THE CODFISH FAMILY Gadidae

BURBOT Lota lota (Linnaeus, 1758)

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native - State Rare. In Massachusetts, burbot are known from only 4 records. Lesueur (1818) described and illustrated a juvenile specimen from Northampton (presumably from the Connecticut River). Storer (1839) stated that he saw or identified a 6-inch fish from the Ashuelot River, New Hampshire (Connecticut system); but later (1867) he mentions another (or the same?) 6-inch specimen from the Connecticut River (in Massachusetts). In July of 1970, Joseph Bergin, and a Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife survey crew found single specimens (7.5 and 8.5 inches TL) in Hubbard and Schenob brooks, both in the Housatonic drainage, near the Connecticut state line. The most recent record is based on two post-larvae found on May 16, 1987 by William Kenney in Longmeadow Brook near the Connecticut River. One of the specimens was raised until mid-June, when it measured about 30 mm SL and was definitely identified as a burbot. The specimen is now in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Due to its rarity, burbot are listed as a species of special concern in Massachusetts, but their actual status is still an enigma. Stream surveys attempting to locate burbot in the Housatonic (1979-89) and in the Connecticut tributaries (1979-88) failed to find the species. Burbot were never collected during hundreds of gillnet sets or seine hauls made over a 20-year period (1969-89) by the Massachusetts Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit in the Connecticut River mainstem. In addition, local fishermen have not reported this species. Since some burbot found at the southern edge of their range may be vagrants from established populations it is possible that the Connecticut River fishes are from upriver in New Hampshire. If this is correct, the eggs, larvae, juveniles, or pre-spawning adults would have been washed at least 100 miles downstream and over at least 3 major dams. In contrast, it is also possible that there still exists a very small population of burbot in one of the deep pools along the Connecticut River or within its major tributaries.

ATLANTIC TOMCOD Microgadus tomcod (Walbaum, 1792)

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE: Native. In Massachusetts, tomcod can be expected to occur in most coastal areas. They move to the head of the tide and above in unobstructed coastal streams during the winter spawning season. Storer (1839) noted that 2,000 bushels were taken annually from the Charles River at Watertown. Although still common in many areas, tomcod have declined in some areas. The declines are probably due to changes in the water quality of coastal streams, inner harbors and bays.