Full text of "Lake Maxinkuckee : a physical and biological survey"

THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
STATE OF INDIANA

W. A. GUTHRIE, CHAIRMAN

STANLEY COULTER

JOHN W. HOLTZMAN

RICHARD M. HOLMAN, SECRETARY

PUBLICATION No. 7

Volume I

RICHARD LIEBER

DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION

INDIANAPOLIS:

B. BURFORD, PRINTER

192O

LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

A PHYSICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL SURVEY

BARTON WARREN EVERMANN, A. M., PH. D.

Director of the Museum of the California Academy of Sciences

AND

HOWARD WALTON CLARK, A. B., A. M.

Scientific Assistant U. S. Bureau of Fisheries
Biological Station, Fairport, Iowa

VOLUME I

PUBLISHED BY

THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

STATE OF INDIANA

1920

Foreword

The Department of Conservation presents this monograph to
the public in the belief that it is a notable addition to the scien-
tific works of the present day. It is especially valuable because
Maxinkuckee is typical of thousands of lakes in the glaciated re-
gions of North America. It will be invaluable to future students
because here are authentically reported numerous species and con-
ditions which are rapidly disappearing because of the increased
use of all available lakes for summer resorts and their destruction
by drainage.

The actual work of investigation was financed by the U. S. Bu-
reau of Fisheries. Although they spent thirteen years of work
and much money, when the report was finally complete an insuffi-
cient printing fund prevented publishing.

When The Department of Conservation was inaugurated, April
1, 1919, the question of printing the Maxinkuckee report was placed
before the Conservation Commission. The great scientific value of
the work, the unquestioned authenticity, and the fact that the lake
is in Indiana led the Commission to approve of its publication.

The illustrations used in this monograph have come from vari-
ous sources. The halftones showing Lake Maxinkuckee scenery
(except that of Shady Point, which is from a photograph by Mr.
Clark), were supplied by the Culver Military Academy. Most of
the text-figures of fishes are chiefly from Jordan and Evermann's
"Fishes of North and Middle America" ; the others, as well as the
three figures of frogs, were furnished by the United States Bureau
of Fisheries. The Bureau of Fisheries very kindly supplied elec-
tros for all these text-figures. The halftone plates of the large-
mouth black bass, small-mouth black bass, rock bass, bluegill, red-
eared sunfish and yellow perch, are from photographs of live fishes
in the water, taken at Lake Maxinkuckee by A. Radcliffe Dugmore
for use in Jordan and Evermann's "American Food and Game
Fishes," published by Doubleday, Page & Company. For the col-
ored plates of thirty-three species of fishes we are indebted to Dr.
Stephen A. Forbes, Director of the Illinois State Natural History
Survey.

The Conservation Commission wishes to express to these vari-
ous gentlemen and institutions its appreciation of the courtesies

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

which they have so generously extended. Their kindly co-opera-
tion has added materially to the attractiveness and value of this
report.

To Dr. Evermann, Mr. Clark and their collaborators is due
praise and honor for the work. It is truly a scientific classic and
without peer in its field.

RICHARD LIEBER,

Director, The Department of Conservation.
April 7, 1920.

Contents

INTRODUCTION 13

SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS 15

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IS

SPECIAL LOCALITIES OFTEN REFERRED TO IN VARIOUS CHAPTERS OF TH'- REPORT. 19

PHYSICAL FEATURES 22

LOCATION 22

ELEVATION ABOVE SEA-LEVEL .- 22

SIZE, FORM, ETC 23

CHARACTER OF SURROUNDING COUNTRY 23

Soil .... 24

TRIBUTARY STREAMS 27

Culver Creek 27

Aubeenaubee Creek : 27

Norris Inlet 28

Overmyer's Brook 28

Flowing wells . - .28-35

SHORE AND BEACH 35

The ice-beach 39

HYDROGRAPHY 40

DEPTH 40

TOPOGRAPHY OF LAKE BOTTOM 42

The Deep Hole 42

The Sugarloaf 42

The Weedpatch 42

The Kettlehole 43

THE LAKE BOTTOM 45

Soils 45

Sand 45

Gravel 45

Boulders 46

Marl 46

THE LAKE LEVEL 49

Stage of water 49

Volume of outflow 53

THE OUTLET 54

LOST LAKE 55

OUTLET CREEK 56

METEOROLOGY 57

INTRODUCTION 57

SKY 58

AIR 60

Pressure 60

Temperatures 62-135

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8 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

