5i8 Roosczrlt Wild Life .hiinils 



regions (Kendall and Goldsborough, 08, p. 64; Moore, '17, p. 2). Moore tells 

 of its hiding in holes and crannies in the deeper water during the day. Forbes 

 and Richardson ('09, p. 331), on the authority of Brehrn, mention similar habits. 

 Bean (03, p. 703) says, "It is stated that the Burbot is usually found in deep 

 water on mud bottom, except during the s]jawning season in March, when it 

 frequents hard or rocky bottoms." Goode ('84, p. 238) gives the following on the 

 habitat and distribution of the species : "The Burbot is most abundant in lakes, 

 to wit ; The Great Lakes, lakes of New York, Winnipiseogee Lake, and lakes of 

 Maine and New Brunswick. In general terms, including under the name 'Burbot' 

 both the American and European forms, the species may be said to inhabit the 

 fresh waters of the northern regions both of Europe and America, being par- 

 ticularly abundant in the Great Lakes and in all ponds, lakes, and large streams, 

 thence northward to the Arctic Circle. . . . The Burbot is not known to 

 enter brackish waters at the mouths of rivers. According to Mr. \\'. .\insworth. 

 Burbots are found principally in deep water and on mud, except during the spawn- 

 ing season, which occurs in March, when they run on mck and hard bottom. 

 This refers to the Lake Ontario Region. . . . In the northern rivers, as a 

 rule, the species is very abundant, though within the limits nf the United States, 

 so far as we know, the species is Irss comninn in ri\crs." Jordan and Evermami 

 ('98, p. 294) quote Milner as saying that this hsh is sometimes found at a depth 

 of 80 fathoms, but that it occurs at all depths above this level. 



food. Baker ('16, p. 199) found only crawfish (Cainbanis propiiiqiiiis and 

 C. bartoni robiistus) in the stomachs of two fish opened, one of which was from 

 Oneida Lake, but had been jnirchased in .1 .Syracuse market. Forbes (Forbes and 

 Richardson, "09. p. 332; Forbes, 'SSa, p. 433: ■88b, p. 478; Hay, '94, p. 293) foimd 

 more than So'; of its food to be fish, including Perch (Perca flavesccns), pike, 

 and whitefish : the rest was chietly crawfish, including Cainbanis propiiiqiius. 

 ^•^lrl)L■s ('88a, ]). 433) considers "It is extremely voracious, with a wonderfully 

 distensible stomach; and not only captures the most active fishes, such as pike, 

 I>ut will eat carrion, and may even swallow stones. It is reported to be nocturnal 

 in liabit. and nften to secure its jirey by stralth." I'.ean ( '03. pp. 038. 703) also 

 mentions its extreme voracity and its destruetion nf pike. 1 'ereli and whitefish, 

 and adds to the list Lake Blob, Craiiidcu foniiosa. sunfish and lampreys. These 

 last are taken by the Burbot in .Maska waters. He tells further of large stones 

 found in its stomach, one a ])ound in weight having been taken. Hubbs ('20, p. 

 2) reports a cuttid. Cottus fraiikliiiii. fnmi the stnm;ieh of a Ling, .-nid Tracy 

 ('15, ]). 50) lists trout and herring in ;idditi(in tn I'ereh, vDung whitefish and 

 crawfish, lu'ermann and Kend.ill ('1/1. ]h 1^04} give the following notes on the 

 food of the Burl)ot : "This fisli is one nf the greatest gormandizers found in t)ur 

 waters. If he can ])rocure f 1 lie will nut desist from eating so long as there is 



globe nv tii;i(l-fisli. The smallest of the three before me, when my description was 

 ni.-ule, being sixteen inches long, was so completely filled with the fishes swallowed 

 that tlu'ir tails were ])lainlv seen in its throat b\- looking into its mouth. On 

 o]iening it I found no less tli.-ui ten dace { Sriiioliliis hiillarls). ;ill about the s.ame 



