, with sharp explosion
Of blasphemy, he let it 90 again before he
had brought II to the surface. The eel
swan around indiferently. 1t had evil
IDENTIFY grown accustomed to such expert
ence. The fisherman followed 1t with his
eyes.
at stung me bad" was the only expla-
nation be cared TO offer 10 the wondering
spectators.
Just then whistling boy came up, and
looked at the eel because the others were
looking at IT..
Il don't see anything uncommon in
him." be said, cOntemptuouely. "Pye
ketched bigger ones than that"
SAY, Bob" said the fisherman, struck
with an idea, "pick that eel out Of the
tank and follow me down South street
with it, and Pll give you a quarter"
Without stopping to make any inquiries
as TO the legitimacy of the offer, the in
dependent lad grasped the eel. He lib
Grated it Immediately, and uttered yell
that brought in the policeman who twirls
his club lust outside the fish market, to
see what the matter was.
Later in the day many persons touched
the eel and tested its curious powers. At
ter the contact some shrieked, some
laughed, and some looked frightened, but
none esssyed to NEEDLE with it second
time. New corners continued to touch it.,
until MF. BlacktOrd, fearful that its Vi
tally might be exhausted, put 1t into "a
high closed tank, and pasted this legend
upon the glass; "GymnOtus, or electric
eel" The tank contained several 'hell
benders,v and the eel shocked them very
much, and caused them to spring around
in the liyeliest manner. 1t WAS given 10
Fish Commissioner Backford by Mr..
Donald Burns OF III Roosevelt street, who
received it early In the morning from
the Amazon river. Capt Bears brought
it with him in the steamship Finance. 1t
is rather a handsome creature, and a
great point in its favor is that 1t keeps its
mouth always shut except at meal times,
aHd seems to breathe through two rows Of
holes on its head and neck. 1t is about
% feet long, and rather dispropOrtionate-
ly thick. Ii has a heavy fin, like the keel
of a boat, running along the belly the en-
tire length OF the body. The throat is of
orange color, and the head, though short
and clumsy. is Ornamented with two little
flaps that look like ears. 1t can admins
ter an electric shock as powerful as that
Of a small battery. A man touched
it with a steel tish knife, aud he
felt the shock as forcibly as if he had
touched it with his bare fingers.