Family GADIDAE 



THE CODFISH FAMILY 



In fishes of the codfish family the body is slender, heavy anteriorly 

 and compressed posteriorly. The scales are small and are cycloid. The 

 long dorsal fin extends almost the entire length of the back, and in 

 some species is -divided into two. No spines are present in any of the 

 fins. The caudal is rounded; the ventral fins are inserted far forward. 

 Four gills are present; there is a slit behind the fourth one; no pseudo- 

 branchiae are present. Pyloric caeca are numerous in some species, 

 and the air bladder is generally well developed. 



This well-known family includes many marine fishes, such as the 

 cod, the haddock, and many other related species. It is represented in 

 the fresh waters of Minnesota and neighboring states by only one genus 

 and one species. The same species occurs in the freshwaters of northern 

 Europe and Asia. 



GENUS Lota (Cuvier) 



This genus includes one species and several subspecies found through- 

 out northern North America and in Europe and Asia. 



EASTERN BURBOT (Lawyer, Ling, Eelpout, Spineless Catfish, 

 Me-zi-e of the Red Lake Chippewas) 



Lota lota maculosa (LeSueur) 



The eastern burbot (Figure 57) is a large, dark-olive fish, thickly 

 marliled and reticulated with blackish markings of a decidedly reptilian 

 appearance. The body is long and heavy anteriorly but is compressed 

 posteriorly. The head is rather small, depressed, and broad, and has a 

 barbel on each of the anterior nostrils. The eye is very small. The head 

 is contained 4.6 times in the length, the deptli 6 times. The mouth is 

 moderate; the lower jaw does not project; the maxillary extends to the 

 posterior edge of the eye. A small median barbel hangs under the lower 

 jaw. The jaws are set with numerous weak teeth, arranged in bands; the 

 vomer bears a crescent-shaped band of teeth; the palatines are tooth- 

 less. The very small scales are imbedded in the skin. The gill-openings 

 are wide, and the gill-membranes are free from the longest openings. 

 The divided dorsal fin has 13 and 76 rays, the anal fin 68. The ventral 

 fins each have 7 rays. The pyloric caeca number 30. The burbot reaches 

 a length of 30 inches and a weight of 10 pounds. 



The eastern burbot ranges through central and eastern Canada south- 

 ward to Connecticut and westward through the Great Lakes basin and 



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