James Prosek signs copies of his book "Ocean Fishes" at Nutmeg TU's holiday party last December. A documentary on eels by the local resident will premiere on the PBS series "Nature" Wednesday, April 17.

PBS to air Prosek on eels

James Prosek signs copies of his book "Ocean Fishes" at Nutmeg TU's holiday party last December. A documentary on eels by the local resident will premiere on the PBS series "Nature" Wednesday, April 17.
James Prosek signs copies of his book “Ocean Fishes” at Nutmeg TU’s holiday party last December. A documentary on eels by the local resident will premiere on the PBS series “Nature” Wednesday, April 17.

“The Mystery of Eels,” a documentary about freshwater eels by James Prosek of Easton, premieres on the PBS series “Nature” Wednesday, April 17, at 8 p.m.

According to Prosek, who wrote and narrates the program, his introduction to the slimy, muscular fish occurred when fishing as a boy in the ponds and rivers of Connecticut. He would catch the beady-eyed eels by accident when fishing for something else. But when an old game warden explained that they were born thousands of miles away in the Sargasso Sea, somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle, Prosek became hooked and determined to learn as much he could about the mysterious creatures.

Prosek’s quest, documented in his book Eels: An Exploration, from New Zealand to the Sargasso, of the World’s Most Mysterious Fish.

Information about the show can be found here.

The show will also be available for viewing online at pbs.org.

Click here to view video of Prosek making prints of eels in the studio.

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