0/i.-i</cJ Liiki- rislii-s 517 



Lota maculosa (LeSucur^. Blrbot. Ling, Lawyer, Eelpolt. The Burl)ot 

 is the only nienilK-r of the cod family, Gadidac, found in fresh water. It is easily 

 distinguished by the possession of three harbels. one by each anterior nostril and 

 one on the middle of the chin. The caudal fin is rounded and the second dorsal 

 and the anal fin is long and low, while the first dorsal is very short. The 1)ody is 

 slender and somewhat F.el-shaped. and the scales arc numerous but ver}' minute. 



Bean ('02, p. 448) states that the Burlwt is abundant in the lake. The 

 testimony of net fishermen, fish dealers and various individuals familiar with fish 

 conditions in the lake indicates that it is still abundant there. We found also a 

 number of dead ones. 



nri'iiliiii/ Ifiihils and Life History. The BurlK)t has a long s|)awning season, 

 extending at least from Noveml)er to .March (Bean, '03. p. 703). The eggs were 

 thought by Bean (I.e.) and Goode ('S4. p. J38) to be dciwsitcd in deep water; 

 but Xash ('08, p. 104) says this fish runs into streams or onto rix-ky shallows 

 during the spawning sea.son in spring. It frequents hard or rocky lM)ttom when 

 breeding, according to Bean (03. p. 703). The species is very prolific. Kstimates 

 of the numlier of eggs in a single female range from 160.000 in a me<lium sized 

 fish ti> 670,000 in a very large one ( Moore. '17. p. 2). Some eggs of this s|)ocics 

 were discovered in i</y'i, by .\. K. I'rince and .\. Halkett ( Benslcy, '15. p. 50). 

 They are very delicate, like the eggs of the cod and other marine relatives, 

 according to Bean ('03, p. 703 ), who states further that the eggs of .\laska Burlwt 

 are of a creamy yellow color. Hay ('1)4. P- -294") s«iys that they are deposited 

 loose on the iKittom. 



The average length of this fish in ihc Great I-ikes Region is alxmt two feet. 

 In .Maska it reaches a length of five feet and sometimes weighs sixty pounds 

 (Bean. '03, p. 703). The young of the si)ecies appears to be little known. GcxmIc 

 ('84. p. 2}f<) says: "The young of this species are not descriU-d in any American 

 work as far as I know." It was, therefore, with considerable interest that we 

 found a little Burl)ot (\o. 553) one and three- fourths inches hmg near the mouth 

 of a creek at West X'ienna. The water was rapid and clear and the lujttom nvky 

 at the place where it was caught. The fish was light olive-green in color on its 

 upiH-r parts aiul white Ir'Iow. ( )n its sides and on the dorsal and cau<lal fins, 

 there were many bl.ick blotches and s|>ots. Ken<Iall ami ( ioldslM>rough ( "o^. |», <i4 ) 

 record the taking of young Burlxits i,i>-j.45 inches in length, in |m»«>Is in a field on 

 Indian .'^tream in .\'ew !Iam|»hire. They write: "We are unable to ascertain tluil 

 young so small as these have Ik-cii observed In-fore. They were very delicate, diwl 

 quickly, aiul iKranie disturted altoul the head, although the water in the nuimow 

 bucket, in which nunnows live<l very well, was cliangitl fre^iuently. Their apjK-ar- 

 ance was much like the adtilt. and easily ri-cognize<l. Their color was somewliat 

 mottled olive, tip of first <lorsal retlilislj." They also to«»k young BurUits _• 75 

 to (» inches in length, in the Mast Inlel of .'second I-nke in the same region. 

 Rcighard ("15. p. -'3<»' rejiorts taking a young Burlwtt two ami one-lull inches 

 lotig, at the mouth of ("arp I reek where it enters Burts l.ake, in t"heUi\|,;an 

 Comity, Michigan. It was taken near ilense masses of ar|uatic vegetation. 



lliiNliit. In ( )neida Lake the BurlM>t is an inhabitant of dccj) water. Init it 

 probably comes to shallow water to fee<l at night, as it is known to do in other 



