FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 63 



pressed behind; scales very small and somewliat imbedded; dorsals 2, the first 

 short, the other long; one long anal; pectoral comparatively short, 1.72 in head; 

 ventrals ending in filaments, 1.69 in head ; caudal rounded. 



General color of head and body above and on sides greenish-yellow, mottled 

 and spotted with very dark brown; belly soiled white; dorsals, anal, pectoral, 

 and caudal same color as body ; ventrals soiled yellowish ; under parts of head 

 soiled white ; some yellow on branchiostegals ; iris light orange. 



Description from a male specimen 18.25 inches long caught on trawl with 

 cut chub bait in about 30 feet of water. 



The burbot varies considerably in proportions and color, both individually 

 and locally. In color some are very much more mottled and blotched and with 

 more or less definite black spots. In 12 specimens from First and Second Con- 

 necticut lakes, ranging from 10.12 to 19.12 inches in length, and averaging 

 about 15, the length of head in length of fish to base of caudal varies from 3.46 

 to 4.64, average about 4.22 ; the longest diameter of eye in length of head 7.28 

 to 9.54, average 8.25; snout 2.22 to 4.11, average 3.39; maxillary 2.12 to 2.67, 

 average 2.29 ; mandible 1.61 to 2.54, average 1.94 ; pectoral 1.50 to 1.89, average 

 1.74 ; ventral 1.5 to 2.02, average 1.82. Jordan and Evermann give the gillrakers 

 as about 3+6. In most of our examples the number on the short arm was 1 ; 

 in one instance only were there 2; the number on the long arm varied from 6 

 to 9, sometimes differing by one on the 2 sides of the same individual. The 

 branchiostegals were seldom the same on both sides of the same specimen, 

 running 8-7, 7-6, 7-7, 7-5. The scales reached as high as 262. The number of 

 pyloric coeca. as given by Jordan and Evermann, is 30. Bean says from 30 to 

 138. In our specimens the arrangement is irregular and hard to count. There 

 were several main roots, some of which had as many as 5 subdivisions and these 

 were again divided into 2. One specimen had 11 main clusters and 40 smaller 

 subdivisions. In our counts we have taken the individual points; they range 

 in number from 49 to 90. Of 11 specimens 6 were females and 5 males. 



This fish is distinguished by its shape and the barbels on nostrils and at 

 chin and can not be confounded with any other species found in this region. 



" Cusk,*' " fresh-water cusk," " ling," " lawyer," " losh," " eelpout," 

 etc., are a few of the many names by which this fish is known, but 

 " burbot " is preferable. In some parts of Europe it is called 

 " tadpole." 



Wherever it occurs it is usually rather abundant, although some 

 lakes in New England, where this fish is esteemed, are somewhat 

 depleted. The burbot has a very wide range, extending through the 

 northern states to the Eraser River, the Arctic regions, and Alaska. 

 It has been reported from as far south as Kansas, although none has 

 been found south of New York on the Atlantic slope. Most deep 

 lakes in New England contain the "cusk." It occurs in all three of 

 the Connecticut lakes, and small ones have been taken in tributary 

 and neighboring waters. It seems to be common in this region. 



In Maine and New Hampshire it is usually considered a good food 

 fish, but in the Great Lakes region the fishermen despise it. 

 Probably this is because so many are caught in fishing for more 

 desirable species. We, personally, prefer it to the " laker." It makes 

 an excellent chowder and is very good when cooked in other ways. 

 In these waters it probably does not attain a weight of over 4 or 5 

 35723—08 5 



