80 FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



distance, constantly emitting the sound quite loudly. 

 A double air bladder connected by a narrow passage 

 is supposed to produce this peculiar noise, the air 

 being forced from one part to another. An espe- 

 cially hard-fighting fish when hooked, the drum gives 

 one a long tussle, and tests tackle as well. It is not 

 very often taken when angling, but those who have 

 caught both sheepshead and bass will prefer the 

 former, principally because they are just as hard 

 fighters, and, having more weight, take a longer time 

 and are more difficult to bring to net. 



Very peculiar and far from attractive fish are the 

 burbots, or fresh-water cods, which are found in the 

 Takes and rivers of the Northern States, and as far 

 north as the Arctic circle. Often called "cusks," 

 they are known in !S T ew England as the " eel pout," 

 in New York as the " Hng," or " lawyer," and under 

 many other names in various sections. A most 

 voracious bottom fish, they feed principally on small 

 fish, and often on any dead fish or animal. In ap- 

 pearance they somewhat resemble both the bullhead 

 and the eel. They have nothing about them to at- 

 tract an angler, except their fighting qualities. One 

 peculiarity they possess, and that is, they almost 

 always bite at night, generally after dark. They are 

 most frequently taken during the night, on set lines 

 placed quite deep. Occasionally fishermen catch 



