The downward migration of Eels is observed here from July to the middle of September, but in the Manchester market I find them up to this time (the end of November), and am informed that they are caught at the foot of Windermere in their downward migration.

Would a dissection of the Conger at various seasons throw any light on the propagation of Eels?  One would think that in such large fish the ovaria would be much more easily distinguished than in smaller specimens. (November, 1850.)

The above elicited the following reply:—­

T. G. denies the possibility of Eels breeding in fresh water.  We have a pond here covering three or four acres which swarms with Eels of all sizes.  I have caught them from the size of my little finger up to the weight of five pounds.  The supply of water is from nothing else than land springs—­there being no communication between the pond and any river.  When much rain occurs I am obliged to put up a sluice-board, in order to prevent the banks from overflowing.  I have taken from one to two hundredweight at a time from a box which the water flows through at the bottom of the sluice-board.  The large quantity that has been taken out of this pond leaves no doubt that they breed there to a great extent, but whether they are propagated by spawn or brought forth alive I am unable to say.—­G.  H., Finedon Hall.

Reply to the foregoing.

Your correspondent G. H. says T. G. denies the possibility of Eels breeding in fresh water.  This is rather too strong.  I don’t deny the possibility of Eels being bred in fresh water, I only deny the probability.  The expression I used was that I did not believe they were bred in fresh water at all, and I distinctly stated that my not having seen these things (Eel spawn, &c.), did not prove that other people had not done so.  But to the question.  G. H. says that he has caught them of all sizes, from the thickness of his little finger to five pounds weight.  No doubt he may have done so, but did he catch them of the thickness of a crow’s quill, and three inches long? because that is the size at which they usually ascend rivers.  He says his pond does not communicate with any river.  Is there no escape of water from it?  I mean, is the evaporation from its surface equal to the supply of water?  If not, where does the surplus go to?  Does it not directly or indirectly flow into a river or the sea?  I am the more inclined to think that this is the case, because G. H. says he caught a hundredweight at a time from a box which the water flows through at the bottom of the sluice-board.  This is exceedingly like what is done here and elsewhere from July to the end of November, when the Eels are on their downward migration.  Will G. H. be kind enough to say whether he does not catch his about the same time? will he also say whether the Eels he catches are not Silver Eels? and will he also state whether he does not catch