FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 63 
pressed behind; scales very small and somewhat 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 3.389; 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 ceca, as given by Jordan and Evermann, is 30. Bean says from 30 to 
1388. 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 46 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 Fraser 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 
