50 MARINE AND FISHERIES 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



Length of the single specimen If inches. Body very robust forwards, and com- 

 pressed towards the tail, Depth 4-3. Head stout and broad, its length 2«6. 

 Eyes very large, dorsal, and protruding. Preopercular spine almost straight. 

 Coloration dark brown or greyish above, mottled ; white below. Dorsal and caudal 

 fins finely barred with flecks of black : lower fins less so. Anterior dorsal low, with 

 7 weak spines. Posterior dorsal with 15 soft rays. Anal fin with 12 soft rays. 

 Pectorals very large and fan-like, with 15 rays. Ventrals with 1 spine and 4 soft 

 rays. Body naked, except for a few prickles behind the pectoral fins. Lateral 

 line conspicuous anteriorly but absent posteriorly. 



Family gadidae. 



(Codfishes) 



Lota maculosa, LeSueur. 



(Ling. Burbot. Lake cusk) 



Abundant in the deeper water of Georgian Bay, and commonly taken by 

 fishermen in gill-nets. 



Length 2 feet. Body rounded and heavy in front : greatly compressed towards 

 the tail. Depth 5 to 7' 7. Head broad and flat, its length 4 to 4-9. Snout 2'9 to 

 3*4 in head. Jaws and vomer with small, sharp teeth. A longer barbel below 

 the chin, and shorter ones at the anterior openings of the nasal sacs. Eye small 

 6 '7 to 10 in head. 



General coloration olive or dark ashy above, with darker mottlings and scat- 

 tered black spots. Lower parts light ashy or yellow. The general tone is darker and 

 less yellow than in specimens from muddy waters. Anterior dorsal fin with about 

 10 concealed rays. Posterior dorsal very long, its base 1-9 to 2*3 in the length 

 of the body; containing about 75 rays. Anal fin with about 68 rays, its base 2*4 

 to 2*7. Scales very minute and imbedded. 



The ling is a voracious fish, living on perch, young whitefish, trout, herring, 

 or on crayfishes. It is of no commercial value, is generally despised by fishermen, 

 and is destroyed by them in large numbers. Its poor reputation is doubtless based 

 on its slimy repulsive appearance and more or less unpleasant odor, the flesh being 

 in reality of fair quality*. 



* The eggs of this species were discovered in 1906 and described in a paper in the "Ottawa 

 Naturalist, Mar. 1906 by Prof. Prince and Mr. A. Halkett. The egg is of a very delicate character 

 like the pelagic floating eggs of the marine ling, cod, haddock, etc. 