METEOROLOGY Continued Page

WINDS 136

Introduction 136

Character 139

RAIN 144

FROST '. . . 145

SNOW 145

Introduction 147

Depth 147

Direction 148

Form 148

Relation to lake 149

FOG 150

DEW 152

WATER TEMPERATURES 152

At surface of lake 152-194

At various depths 195-214

The turning over of the lake 214

CONDITION OF THE WATER 216

Clearness 216

Chemical condition 218

Deficient in Oxygen for only a brief period each year 221

ICE 223

Introduction 223

On Lake Maxinkuckee 226

On Lost Lake ,232

Thickness 233

BIOLOGY 236

INTRODUCTION 236

THE FISHES 238

Introduction 238

Methods of collecting 239

CONDITIONS FAVORABLE TO FISH-LIFE 260

FlSH AND FISH PROTECTION 263

ANGLING 264

The long cane pole 266

Trolling 267

Bait-casting 267

Baits and lures 268

Lake Maxinkuckee as an angling resort 271

Ice-fishing 275

FlSHES PLANTED IN LAKE MAXINKUCKEE 278

MORTALITY AMONG FISHES 281

COMMERCIAL FISHING 282

OBSERVANCE OF FISHING LAWS 282

MIGRATIONS AND SEASONAL MOVEMENTS OF THE FISHES 284

From one depth to another 284

From Lake Maxinkuckee to Lost Lake . . .... 287

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 9

BIOLOGY Continued Page

FOOD AND PARASITES OF THE FISHES 291

Introduction 291

Species studied 293

Insect larvae 302

Leeches 304

ANNOTATED LIST OF SPECIES 306

THE MAMMALS 452

Introduction 452

List of species 453

THE BIRDS 481

Introduction 481

List of species : 486

THE REPTILES 580

The snakes 580

List of species 581

The turtles 591

List of species 592

THE AMPHIBIANS 620

List of species 620

List of Illustrations

HALFTONE PLATES

Page

1 Large-mouth Black Bass Frontispiece

23 Calico Bass 383

23 Rock Bass 383

24a Warmouth Bass 392

25 Bluegill 398

25 Red-eared Sunfish 398

27 and 28 Small-mouth Black Bass '. 410, 412

32 Yellow Perch . . .426

COLORED PLATES

Facing page

2 Dogfish 318

3 Yellow Bullhead 324

4 Speckled Bullhead 324

5 Tadpole Cat ' 332

5 Grass Pike 332

6 Common Sucker 334

7 Hog-sucker 336

8 Chub Sucker 338

9 Stone Roller 340

10, 11 and 12 Carp 342

13 Golden Shiner 348

14 Cayuga Minnow 350

14 Straw-colored Minnow 350

16 Common Shiner 358

16 Blackfin 358

17 Mud Minnow 366

17 Grayback Minnow 366

18 Brook Stickleback 376

18 Skipjack 376

19 Fundulus dispar 372

20 White Crappie - 380

21 Black Crappie 382

'22 Rock Bass 388

24 Green Sunfish 394

26 Bluegill 402

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12 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Facing page

