COD FAMILY (Gadidae) 



Burbot 



Lota lota lacusiris (Walbaum) 



The burbot, sometimes called cusk, is the only representative of 

 the cod family found in fresh water. It can be easily identified from 

 other fishes of Maine by the single prominent barbel on the underside 

 of the chin near its tip. The burbot is distributed from Labrador to the 

 southern New England states and westward to the Missouri River drain- 

 age. Although the burbot is commonly associated with cool deep lakes, 

 populations are observed in Maine streams by both fishermen and bi- 

 ologists. 



Burbot are winter spawners and usually complete spawning by the 

 time the ice is gone. Not too much is known of their breeding habits, 

 but they have been observed spawning in riflfle areas of streams and the 

 young are in the streams. The fact that many newly hatched young are 

 found on shallow sandy bottoms of lakes is an indication at least that 

 some spawning may occur in lakes. 



Burbot are taken in routine sampling of our lake and stream popu- 

 lations. Stomach analyses confirm that burbot compete with our cold- 

 water game fishes, particularly togue, for food. Smelts and suckers are 

 frequently eaten. 



A size of three pounds is considered large from Maine waters but 

 records from other parts of their range report lengths up to 30 inches 

 and weights of 10 pounds. 



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