138 FISHES OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Susquehanna and Allegheny rivers. This species grows to a length of 
four inches and is represented by several varieties, one of which has the 
body robust instead of slender and another has the siender body as in 
gracilis, but with longer fins. 
This fish is found under stones in clear, rocky and gravelly brooks. It 
has no importance either as food or bait and is very destructive to the 
eges of other fishes. 
Famity GADID (Tue Cop-risHes). 
Genus LOTA Covter. 
157. Lota maculosa Le Sveor. 
The Burbot. (Figure 75.) 
The body of the burbot is elongate, eel-shaped ; its greatest height equaling the 
length of head without snout, and about one-sixth of total without caudal; it is 
roundish, somewhat compressed posteriorly. The eyeis small, less than one-half 
length of snoutand about one-eighth length of head. The upper jaw reaches slightly 
beyond the hind margin of the eye, its length three-sevenths length of head. The 
lower jaw is included within the upper, and has a stout barbel which is nearly one- 
fifth as long as the head; the ventral is longer than the pectoral, but does not reach 
half way to vent; the pectoral is halfas long as the head; the distance of the first dor- 
sal from the head equals the height of the body ; the longest ray of the first dorsal 
equals half the length of its base; the dorsal fins are separated by a narrow inter- 
space ; the second dorsal is higher than the first, and the length of its base is nearly 
one-half total without caudal; the anal begins under the ninth ray of the second 
dorsal and extends as far back as that fin ; caudal rounded; the scales are deeply 
imbedded in the skin, not imbricated. D. 18, 68 to 76; A. 67; V.7; vertebrze, 22 to 
23 +-38 to 39; pyloric czeca, 30 to 138. 
The color is dark olivaceous, reticulated with blackish ; the lower parts yellowish 
or dusky; the dorsal, anal and caudal fins with a narrow dark edge. 
The American burbot was first described by Le Sueur from Lake Erie 
in 1817, and, also from Northampton, Counecticut, under a different name. 
This common fish has received a great many names, including the fol- 
lowing: Marthy, methy, losh, eelpout, dogfish, chub-eel, ling, lawyer, 
lake-cusk, fresh-water cod, aleby trout and mother-of-eels. 
The southern limit of this fish appears to be Kansas City, Missouri; 
according to Prof. Cope, it has been once taken in the Susquehanna near 
Muncy, Lycoming county; it is extremely common in the Great Lakes; 
westward it ranges to Montana and northward throughout British Co- 
lumbia and Alaska to the Arctic Ocean; it is most abundantin the Great 
Lakes and lakes of New York, New England and New Brunswick; it 
abounds also in rivers and lakes of Alaska. 
The average length of this species in the Great Lake region is about’ 
two feet; in Alaska, according to Dr. Dall, it reaches a length of five feet 
and occasionally weighs sixty pounds; the size of the fish depends 
chiefly on the amount of food accessible to it. 
It is stated that the burbot 1s usually found in deep water on mud 
bottom, except during the spawning season in March, when it frequents 
