IV.—The breeding places of the eel

Abstract

The problem of the propagation and breeding places of the Common or Fresh-water Eel is one of great antiquity; from the days of Aristotle naturalists have occupied themselves therewith, and in certain regions of Europe it has exercised popular imagination to a remarkable degree. It is only during the last three decades, however, that any real results have been attained. It has long been known that the full-grown eels move down in the autumn from their rivers and lakes to the sea; the most important eel fisheries, indeed, are based upon this seaward migration. The eels do not return again from the sea, but in early spring there appear on the coasts myriads of small young eels, eagerly seeking their way up to fresh-water. These eel fry are known in most countries of Europe, and occur in some parts in such quantities as to form the object of a particular industry; for instance, in the River Severn in England, where they are known as “elvers.” Until 1896, the elver stage was the earliest stage of development in which the eel was known on the shores of Europe, and it was generally supposed that the elvers arriving in the spring were the offspring of the eels which had migrated during the previous autumn. They are not, however, altogether minute, like the newly-hatched larva of a cod or herring; on the contrary, they are no less than 6-7 cm. in length.