CHAPTER XXXVIL 



THE BURBOT, OR EEL POUT. 



THIS fish (Lota vulgcuris) is the only one of the cod family that lives per- 

 manently in fresh water in England ; and it is only locally known. It is 

 found in the Trent, Cam, Tame, Onse, Esk, and Skein, the Yorkshire 

 Derwent, and the Tare, Bnre, and Waveney in Norfolk. I once took 

 one from the Wey, near Weybridge, which weighed half a pound ; but, 

 though all my family have lived thereabout for three or four genera- 

 tions, none remembered a similar capture. The fish prefers slow, oozy 

 rivers to running, clear streams, and is very eel-like in its habits. It 

 hides itself in corners and behind obstructions, only protruding its 

 nose and eyes for such food as might unwittingly be borne towards it. 

 At night time it is occasionally taken on an eel-line, but more frequently 

 in eel baskets placed in the more secluded parts of the water amongst 

 water lilies, &c. It is very hard to kill, like the eel ; and sometimes 

 attains seven or eight pounds in size. This is, however, a very uncom- 

 mon size, the usual weight being one or two pounds at the utmost. It is 

 also found in various parts of Northern Europe, Siberia, Asia, and India. 



The burbot or, as it is sometimes called, burbolt spawns about Feb- 

 ruary or March, and, until that time, its flesh is white and firm and of 

 good flavour, more like the eel than its congener the cod. I think it 

 would unquestionably pay for cultivation, and it is almost certain it 

 would thrive in large lakes. The Nottingham market sometimes shows 

 some really fine examples. 



According to Yarrell, its length is from 1ft. to 2ft., the head depressed, 

 smooth, jaws equal, chin with one barbule, the gape large with small 

 teeth above and below, eyes of moderate size, gill opening large, length 

 of the head as compared with that of the body as one to four, the 

 form of body cylindrical compressed posteriorly. The front dorsal fin is 

 small and rounded ; the second elongated, reaching nearly to the tail ; 



