There are eight distinct species of Conger found in the Atlantic, but Conger oceanicus is the largest and most common. Specimens up to 2501bs have been taken by commercial fisherman although any fish caught on rod and line over 701bs would be considered a specimen. The Conger has a scaleless skin and its upper jaw extends beyond its lower. Coloring very much depends on the type of seabed it inhabits. On rocks, the back is charcoal grey and the underparts are pale, but over sand the back is a light-grey brown. The margins of the dorsal and anal fins are black. The conger can normally be differentiated from another eel merely by its size. However, small fish can be identified by the dorsal fin beginning at the pectoral fins and running the length of its body. The dorsal fin on a silver eel begins well back from its pectoral fins.
Breeding
The breeding cycle of the Conger is still something of a mystery due to the enormous distances that they will travel to spawn. It is thought that the Conger migrate to the Sargasso Sea in the sub-tropical Atlantic to breed, spawning at depths of 10,000 to 12,000 ft. The larvae are transparent and flattened, and drift at the surface for up to 2 years before reaching the shoreline where they become cylindrical. At this stage they are still transparent and about 3 inches long. The full colouring appears by the time the eel is 12 inches long.
Habitat
Conger Eels favour very rough ground and inhabit deepwater wrecks, reefs and broken ground. In shallow waters Conger are mostly nocturnal feeders, but in depths of 60ft or more they feed at any time.
Food
Conger are bottom feeders more than capable of catching live food. They will hole up in a wreck or rough ground and ambush lesser species. They will take fish baits, crab, cuttlefish and squid. The most popular bait is a mackerel 'flapper'produced by taking the whole fish and removing the backbone and tail, allowing the flanks and innards to flutter in the tide. If it is available, a whole live pout can prove deadly.
Range
English Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea
Additional Notes
Conger eels have extremely sharp teeth and strong jaws. Hook lengths should be constructed of wire or heavy duty monofilament to avoid being bitten through. Conger stay alive for long periods out of water and great caution should be exercised when unhooking. Conger flesh is relatively tough but eating quality is fair if cooked properly, often as Conger steaks.
Conger Eel (Conger conger—Conger oceanicus)
From http://www.fishing-in-wales.com/wildlife/fishes/conger.htm:
Congers are very common off the rugged western coast of Wales. They feed on just about anything that moves, and they are renowned for their fighting power when hooked on rod and line. Conger eels can grow to well over 100 lb (50kg) in deep water, reaching a length of more than 2.5 metres; such big congers are usually caught while fishing from boats rather than
from the shore. Beware the fearsome teeth and ferocious grip of the conger eel! The dorsal fin of a conger begins quite near to the head, and its lower jaw protrudes; these two features help distinguish small conger eels from common eels. Congers are slow in maturing, usually taking about 15 years before they are ready to breed. Then, rather like the eels that we find in inland waters, congers migrate great distances before spawning in very deep water - typically 3000 to 4000 metres (over 10,000 feet). They die after spawning.
How Normal-sized, Identified Eel Species Become Lake Monsters And Sea Serpents
Excerpted from Bill McDonald's CRYPTOLIST @ ONElist (Now YahooGroups) contributions:
All Loch Ness salmon, trout, and European common eel (Anguilla anguilla) species migrate seasonally through both ends of Loch Ness and then up the rivers from the lake to spawn. So any overlarge predatory eel species would be seasonal feeders who would thrive in that cold, acidic, peat moss particle ridden waters, and whom would either not eat in the lean seasons or would attempt to seize prey from the land at night, as many eel and catfish species are able to climb out of the water scrabble about on land for up to eight hours out of the water at night from river systems all over the world. In China and Canada they are known to climb massive dams and artificial structures in their upriver migrations to spawn.
