310 ANACANTHINI. 



Means of capture. — It is taken by nets, baited hooks, trimmers, or nipbt lines, 

 while owing to its destructive habits it is not protected during the breeding 

 season at Neuchatel. 



Baits. — A gudgeon or red worm. 



Breeding. — The example figured was a female, captured in March, 1879, in the 

 River Thet, in Norfolk ; its ova at that period were not fully matured, but it 

 must be remembered that the season was unusually cold. Some authors observe 

 that it deposits its ova in December and January ; Yarrell states February 

 or March : while it may breed rather later in England than on the Continent. 

 Leon Baltner found 128,000 eggs in one example. At spawning time it leaves 

 the deeper waters, and seeks smooth localities in streams, where it deposits 

 its eggs. 



Uses. — In the Oder these fishes were formerly much sought after, the fattest 

 of those not disposed of being cut into slips, dried, and employed as candles. 

 Oil from their livers was likewise used as an external remedy for swellings ; 

 while the gall, in common with that of some other fishes, was recommended for 

 its supposed efficacy in affections of the eyes. Glue (isinglass) was manufactured 

 from its air-bladder. It is stated in the Encyclopsedia Londinensis that " in 

 Siberia and many parts of Russia, especially among the country people, they employ 

 the skin of this fish instead of glass, and it is as clear as oiled paper : the Ostides 

 and Tschulymch Tartars use the skins for their summer dress, and make bags of 

 it to preserve their pelfry." This may be erroneous, and the fish alluded to be 

 eels, or perhaps both, for Mr. Eden* observes " some members of this race (the 

 Ostiaks) use fish-skin clothing in place of furs, the eels, which abound throughout 

 the country, furnishing the material. These skins are very strong, and quite 

 air-tight, excluding an immense deal of cold when well rubbed with fat. They 

 are also used as windows to their yurts." 



As food. — The burbot has long been esteemed as a great luxury, but more so 

 on the Continent than in this country ; its flesh is white and delicate, while its 

 liver is its most delicious morsel. Aldrovandus has recorded how a German 

 Countess carried her epicurism so far as to expend the greatest portion of her 

 income in the purchase of this dish. Its eggs, however, are unwholesome, and 

 occasionally even poisonous. But De Kay says it is a poor article of' food, even 

 the dogs in the Arctic regions refusing to touch it. 



Habitat. — This fish, although distributed throughout northern and central 

 Europe, also Canada and the adjacent portions of the United States, is still rather 

 local in its habits. Prior to the time when the geographical distribution of 

 animals began to be attended to, it was asserted that the Burbot was found 

 in India, a locality which was very properly discarded until the error was 

 reintroduced by Lacepede at the end of the last century, and which has been 

 copied by Donovan, Yarrell, and Couch. No fresh- water species of the cod family, 

 G'adida;, exist in India, while in the sea or backwaters is only the single and 

 aberrant genus of Bregmaceros. 



In Continental Europe the burbot is found throughout most of its northern, 

 central, and eastern portions : in Norway, Sweden, and rivers flowing into the 

 Baltic and Black seas ; in Siberia, through central Europe from Hungary to 

 Switzerland, Germany, and as far south as France. An interesting fable exists 

 respecting the introduction of this fish into the Lake of Geneva. Jurine asserted 

 that, according to popular tradition, the burbot was brought there from Neuchatel, 

 wliile Blanchat, in his Naturi\l History of the environs of this latter place, 

 attributes its introduction to the monks of St. Prex, in the fourteenth century. 

 In support of this opinion, Lunel, author of the Fishes of Lake Leman or Geneva, 

 lel'ers to a maj) of the Lake engraved at Geneva, in l.ji-^y, by Jean du Villard, who 

 has gi-\en in the margin figures of the fish, with their local names. All are 

 recognizable, but the burbot and eel aie not represented, and due to the 

 impassable barrier of the Perto du Rhone, at Bellegarde, migiations of the latter 

 to or from the sea are impossible. This absence of the burbot was held to 

 coincide with the local tradition, but, as observed by Professor Forel at the 

 * Eden, Frozen Atiii, l.'^T'J, ]>. H:i. 



