268 LING. BURBOT. 



their favourite food, or from the number of enemies which 

 their regular presence has attracted. 



THE LING. 



The body of this fish is very long and slender, measur- 

 ing from four to seven feet. The head is flat, the upper 

 jaw is the longest, and on the chin is a small beard. The 

 colours vary; some being of an olive hue on the sides and 

 back, and others cinereous, but the belly is always 

 whitish. 



The ling, so called from a corruption of long, is abun- 

 dant about the Scilly islands, and also on the coasts of 

 Yorkshire, Scotland, and Ireland ; and forms no inconsi- 

 derable article of commerce. In the Yorkshire seas it is 

 in perfection from the beginning of February to May. In 

 June it spawns, depositing its eggs in soft oozy ground. 

 Vast quantities of ling are salted for exportation, as well 

 as for home-consumption. When it is cut or split for 

 curing, it must measure twenty-six inches or upwards 

 from the shoulder to the tail. When the fish is in perfec- 

 tion, a large quantity of oil may be procured from the 

 liver by a slow fire; but if a violent heat is applied, the 

 quantity will be diminished in proportion. The oil which 

 nature hoards up so abundantly in the cellular membrane 

 of some fishes is intended to support them in the spawning 

 season, when they neglect their ordinary food. 



THE BURBOT. 



The body of this fish has some resemblance to that of 

 an eel, and its motions are somewhat similar. The head is 

 flat and ill-shapen ; and on the extremity of the nose are 

 two small beards, and another on the chin. The colours 

 vary considerably : some are dusky, others of a dirty green 

 spotted with black or yellow, and the belly is sometimes 

 white ; but the real colours are frequently concealed by 

 the skin that covers the body. 



The burbot abounds in the lake of Geneva. In our own 

 country it is found in the Trent, the Witham, and the great 