Supplemental Conclusions
1
A substantial waterfall feeding into Loch Ness was located in the steep mountain terrain southeast of the Horseshoe Craig and northeast of Craig Corrie (due south of Invermoriston on the opposing side of the loch). The area was heavily bouldered with additional flood falls and covered in highland scrub oak trees. The ground cover was a plethora of moss species. The fisherman from Invermoriston's claims were confirmed by numerous, crushed, and somewhat identifiable bone fragments from perhaps four or five different large mammals. Teeth found were identifiable as deer and sheep. The bones were distributed from the lower waterfall region, down into Loch Ness waters for as far out as the bottom remained visible to surface light penetration. Additional bone fragments were observed and photographed among the boulders and tree limbs of the shoreline in either direction for perhaps ten yards in either direction. The bones appeared to have been crushed by a massive force, exposed to the elements, and no fragments exceeded ten inches in length. The digital "fish-finder" sonar depth gauge showed major collection of fish under the boat at the mouth of the waterfall. Jumping fish were observed. The claims of the Invermoriston fisherman appeared confirmed. To a field military veteran, this waterfall area appeared as a large mammal "Kill Zone." No evidence as to what the large predator might be was evident, though there was a faint underlying smell of "dead fish" to the area.
2
In the bar at the Glenmoriston Arms hotel in Invermoriston, a local who claimed to have seen "something" along the shoreline years ago and at night stated this investigator's theories regarding giant eels, "would not be wrong," though, "no-one would admit that to him." Follow-up reading and interviews conducted with numerous marine ichthyologists, marine biologists, museum curators, paleontologists, and a thorough survey of eel morphology via the internet has led this investigator to the ultimate conclusion. "Nessie," and to a lesser extent, all other lake monsters, is not one specific species, exclusively. Rather, individual "Nessies" might be from an entire family of related species of Anguilliforme eels. In all cases, the monster is not a friendly plesiosaur as locals might have "outsiders" believe; but an amphibious predatory teleost fish (eel), the largest of which may have found itself trapped in Loch Ness back in the 1930s. This largest current "Nessie" became trapped in the deep loch over 70 years ago, when the building of the adjacent A-82 roadway using dynamiting to clear rock escarpments closed off a passage into larger waters. Since then, the creature, which is probably female, has grown larger and larger, reaching 50-60 ft. in length. This animal prefers the depths, has nocturnal eyes sensitive to daylight, and only surfaces during the winter months at night when the fish population drops in Loch Ness during the migratory "Off season." The origin of some of the "Nessies" are large female Anguilla anguilla eels which when their ovaries ripened and they were ready to return to the open ocean to migrate to the Sargasso Sea to breed, were somehow prevented from leaving their freshwater lakes, most especially Loch Ness. Females are far larger than nearly all males in Anguilliformes; which leads to some very bizarre parallel reproductive biologies within each species as well as on-going evolutionary mutations. All Lake monsters are teleost (eels) ostyichthys-bony fishes—giant eels related to or grown from the family Anguilliforme catadromous (Fish who grow up in fresh water and breed in the salt oceans) eels. Ichthyological researchers have revealed that growth in eels is more rapid in confined bodies of water (such as a loch), in water hat is not subjected to seasonal temperature changes (a condition met with in the deeper portions of a deep lake, like Loch Ness), and is not uniform (some specimens grow much faster than others belonging to the same species). The vast majority of these "Over-ripe" females shed their teeth, lose minerals from vital body tissues and die. A very rare few do not die. Instead, they experience a voracious appetite and ma
jor growth spurts. Between six and sixteen feet in length, these superpredators become known as "Eunuch-form" life stage eels. Eunuch-form life stage eels are believed to be over-ripe females somehow prevented from breeding. Enclosed lake environments share the potential for some real-life monsters in a few of these. While most die, a precious few overgrow and mutate into some really freaky biological configurations. Chemical, petrochemical and sewage pollutants also play into this. Anything over twenty feet becomes a "Guivre" stage eel. The term "Guivre"is an old-English / Gaelic term for "Giant water dragon." Some of these "Nessies" may be a mutation of a species that currendy lives in the Loch. Some Anguilliforme Guivres may actually be a mutated subspecies of the catadromous Anguilla anguilla or in the case of North American lake monsters, Anguilla rostrata. Anguilla anguilla giganticus or Anguilla nessianicus is a possibility. Some enormous, rare Guivres may in fact originate as the salt-water preferring species Conger conger or an enormous Conger giganticus. Lake monster creatures can be described as vicious, slimy, 6,000 lb. fish with amphibian abilities, that slither on land like snakes, sporting additional rows of teeth and are capable of climbing out of the water to seek dry-land prey. All Anguilliforme eels are capable of hunting and locomoting overland for extended periods due to the production of copious amounts of body slime and the ability to respirate and obtain oxygen using their moist gill tissues and internal swim (air) bladders.
