The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-07-31
Concerning Eels

| washington, July 20 (By the Asso-
cIated Press).-Ths common, every-
day, mudhole eel, the problem of fish
ermen, especially the small boy, when
1t comes to taking him off hook, is
an elusive subject, but his life history
typlfles one of the marvels of the sea
and recent announcements have added
to his reputation.
Reports have just reached here of
the success of Danish expedition to
the Bermudas, in answering the an
clent question of the eel's origin.
Headed by DR.. jobs. Schmidt, direc-
tor of the Carlsberg Laboratory, of
Copenhagen, the party, on the ship
Dana, has been searching the seas for
seven months to find where the eel
breeds and is hatched. AS the eel in
dustry is of prime Importance in Den
mark, the party was equipped by the
government and several societies III
conjunction. DR.. Schmidt has beer
making special study of the eel for
more than 15 years.
Since at least $50 B. C. scientists
have been trying to find the eel's
birthplace, and by tracking down the
route found taken by the young eels
DIR. Schmidt placed the breeding
grounds between tn Bermudas and the
Leeward Islands, where the sea
reaches depth of more than a mile
Here the most remarkable discov
cry was made: That the European
species and the American, which vary
so slightly as 20 be almost negligible,
and absolutely so to the layman. breed
side by side and eventually start for
their later homes, thousands of miles
away, but that neither variety even
goes to the others fresh water
grounds.
The marvel is, to scientists, accord
ing to DR.. H. F. Moore, deputy COM
missioner of the u. S. Bureau of
Fisheries, that of the millions of
young making the trips, instances of
discovery of the European species in
American waters, and vice. versa, have
been exceedingly rare. And there is
no interbreeding between the two.
The European species, DR.. Schmidt
found, deposit their eggs and greed in
section to the south and east of the
Bermudas, while the other breeds to
the south and west of the islands.
The first make thre year migration
to the shores Of Europe from the
North Sea to Italy, while the second
journey to the American coast from
New England to the south coast, tax
ing only few months or year.
1t was found that the eggs are
hatched at depths of about 200 metres,
the young larvae gradually rising as
they grow until some were found on
the surface. 1t is also true that the
larvae vary their depth in the water
according to the time of day. At this
stage, and until they reach coast wa
teds, they are known as "leptocepha-
lide" and are ribbon or leaf-shaped
and quite transparent; so transpar-
ent, in fact that under lens the YER
tebrae may be counted, the olny means
ct detaxaaiaiag, -tha sqRaias- -Es,-.
ropean variety, it was found, have
more svertebrae than the American.
The translucent quality is believed
to be a means of avoiding peril, as the
leptocephalus is found In schools
along the coast line in spring and
must undoubtedly form q food fol
larger fish. AS they approach shoal
brackish water there comes a marvel
Gus metamorphosis, they change from
the ribbon shape to the cylindrical
familiar form, but are still trans.
parent. They become much thicker
and are even shorter than before
They gradually assume light lines OF
pigment, though remaining translu-
cent for some time, and as the pig
ment increases the dark color becomes
| more and more apparent until they
Pre Of the familiar color.
In this connection is pointed out
the immense trip the leptocephalidc
make, those journeying to European
waters being three years on the way,
| SO that, according tc DIR. Schmidt
there are always two migrations or;
the way, and IN early spring, three,
before the first reach shore AS it is
not until bratkish water is reached
that the metamorphosis occurs, the
question that still puzzles scientists
is whether the American species ma
lures more RAPIDLY than the other, or
whether the change of water is nee.
essary for the change from lptocep-
halus to elver, as the young eel is
known.
This eel is the same as that cought
| IN far inland ponds and muddy
| streams, and makes wonderful jour
ney to arrive there.
They can live for long periods
out Of water. as is well known
among fishermen, and sometimes
travel overland, from stream to
stream, or up the faces of dams anC
along the sides of rocks, in search OF