. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. EELS AND CAT-FTSHES 249. photo by »'. S^villr-Kinl, ] lMilf,rd-on- CONGE R-E E L The Jtmalcs oj thn species often siuallo'u fact that the common eel takes about four or fi\'e years to attaui a weight of between 5 and 6 lbs. The males are smaller than the females, the greatest length attained b}- the former being a little over I foot 7 inches, whilst the latter may attain a length of nearh' 4 feet. For a long while what is now known to be the female river-eel was regarded as a dis
. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. EELS AND CAT-FTSHES 249. photo by »'. S^villr-Kinl, ] lMilf,rd-on- CONGE R-E E L The Jtmalcs oj thn species often siuallo'u fact that the common eel takes about four or fi\'e years to attaui a weight of between 5 and 6 lbs. The males are smaller than the females, the greatest length attained b}- the former being a little over I foot 7 inches, whilst the latter may attain a length of nearh' 4 feet. For a long while what is now known to be the female river-eel was regarded as a distinct species — the Sh,\ri'-nosed Eel. The two sexes ha\'e quite difterent habits, the smaller males being found mostly in the brackish water of river-mouths, and rarely above the reach of the tides, whilst the females ascend the rivers for great distances, thousands finding their way into isolated ponds, which they reach b)' traveling overland. Here the_\- appear to remain till they have reached maturity, when they migrate with one accord to the sea. Coming down the rivers during the months of October and November, hundreds are taken in large niches with traps, the mouths of which are directed up-stream. The migration of eels to the sea is for the sole purpose of spawning and fertilising the eggs, which done, the)' die. The spawning appears to take place in extremely deep water, where the young eels pass the earlier stages of their development. Like the majorit}' of young fishes, the fry are at first \'erv different in form from the adults, and many ha\'e from time to time been described as distinct species, no suspicion of their true nature having been aroused. y\nd this is not to be wondered at, for at this stage the)' are perfecth' transparent and compressed from side to side, so as to be but little thicker than a sheet of stout paper; the head is ridiculously small, and only median fins are present. As develop- ment proceeds, having reached a certain maximum size, they,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecad, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectzoology
