260 NORTHERN FISHES 



sion for some time a live albino of this species. It was a pale straw 

 color and had pink eyes. 



This fish has assumed considerable economic importance in recent 

 years, since the oil produced from the liver was found to be similar to 

 that from the liver of the salt-water cod. Countless thousands of these 

 fishes have been wantonly destroyed. It is to be hoped that the value of 

 the remaining ones will be recognized and that they will be treated ac- 

 cordingly. A small plant at Lake of the Woods is now processing burbot 

 livers on a considerable scale for the extraction of oil. 



Only a few people use the burbot for food. Otherwise, except for the 

 recent demand for oil, this fish has been discarded as useless. Its snake- 

 like markings coupled with its slender form doubtless account for the 

 prejudice against using its flesh, which is very well flavored and not as 

 strong as that of many popular species of game fishes. It has a slightly 

 coarse texture and in large ones may be rather firm. Burbot should be 

 skinned before cooking and may be made into fillets. Moore (1917) 

 stated that the meat of the burbot resembles that of the cod and the 

 haddock and, with due consideration of its smaller size, may be cooked 

 like those fishes. 



