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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2241, 13 July 1908, Page 2

THE SAGACITY OF THE ELL. Aristotle tried 2,000 years ago to discover how ells reproduced their sjiecies, but, having failed, was forced to admit in liis “History of Animals,” that ells had no sexes nor eggs, but rose from the entrails of the sea. Later ichthyologists have met with 110 more success than did Aristotle in attempting to solve the mystery of the cels’ existence, although it averred (says tho" Sydney Daily Telegraph”) that all fresh water species find their way to the sea to lay their eggs. In order to accomplish the journey to the open sea, it is supposed that the eel frequently travels over land, choosing a time when the ground is moist with rain, and working gradually seaward from one ivaterliole to another, until a direct stream is readied, Tlie Australian aboriginal. whose partiality for fish and snake diet is very strongly pronounced, refused to eat an eel on tlie ground that lie is "brudder belonga snake,” and lives in fear of incurring its displeasure which would mean instant annihilation. An instance of of the eel was furnished last week at Lake Illaivarra. The sand bar at the mouth of the lake was silted up some time ago, blocking the entrance to the sea, and consequently preventing the ingress of school fish working along tlio coast. The local fishermen, deploring this state of affaire have made several attempts to cut a passage through the bar, but have hitherto failed to establish effective communication. AVord was received by the Fisheries Board that a small channel had been made through which the water flowed. No sooner had the sea water commenced to run into the lake than a large number of eels ‘darted straight to the channel and tried ’to squirm their way through. A r ery few were suecesful in reaching the ocean, owing to the hostility displayed by fishermen and others, who armed themselves with spades and wrought great havoc, killing several hundreds.