In Scotland, North America, and through-out the world, normal sized juvenile (Elvers) and adult phase eels inhabit waterways, river systems, lake systems and coastal regions without ever being noticed by the local human inhabitants who are not professional or regular sports fishermen. Eels are perceived as unpleasant and are considered "nasty" in a manner consistent with many other kinds of animal life considered as "vermin" and are in many cases thoroughly ignored by the general public and general populace of any given lake-side or ocean community. They are, in fact, "underfoot" on many occasions, without ever being noticed.
Steve Alten's theory that researchers "pinging" the loch's deep water ranges with active sonar may in fact scare or agonize the Guivre-stage eels into hiding in the 900 foot deep fissure's crevices is completely supported by the sheer angles of the mountain escarpments and the manner in which they drop into the 750-plus foot depths of Loch Ness. The reflectivity underwater appears to defeat the purpose of active sonar.
The theory identifying "Nessie" as an eel is old. Proposed by Dr. Roy P. Mackal and Professor Robert H. Rines in the 1975 publication of "The Monsters of Loch Ness"; the theory may have originally been proposed by the late Dr. Maurice Burton. Dr. Roy P. Machal stated in his book and in interviews that his first choice for "Nessie" is a giant mollusk—-That is something related to squids, slugs and sea slugs. Giant "Thick-bodied eels" were his second choice.
Regarding the tooth: Del is seeking the return of the item which he is absolutely certain is a tooth and not a horn, antler or claw. He does not believe it to be an artificially manufactured (hoaxed) artifact, but an actual large predator relic. I have, over many years, developed a theory as to the nature of legendary lake monsters in Canada, the Great Lakes region, northern Minnesota, Scandinavia, Australia and most importantly, Northern Scotland. The configuration of this purported tooth is recognizable to me and should be to many lettered zoologists. The bite pattern suggested in the photo images of the highland red deer's Cervus elaphus' hind's carcass is one that has been documented in books regarding natural predators of both fresh and salt water systems. Del and his companion have both stated that the tooth was seized in a manner which we all later agreed was suspicious at least and illegal at worst. Both young men have stated in interviews that they observed a "badge," and "laminated Photo-ID." Del states that he thinks the offender was a water bailiff or a game warden. An association with the Northern Constabulary office in Inverness was also stated as third party heresay in the story which Del has repeated often and without change. I've used classic interview techniques on him and his two associates and have not been able to pull out any glaring inconsistencies in their three separate stories. I'm currently chasing down several police agencies who may operate at the higher "Crown" levels in northern Scotland. I'm also concerned that the encounter may have been with a local Scot who may have impersonated a police or "Peace officer" agent and thus perpetrated a robbery against my witnesses.
The intervention by a "water bailiff" or "game warden" has been stated as "unusual" by corporate planning personnel from the Scottish Natural Heritage office in Inverness. Military veterans from the Scottish Regiments who are personal friends of mine are also confused by this. Staff with Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Scottish Water do not carry badges of the type carried by the Ranger Services in the USA. All three organizations use a laminated photo-ID that clearly states the name of the organization and the individual.