29 Large-mouth Black Bass 416

30 Wall-eyed Pike 422

31 Yellow Perch 424

33 Log Perch , '...'.- 430

33 Black-sided Darter 430

34 Green-sided Darter 436

34 Johnny Darter '. 436

34 Iowa Darter 436

35 Short-nosed Gar 316

35 Brook Lamprey 316

36 Red-mouth Buffalo. . . 330

TEXT FIGURES

Page

Paddlefish 309

Short-nosed Gar 316

Black Bullhead 330

Common Buffalo-Fish . . . .' 333

Blunt-nosed Minnow 344

Common Chub 346

Variable-toothed Minnow 350

Spot-tailed Minnow 354

Silver-fin Minnow 356

Cavern-jawed Minnow 360

Black-nosed Dace 361

River Chub .363

Common Eel 365

Common Pike , 370

Long-eared Sunfish 395

Pumpkinseed Sunfish 406

Maxinkuckee Darter 436

Aubeenaubee Darter 445

Rainbow Darter 448

Least Darter 450

Spring Frog 632

Green Frog 642

Bullfrog 644

Map of Lake Maxinkuckee In back of book

LAKE MAXINKUCKEE
A PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SURVEY

By BARTON WARREN EVERMANN, A. M., Ph. D.,
Director of the Museum of the California Academy of Sciences,

and

HOWARD WALTON CLARK, B. S., A. M.,

Scientific Assistant, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries Biological Station,

Fairport, Iowa.

INTRODUCTION

Though the United States Fish Commission (now the Bureau
of Fisheries) was organized in 1871, it was not until 1888 that
any definite attempt was made to study either the biological or
physical characters of any of the streams and lakes of the United
States. In that year and the two or three years following, a
beginning was made toward working out the distribution of the
species of fishes in the streams of certain regions, and some little
attention was given to the larger crustaceans and to water tem-
peratures. Beginning with 1891, one or more field parties from
the Division of Scientific Inquiry of the Commission have been
in the field, usually for a brief period each summer. These par-
ties usually gathered data for each stream examined, upon the
following points: character of country through which the stream
flows; the volume of water which it carries; general character of
the water as to clearness and purity, and its temperature; the
fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, reptiles, batrachians and other ani-
mals inhabiting the stream or found about it, and the abundance,
distribution and habits of each; also, the species of aquatic
plants, their distribution, abundance, and relation to the fishes of
the same waters. The primary and immediate objects of these
investigations were to determine what fishes each stream already
contains and whether the conditions, physical and biological, are
favorable for the introduction of other species. Since 1890 inves-
tigations of this kind have been carried on in a number of States,
among which may be mentioned California, Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri,
Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, New York,

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14 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and perhaps others. As many
of these investigations were made in response to resolutions of
Congress calling upon the Commission to determine the desirabil-
ity of establishing fish-cultural stations in certain States, it can
be seen that a wide area had to be covered and that the investi-
gations were necessarily hurried and incomplete except for the
specific purpose in view. Occasionally, however, it was possible
to confine the season's investigations for a longer period to a lim-
ited area, and more thorough work resulted ; as, for example, upon
the Redfish Lakes in Idaho in 1895 and 1896, the Connecticut
Lakes in 1904, and the Rangeley Lakes and Sebago Lake in Maine
in 1905-1913.

The need of exact knowledge of the physical and biological
conditions obtaining in the various types of lakes and streams
became increasingly evident. In the direct interest of fish cul-
ture, there was great need of more complete knowledge of the
habits not only of our most common food fishes, but also of the
animals and plants associated with them, and of the physical and
biological conditions under which they thrive.

Not until 1899, however, was any such work undertaken under
really favorable conditions. It was in that year decided to select
a small lake and make such a study of it as might serve as a-
model for the investigation of all similar lakes.

There are, in the upper Mississippi Valley, particularly in Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, many
thousand lakes of glacial origin. With scarcely an exception, these
lakes teem with food and game fishes of the finest quality, besides
many other species of greater or less importance. Many of these
lakes are inhabited also by a large number of species of turtles,
batrachians, mollusks and crustaceans, some of which are already
used for food or otherwise utilized by man. They are the home
also of many other species of aquatic animals and many species
of aquatic plants which are known to serve an important purpose
in the economy of the lakes in their relation to food fishes, and of
still many other species whose status we do not yet know.

The value of exact knowledge concerning this type of lake and
the inhabitants thereof is appreciated by all biologists and fish-
culturists and can scarcely be overestimated.

