The Fresh Water Fishes of New England/With no belly fins
59. The Eel. Anquilla anquilla.
Grows to three feet in length. Color, greenish brown; belly, lighter yellowish.
The Eel ascends the rivers and brooks in the spring, returning in the fall to the seashore, where it winters, sometimes in great numbers cuddled together in the deep holes of the river beds.
During the day the Eel hides in the mud, but at night is found in all waters, a voracious and destructive animal feeder. Bites readily at worms, dead or live fish, or meat.
As a food the flesh of the Eel is considered very fine, although rich.
60. The Lamprey or Lumper. Eel. Petromyzon marinus.
Grows to three feet in length. Color, dark brown, mottled or spotted on greenish white ground.
The Lamprey has a sucking mouth and seven holes on each side of the neck instead of gills, otherwise it is like the Eel.
Retires to the sea to hibernate.
61. The Lampern. Petromyzon fluviatilis.
Length, ten inches. Color, back, bluish or brown, lighter beneath. Shaped like a diminutive Lamprey.
Both the Lamprey and the Lampern are highly esteemed in Europe as foodfishes.