01-10-2010, 07:09 PM
Burbot, also known as eelpout, ling, lota lota, and lawyer fish are the only known freshwater relative of the common cod. The have had a long history in with the waters of the world, mostly as a nuisance.
Unfortunately they have invaded some of our local waters.
Burbot are verocious consumers of fish, crawdads and all variety of fish eggs. It is because of their appetite that they are viewed as a threat to other species. In most waters, burbot do not have natural predators, which allows their numbers to increase. A female burbot can lay as many as one million eggs. Female Burbot have begun to spawn in the waters of Flaming Gorge, a process that moves the fish into waters from 3-15 feet. The female burbot will broadcast her eggs along shallow rocky beds. Once fertilized both male and female will leave the beds to allow the burbot fry to grow on their own.
We have given burbot a bad rap for their phenomenal growth in Flaming Gorge, but if the truth be told, burbot fish oil can be sitting in your bathroom medicine cabinet right now.
Burbot makes delicious table fare and can be cooked many different ways. The flaky, white meat of burbot can be boiled, baked, fried and grilled for a tasty meal. In Finland, its roe is sold as caviar.
In the 1920's a druggist named Theodore Rowell and his father Joseph Rowell, a commercial fisherman would often catch large numbers of burbot. They started feeding the burbot to a local fox farm. Within months, purchasers of the fox pelts noted how smooth and sleek the burbot fed furs were. The fox that had been fed burbot also experienced larger than normal litter rates. Some female foxes were giving birth to litters of more than 15.
In time an assayer was hired to study the nutritional value of burbot. The results were outstanding. The assay was that the liver of the burbot is 3–4 times more potent in vitamin D, and 4–10 times more potent in vitamin A than “good grades” of cod liver oil.
The vitamin content varies in Burbot from lake to lake, where their diet may have some variation. Additionally, the burbot liver makes up approximately 10% of the fish's total body weight, and their liver is six times larger than freshwater fish of comparable size. Research also found that burbot oil is lower in viscosity, and more rapidly digested and assimilated than most other fish liver oils.
Based on these findings, the Burbot Liver Products Company was formed, which later became Rowell Laboratories. Because of the potentcy of the burbot oil, sales went through the roof and in time, the company used the product to launch themselves into a billion dollar business.
Burbot oil is now used in most major "fish oil" supplements labeled as Cod Liver Oil, in fact there could be a bottle in your cabinet now.
The Burbot Bash is right around the corner. Because the best bite is at night, burbot fishing creates a unique ice fishing experience. Their high numbers make them an easy target, and their taste makes keeps anglers anxious for more.
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Unfortunately they have invaded some of our local waters.
Burbot are verocious consumers of fish, crawdads and all variety of fish eggs. It is because of their appetite that they are viewed as a threat to other species. In most waters, burbot do not have natural predators, which allows their numbers to increase. A female burbot can lay as many as one million eggs. Female Burbot have begun to spawn in the waters of Flaming Gorge, a process that moves the fish into waters from 3-15 feet. The female burbot will broadcast her eggs along shallow rocky beds. Once fertilized both male and female will leave the beds to allow the burbot fry to grow on their own.
We have given burbot a bad rap for their phenomenal growth in Flaming Gorge, but if the truth be told, burbot fish oil can be sitting in your bathroom medicine cabinet right now.
Burbot makes delicious table fare and can be cooked many different ways. The flaky, white meat of burbot can be boiled, baked, fried and grilled for a tasty meal. In Finland, its roe is sold as caviar.
In the 1920's a druggist named Theodore Rowell and his father Joseph Rowell, a commercial fisherman would often catch large numbers of burbot. They started feeding the burbot to a local fox farm. Within months, purchasers of the fox pelts noted how smooth and sleek the burbot fed furs were. The fox that had been fed burbot also experienced larger than normal litter rates. Some female foxes were giving birth to litters of more than 15.
In time an assayer was hired to study the nutritional value of burbot. The results were outstanding. The assay was that the liver of the burbot is 3–4 times more potent in vitamin D, and 4–10 times more potent in vitamin A than “good grades” of cod liver oil.
The vitamin content varies in Burbot from lake to lake, where their diet may have some variation. Additionally, the burbot liver makes up approximately 10% of the fish's total body weight, and their liver is six times larger than freshwater fish of comparable size. Research also found that burbot oil is lower in viscosity, and more rapidly digested and assimilated than most other fish liver oils.
Based on these findings, the Burbot Liver Products Company was formed, which later became Rowell Laboratories. Because of the potentcy of the burbot oil, sales went through the roof and in time, the company used the product to launch themselves into a billion dollar business.
Burbot oil is now used in most major "fish oil" supplements labeled as Cod Liver Oil, in fact there could be a bottle in your cabinet now.
The Burbot Bash is right around the corner. Because the best bite is at night, burbot fishing creates a unique ice fishing experience. Their high numbers make them an easy target, and their taste makes keeps anglers anxious for more.
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