Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-11-21
FOXES AND EELS.
INTERESTING QUESTIONS CON-
CERNING THEM ANSWERED.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BLACK
AND SILVER F0x-THE MYSTERY
OF EEL REPRODUCTION.

| OF EEL REPRODUCTION.
| A reader Of THE AMERICAN sends in
two questions which present topics of
more than usual interest and which have
been the subject of much discussion.
! Here are the questions:
| /. Do cells spawn like fish or lay eggs like
snakes9
2. Is there any difference between the
! black or silver gray fox?
These questions could not be answered
satisfactorily from any encyclopedias,
and believing the question OF interest de-
handing more than simple answers, they
| were referred to men well qualified to
answer.
REPRODUCTION OF EELs.
The first question was submitted
to e. E. Race, superintendent of
the government fish hatchery at Green,
Lake, who has made fish propagation
his life study and ranks among
the highest Of the country's fish experts.
This is what he says concerning cells:
GREEN LAKE, Nov. ID, 1905.
To the Editor of The american:
Replying to your inquiry of Nov. IL, "Do
cells spawn like fish, or lay eggs like snakes?',
The origin and reproduction of this animal
apparently was no mystery to Aristotle, the
great Greek philosopher, for from data col
| lected in Asia and Greece about $50 years
| b. G. he states, in his "History of Animals,
i that cells have no sexes, nor eggs, nor semen,
and that they rise from ges entera, the en-
3, trails of the sea.
! In the various articles that have since been
written on this subject, one can find some
thing to fully substantiate his or her belief, it
! matters not what it may be.
i If all the manuscripts and numerous dis
cussions about this species printed in
full upon good paper they would probably
furnish sufficient building material for con-
structing the proposed new dam across the
! Union river.
After carefully experimenting under favor
able conditions for more than thirty years,
! the writer is led to believe that Aristotle
knew nothing whatever about the propaga-
ton of this mysterious species, and also that
he (Aristotle) knew much about the mat
ter as any person that has written on the sub
ject. Very truly yours,
| EDMUND RACE.
The editor might supplement this reply
Of Mr.. Race by saying that, during con-
versation with him few months ago, the
question of cells was brought up, and it
was evident the subject of their repro
duction was one to which Mr.. Race has
given considerable study.
1t is safe to say, therefore, that when
Mr.. Race replies in substance that no one
knows the manner of eel reproduction, it is
no mere "begging of the question:, but
the result of familiar acquaintance with
the subject at first hand, and with the
theories of all other authorities.
BLACK AND SILVER FOXES.
The second question, sis there any diff
ference between the black and silver gray
fox?p was referred to a man who is an
authority on skins and furs of animals
found in this section. He gives much
more information than required to answer
the questions, but the subject is an inter-
esting one and will bear ella boration.
The prime question might be answered
by the apparent contradiction, "all silver
gray generally called simply 'silver')
foxes, are black, but all black foxes are
not silver foxes" The black fox is
simply black fox; silver fox is black
fox whose hair is just tipped with white,
giving it silvery sheen which is so much
sought after and which makes the fur of
this fox so valuable. Nearly all black
foxes have more or less white or gray
hair.
Several varieties of foxes are found in
Hancock county. The most common is
the red fox. Then come the ''cross" or
sscross gray" fox, the "black, )" the ''silver"
and mongrel, or hybrid, called by fur
dealers the ''bastard" fox-a cross be-
tween a red and cross grey. About six
years ago an Arctic fox was killed on Mt.
Desert island, but no doubt it was one
which had escaped from captivity; they
belong to much colder climate and do
not range as far south as Maine.
The cross fox is marked with dark spots,
usually a strip across the shoulders and
down the back, forming a cross, and
hence its name. The hair of the dark
spots is usually tipped with white, giving
that part of the fur silvery appearance.
A topic of frequent discussion by fur
experts is whether the silver fox is a dis
tinct species or simply a freak among
ordinary species. THE AMERICANS in
formant is of the latter opinion, and cites
the following incident as seeming to prove
conclusively that this is the case:
Some fifteen years ago, during one of
our cold winters, after the ice left, two
foxes found themselves on Bartlett's
island. They mated and remained there
during the summer. The female was a
common red fox; the male was a
"bastard", or mongrel. They had litter
| ~ foor txuo wara rad and two were very