Occurrence of American Eels, Anguilla rostrata, in Waters Overlying the Eastern North American Continental Shelf

Abstract

Eleven reproductively maturing specimens of the American eel, Anguilla rostrata, were collected during three independent off-shore trawling operations. Three females were taken on December 5, 1967 southeast of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay in 10–13 fathoms, one male and one female on November 5, 1969 southeast of Cape Cod in 35–45 fathoms, and six females east of Assateague Island on December 22, 1971 in 5 fathoms. Morphometrical analysis showed that the specimens were within the range of "silver" phase of Anguilla rostrata. Gonadal observations were made on all specimens.