Slippery Subjects

Maori eel catching methods are related in a new book about migratory animals by American artist and author James Prosek, who spent time in New Zealand studying the fish. Bird, Butterfly, Eel is designed for children and features colourful paintings and a concise story line following a year in the life of a barn swallow, a monarch butterfly and an eel. Prosek said being among the Maori helped to change his world view, allowing him to dwell much more on the mystery of how things happen rather than being focused solely on finding out why. Prosek has also written an article on eels that will be published in a future issue of National Geographic focusing on the Maori. “The Maoris eat the eels, but they let them go if they have red eyes,” Prosek said. “The Maori believe the ones with red eyes are ‘taniwha,’ or guardian eels, that might cause them to die if they kill or eat them.”