Back in the day .all the eels that were caught & sold in RI either for bait or food were caught in brackish water or salt ponds & when they were speared thru the ice it was usually saltwater coves .
Mike ,,,,the largest eel I ever caught & also the largest common eel I have ever seen .I caught it in a quarry on a bluegill .while my friend were swimming .needless to say I don,t think I ever saw them swim there again .
I could be mistaken but all the bait eels that come from Maine come from F/W
