THE BURBOT. 283 



the common eel. The back and sides are of a greyish olive co- 

 lour, and the belly silvery, though in many specimens the colours 

 are found to vary, some being dusky, others of a dirty green, some- 

 times spotted with black, and at others with yellow ; the real co- 

 lours in fact being frequently concealed by the slime ; but the 

 distinguishing marks on the fins seem to be alike in all ; they are 

 as follows : the dorsal and anal fins are edged with white, and the 

 caudal is marked with a transverse black bar, the extreme tip be- 

 ing white. 



Their habits resemble those of the common eel, lurking like 

 them beneath stones and fissures in the banks on the look out for 

 prey ; and from which when hooked therein, it is no easy matter 

 to dislodge them. From their sharp teeth gimp hooks should be 

 employed. 



The burbot seems to lay pretty close during the day time, choos- 

 ing chiefly the night season for his feeding time, when he is ge- 

 nerally taken on a night line or trimmer. He will bite at most 

 small fresh water fishes, and as he will not object to a dead bait, 

 many salt water fish might likewise be employed to catch him. It 

 is said that the best time for catching burbots is during, and shortly 

 after a violent storm of thunder and lightening, accompanied with 

 heavy rain. 



Their spawning time is early in the spring. 



