Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-10-25
DANGEROUS EELS.
A. CURIOUS FISH ABLE TO DELIV'
ER ELECTRIC SHOCKS.
The Methods Used in Capturing
Them = Their Disagreeable
Appearance-How They
Produce the Shock.

L
P. Pond in Youths Companion, l made
the acquaintance of trader, and ac-
cepted an offer to accompany him to
British Guiana, journeying as far as the
delta of the Orinoco. This river annual
ly rises to height of fifty feet, and COW
ers tract of country half as large as the
State of New York. When the water
subsidies it leaves large, stagnant pools
alorg the edge of the savannahs that lie
beyond the limit of the inundation, and
these pools are literally alive with fish,
the most common variety being the cleo
tric eel.
The natives are very fond of these fish,
but having a great horror Of the severe
shock they are able to communicate at
will, employ peculiar method in the
capture which they call Intoxicating by
means of horses"
During our stay in the village a number
of tie natives were employed in catching
them, and found the method highly in
teresting. On visiting one of the pools
not yet disturbed, l saw some of the fish
at rest. The pool was about half an acre
in extent, the surface being partly COW
cred with aquatic growth, and floating
around on the top of the water, or near
the surface, were large, yellow, almost
livid cells, that resembled rather water
snakes than eels. Instead of the back
being straight as in the ordinary eel, they
appeared to "hump" themselves, that is
to say, they drew the stomach in, making
slight arch of the back.
Lazily swimming along, they would
suddenly straighten themselves out with
jerk, and then curve the back again
This | learned was the action of produc-
ing the shock, also that its habit is the
reverse of that of the cat family, for it
straightens itself when annoyed, and be-
tokens pleasure by keeping its body
arched All around the pool were
marvellous growths of rushes, and the
great tia palms, which gives the natives
food, house, clothing, drink and furni-
ture.
The hunt, or capture of the cells, be-
gan in the early morning, soon after
daybreak, so as to avoid the heat of the
MONDAY. About fifty men started out
on horseback, and surrounding a number
of wild horses drove them to pool. The
animals plunged in and commenced
swimming across.
The eels, driven from the bottom to
the surface by the splashing of the horses,
endeavored to defend their territory
against the invaders, with the strange
means which nature has given them.
Rising to the surface they rushed at
their foes, not to bite them,
but to defend themselves by the dis
charge of their batteries. In and out
among the horses they swan, curving
and uncurving themselves rapidly.
The horses, crazy with the excitement
and the noise of the men, and the pains
from the electric discharges from the
cells, with straining, terror-stricken eyes
and bristling names sought to escape
from the storm that had surprised them.
Swimming to the nearest edge they tried
to land, but were driven back by shout
ing natives who viciously struck them
over the head and face, while the great
eels, pursuing them to the edge, were
speared by the harpoons, and thrown
from the points far up on the dry soil,
where other natives killed them.
The livid color of the eels was greatly
intensified, and they were disagreeable-
looking objects as they writhed and
curled in the water, while their eyes, un-
duly prominent when at rest, receded far
into the head so as to become almost in
visible in their rage at being disturbed.
Once or twice native stumbled in his
excitement over some obstacle, and fell
so that some portion of his naked flesh
touched squirming eel, and then yell
was heard that left no doubt that it was
caused by acute pain.
AT first, comparatively few were thrown
ashore, but in short time several of the
horses, victims to the power of the
shocks, were drowned, and gradually the
cells became exhausted and seemed to be,
as the natives said, s'intoxicated They
swan aimlcssly around, and were slowly
driven down to narrow part of
the pool, where they were secured,
as they lay half torpid in the shadows,
by means of small harpoons and rude
fibre nets. Those taken in the nets were