The Loch Ness Tooth is clearly not a deer antler. The relic was not produced from the body of any mammal. The appearance of the relic is definitively not deciduous bone. It's too polished. Deer antlers are roughened and present a matte finish in nature. Also, tiny buds and warts of deciduous (Aerated spongiform bone) protrude from the region of their bases. Also, deer horns are never "Barbed" to the degree which I observed in the collection of 35mm color prints and the corresponding negatives which Del forwarded to me as proof of his claims. No structure in mammals presents as sharp as the barbs in the purported relic.
Last photo taken of the massive eel tooth
(before confiscated by a Scottish water bailiff.)
The number one theory thrown back at us through e-mails and blogs is that it is a clever hoax. The number two theory is an insane notion that it is the antler spike of a feral Reeves Muntjac dwarf deer—Muntiacus reevesi (actually an Asiatic species accidentally introduced into the English countryside the way rabbits broke free and infested Australia) polished smooth by stomach acids. Several outstanding photographs appear of the skull, tusks, and antlers of the Muntjac and while the basic antler spike configuration is vaguely similar in form to Del's item/ relic, it is clearly not the same substance or biological structure. The tip of the relic is curved back into a vicious barb and is too sharp to be grown from any mammal. Also, deciduous bony nodules cover the base and shaft of a Muntjac antler and no amount of hydrochloric acid could ever eliminate all of the nodules to the absolute smoothness of the item/relic in the photo images.
The imaged item/relic appears most similar to aging chitinous materials which corresponds to fish scales and certain types of crustacean shells or mollusk secretions. Several scrimshaw experts from New Bedford and Laguna Beach have declared it to not be ivory and a dentist does not believe it is any form of mammalian enamel. Several palaeontologists, several museum curators and two marine ichthyologists do buy into their theories that it is chitin (fish scale material) and because of the relic's 3-4 inch size and the protracted barbs along the distal surface (with a distal longitudinal keel) and at the tip—That it is very unlikely to be a hoax—And far more likely to be a vomerine tooth from a fish with a six foot head.
Native American, Inuit, Lap herders, and northern Siberian tribes and crafts persons carve antler, bone and ivory into perfection to include hook tips and barbs; but they do not eliminate the grain and the spar / lattice patterns in ivory and deciduous bone with any amount of polishing.
In addition to the barbs they also noted the appearance of keeled root structure which indicate a tooth which mother nature designed to be shed. They stated that hoaxed teeth would probably be given embedding roots like what human teeth have. Both cartilaginous and bony fishes grow teeth which are designed to be shed and replaced. My experts assume hucksters would just plain be ignorant of these facts.
Other experts from UCSD and Europe believe that only two families of organisms extrude or secrete barbs in the teeth of large or gigantic specimens: Architeuthis giant squids which produce barbed "hooks" inside the suction cups of their twin seizing tentacles
and oversized Anguilliforme eels.
I received help from American novelist Steve Alten who paid for my third trip to Inverness-Shire in December of 2004 for a week and a half prior to the Christmas holidays. I offer no apologies for this as his publisher licensed my decades of quiet research into the existence of "Nessie." Obviously, I take personal umbrage at the accusations from radio talk show hosts that this is a staged scam to promote Steve's book, entitled "The Loch." Steve and "The Loch" financed a lot of major hard work which capped years of foundational gathering of testimonies from family members of British military personnel who reside in the Loch-Side towns.
I found a trend during my trips between 1993 and 2004 in that there is a pattern or tradition of conservation regarding the exact identity of the family of related species that sometimes produce a lake monster. I'm still uncertain as to whether this tradition began 70 years ago or 1500 years ago, but all my opinions are captured beautifully in Steve's book.
About this eBook
This eBook was created from a very poorly printed copy of the original pdf. Due to the limitations of the printed material many of the original images (all of which were low-quality b&w photos) were of unusable condition. These images were very dark and detail was very difficult to discern.
As a result, I replaced several of the images with new, full-color ones. I was able to locate exact full-color copies of the original images on the internet. For those images I could not locate, I used Photoshop CS5 Extended to enhance them as much as possible. The original images that I did not replace are the black and whites found throughout the text.
Steve Alten Page 4