PROBLEM OF THE EEL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17230, 9 April 1930, Page 9

PROBLEM OF THE EEL

FOUND IN SARGASSO SEA SCIENTIST TELLS STORY DURBAN", -lan. Zi. The curtain thai hides the life of the deep was drawn aside to-day when Dr. Brunn, of the Royal Danish expedition, on which he is now engaged, gave a glimpse of ihe curious fronts that life adopts in the greater depths of the seas. Il was a story as fascinating, and not less romantic than any with which his fellow-countryman, Hans Andersen, delighted the world. Dr. Brunn told how: after years of research Professor .1. Schmidt, leader of the expedition, had solved the problem of tho elusive eel. where they bred and tunc they bred. Por 17 years Professor Schmidt inn centrated mi this problem, which has piqued the curiositv ol scientists for 20C0 years. NEVER TO RETURN AGAIN. "It has long been known," said Dr. Brunn, "that full-grown eels move down in autumn from the rivers and lakes to the sea never to return again. But in their place come myriads of tiny eels." Professor Schmidt set himself to solve the problem of where the adult eels went to. Dr. Brunn gave a brief outline of theso investigations, which extended over 17 years and were, interrupted by ttio Great War. The methods adopted were to track down the larvae in the younger stages and, at the same lime, endeavor to ascertain the age of the elvers—or young eels—which appeared on the shores of Europe in early spring from Mar.-h to the beginning of April. After the war investigations were resumed, and, as is now known, the eel was tracked to the warm depths of the Sargasso Sea, where the water is also extremely salt. FOUND IN THE BUCKET. I fere, at tho proper season, below the surface can be found myriads of tiny, almost transparent iislies, noticeable only, said Dr. Brunn, for their small, darkish silvery eyes. At the moment when ono of these tiny specimens was found in the bucket used to obtain samples of the deep-water life, the results of 20 years' research culminated. Touching on the larger aspect, of scientific research, Dr. Brunn said it was the hope of every scientist that the results of his discoveries might ultimately bo of direct and practical value to man as well as an addition to the sum total of exact knowledge. In, the case of the eel, it has been possible to extend their distribution, and in 1927 Germany, for example, had imported 7,ooo.ooo'small eels to be utilised for consumption.