2,82 THE BURBOT, 



The Burbot or Eel Pout. 



The burbot is the only one of the cod tribe that are ever known 

 to visit the fresh water : but it is by no means a general fish, 

 being rarely if ever found in any of the rivers of estuaries com- 

 municating with the British Channel. It is however found in the 

 Trent, Severn, Ouse, Esk, Skern, Tees, Cam, and some of the 

 rivers in Norfolk. It seems that it will live in lakes as well as 

 rivers, being taken in the lake of Geneva as large as seven pounds 

 weight, which is more than double what is known to attain to in 

 the waters of this country : but it does not seem to inhabit any of 

 our own large standing waters. 



It is said to be a well flavoured fish, though from its unpre- 

 possessing appearance, it is not so much esteemed, as from the 

 goodness of its flesh it deserves, and Mr, Yarrell very justly re- 

 marks, that as this fish, " is in its nature extremely hardy, few 

 difficulties present themselves in the way of their increase in 

 quantity, while the value of the fish would amply repay the trouble 

 or the cost of the experiment.*' 



The burbot seldom exceeds two pounds weight ; in form it very 

 much resembles the common ling, and like that fish has a single 

 large barb beneath the chin, and a small pair between the nostrils 

 and the snout. The general form of the head is however more 

 rounded than that of the ling, which from its toadlike appearance 

 gives the burbot an un pleasing aspect ; both the jaws are well 

 furnished with numerous small teeth ; the gill openings are large, 

 the form of the body is cylindrical, from the shoulders to the anal 

 fin, but becomes gradually more compressed towards the tail, 

 which is rounded at the extremity ; as are also the pectorals ; the 

 ventral fins are small and placed forward before the pectorals like 

 those of the haddock, and the rest of the cod tribe. It has two 

 dorsal fins ; the first short, commencing near the head, the second 

 long, commencing immediately behind the first, and reaching nearly 

 to the caudal fin. The scales are small, and adhere very closely to 

 the body, which is coated with a kind of mucous slime like that of 