In making selection of a particular lake for study along these
lines it was important that the lake chosen should meet certain
essential conditions. It must not be too large; it must be suffi-
ciently compact to enable any or all parts to be reached readily
from a central station; there should be no inlets or connecting

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 15

waters of a size great enough to complicate the problems ; in other
words, the conditions should be bunched and the environmental
unit should be a fairly homogeneous one; furthermore, the lake
should be one where there are fishing and angling interests and
which would afford a field for fish-cultural studies and operations.

Lake Maxinkuckee, in northern Indiana, was believed to meet
all these conditions. It was assumed to be typical of the class of
small glacial lakes. It was selected for study primarily because
of these facts. Its accessibility and the fact that the field expenses
there would be exceptionally small were also factors in determin-
ing the selection.

Scope of investigations: In planning the investigations to be
made, it was desirable to make them as comprehensive as pos-
sible, that the report, when published, would be really a mono-
graph of the lake. Among the more important purposes to be
considered were the following:

1. To gain a fairly good understanding of the physical and
biological conditions obtaining in a typical glacial lake. Accurate
knowledge of one lake of a type enables a study of other lakes of
that type to be made more readily and easily.

2. To study carefully and fully the habits of as many species
of animals and plants of the lake as time permitted. This field
is practically inexhaustible and the opportunities infinite. The
writers know of no place where one can study more problems of
interest to fish-culture and general biology than at Lake Maxin-
kuckee. This is because of the unusual abundance of aquatic
animals and plants in that lake. There are now known from
Lake Maxinkuckee 64 species of fishes, 9 species of turtles, 18
species of batrachians, about a dozen species of crustaceans, more
than 130 species of mollosks, and more than 100 species of aquatic
plants. Each of these groups is represented by a greater number
of species than is known from any other lake of similar or even
considerably greater size in the world; and most of the species
are each very abundant as to individuals.

3. To study carefully the physical and biological conditions
under which the more important of these species thrive.

In short, Lake Maxinkuckee was utilized as a biological station
where scores of interesting problems were studied and where many
more problems can be studied more effectively than at any other
lake with which the writers are acquainted.

In the spring of 1899 the senior author submitted to the Hon-
orable George M. Bowers, then United States Commissioner of
Fish and Fisheries, a memorandum setting forth reasons why an

217618

16 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

investigation of this kind should be made in the interest of fish
culture and the biology of freshwater fishes. Mr. Bowers approved
the recommendation and ordered the investigation to be entered
upon in the summer following.

The actual study of Lake Maxinkuckee by the U. S. Fish Com-
mission was begun in 1899. On July 5 of that year a station
was established at the Duenweg cottage (known now as Shady
Point) on the west side of the lake at the base of Long Point and
in front of the Arlington flag station of the Vandalia Railroad.
The party consisted of the following: Dr. Barton Warren Ever-
mann of the U. S. Fish Commission, in charge; Dr. Josiah T.
Scovell, teacher of biology, Terre Haute, Ind., high school, botany ;
Thomas Large, teacher of science, Evansville, Ind., high school,
hydrography; Chancey Juday, teacher of biology, Evansville, Ind.,
high school, plankton ; and T. Bronte Evermann, student Cornell
University, general assistant. During a portion of the season, H.
Walton Clark of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Harry Warren of Evans-
ville, Ind., were present as volunteer assistants.

The field work of 1899 was carried on from July 5 to Sep-
tember 5, though certain lines were continued until October 18,
and during the time from then until July, 1900, temperature and
various other meteorological observations, as well as notes on the
appearance and behavior of the water birds, fishes, etc., were
recorded by S. S. Chadwick, then resident on Long Point.

On July 1, 1900, the work was resumed by a regular field party
consisting of the following: Dr. Evermann, in charge; Dr. Scovell,
botany and general assistant; Leonard Young, teacher of biology,
Evansville, Ind., high school, plankton; Wm. F. Hill, U. S. Fish
Commission, surveyor ; T. Bronte Evermann, assistant to surveyor
and draughtsman ; Millard Knowlton of Sims, Ind., general assist-
ant ; Robert G. Gillum, professor of physics and chemistry, Indiana
State Normal School, physics and chemistry; H. Walton Clark,
botany. Regular investigations along a number of lines were car-
ried on until about the middle of September. Dr. Evermann re-
mained at the lake until December 12, and Mr. Clark continued the
investigations continuously through the entire winter of 1900-1901
and to July 11, 1901.

