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

oaS' huuhoie eel, the problem of fish.
ermen, especially the small boy, ,wher
1T comes to taking him off hook, is
an elusive subject, but his life history
typlfies 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.
cient question of the cells origin
Headed by DR.. jobs. Schmidt, direc-
tor of the Carlsberg Laboratory, of
Copenhagen, the party, on the shin
Dana, has been searching the seas for
seven months to find where the ee;
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 in
conjunction. DR.. Schmidt has been
making special study of the eel for
more than Is years.
Since at least $50 B. C. scientists 6
have been trying to find the eels
birthplace, and by tracking down tn.
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 discoy-
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 eve,
goes to the others fresh water
grounds.
The marvel is, to scientists, accord
ing to DR.. Fl. 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
a section to the south and east of the
Bermudas, while the other breeds to
the south and west of the islands.
The first make a 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 a 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-
llde" and are ribbon or leaf shaped
and quite transparent; so transpar
ent, in fact that under lens the YER
tebrae may be counted, the oIny means
of determining the species. The Eu-
ropean variety, it was found, have
more vertebrae than the American.
The translucent quality is believed
to be means of avoiding peril, as the
leptocephalus is found in schools
along the coast line in spring and
must undoubtedly form food for
larger fish. AS they approach shoai
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
are 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 DR.. Schmidt,
there are always two migrations OF
the way, and IN early spring, three,
before the first reach shore. AS it is
not until brackish 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 a 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 and
along the sides of rocks, in search of
sufficient water. 1t is said the male
remains along the coastal waters
while the female makes the inland
trim The three or four inch o,,,oro