Eel

THIS SNAKELIKE FISH IS CATADROMOUS, WHICH MEANS THEY SPAWN IN THE OCEAN BUT TRAVEL TO FRESHWATER TO MATURE. THEY ARE FOUND AS FAR NORTH AS GREENLAND AND AS FAR SOUTH AS THE GULF OF MEXICO, WITH LARGE CONCENTRATIONS IN NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY AND DELAWARE. THEY ARE OFTEN USED FOR SMOKING DUE TO THE HIGH FAT CONTENT AND VERY FIRM TEXTURE. EELS MUST BE SKINNED BEFORE USE, AS THE SKIN IS NOT EDIBLE. EELS CAN LIVE FOR SEVERAL DAYS OUT OF THE WATER IF THEY ARE KEPT IN A DAMP ATMOSPHERE. THE AVERAGE SIZE FOR AN EEL IS 1 TO 3 POUNDS, BUT CAN ALSO BE HARVESTED MUCH SMALLER. EELS UP TO 3 INCHES ARE CALLED GLASS EELS AND ARE CONSIDERED A DELICACY IN EUROPE.