In 1902, Dr. Evermann was again at the lake from June 19 to
July 4, and again in 1904 most of the time from October 22 to
November 11. Mr. Clark was there in 1904 from October 17 to
November 29 and again from December 1 to January 5 following,
and Dr. Scovell from November 23 to 26. In 1906, Mr. Clark
carried on observations from July 19 to November 25, and Dr. C.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 17

B. Wilson of Westfield, Mass., studied the parasites of the fishes
of the lake during the summer.

In 1907, Dr. Evermann was again at the lake from August 3
to 8 and from September 7 to November 6, and Mr. Clark from
September 12 to November 6.

In 1908, Mr. Clark was at the lake from August 19 to Sep-
tember 11, Dr. Wilson from August 19 to September 7, Donald
Earll of Washington, D. C., from August 19 to September 4, and
Dr. Evermann from September 6 to 10. In 1909, Mr. Clark and
Dr. Wilson carried on work from July 21 to 28, on August 1 and
2, and from August 31 to September 13. In 1910, Dr. Evermann
was at the lake September 27 to 29, and October 1, 2 and 6; and
from October 31 to November 4 in 1912. In 1913, Dr. Evermann
was at the lake from September 2 to October 20, and Mr. Clark
from September 9 to November 9.

In addition to the observations made by the above named in-
vestigators, a great many observations were made and recorded
by Mr. Chadwick, particularly in the winters from 1898 to 1914.

It will be observed from the foregoing that more or less field
work was done in each month, but that most of it was done in the
summer and fall months. The longest continuous period of obser-
vation was that from June 19, 1900, to July 11, 1901. The longest
continuous period by any one observer was that covered by Mr.
Clark from August 27, 1900, to July 11, 1901. During the winter
of 1900-1901, Mr. Clark spent the entire time alone at the lake
devoting all his time to field observations. Practically the only
other winter observations we have are those communicated to us
by Mr. Chadwick.

Perhaps the most satisfactory records are those for the fall
months, September and October, as those months have been cov-
ered, in part at least, in more different years. The spring records
are most incomplete and unsatisfactory, practically the only obser-
vations for those months being those made by Mr. Clark in 1901.
It is much to be regretted that a more thorough study of the lake
could not have been made in those important months.

While our studies of the lake have been quite unevenly dis-
tributed throughout the year, while many observations have not
been verified as often as might be desired, and while many phases
of lake study have barely been touched, and others not at all,
nevertheless, it is hoped that the studies have added materially
to our knowledge and understanding of the physics and biology
of small glacial lakes, such as are found so abundantly in the upper
Mississippi Valley states.

18 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

It is regretted that the publication of this report has been so
long delayed. Much of it was written in the winter of 1901-1902,
but before it could be completed other duties so engrossed the
attention of the senior author as to render its completion at that
time impossible. This, however, has not ben wholly without com-
pensating advantages, in that opportunity occurred from time to
time to revisit the lake and make new observations, verify former
ones, or to study phases previously neglected. As a result, it is
now possible to write on some of the problems more fully and with
greater confidence, and to make the report somewhat more com-
prehensive. It also enables us to omit certain discussions and
conclusions which later observations failed fully to support.

There still remains a multitude of problems which should
receive further study and which the writers would like very much
to consider, but they feel the report should not be longer delayed.

Even so, they feel that more is probably known of Lake Maxin-
kuckee, particularly of its biology, than of any other lake in the
world.

It may be thought by some that the scope of the report is too
broad, that subjects are included which do not bear any relation
to fish-culture. Such is not the case. There is probably not a
species of animal or plant in or about the lake that does not bear
some relation, more or less important, to the fish-life of the lake.
The truth of this impresses itself more and more evidently upon
one as he becomes more and more fully acquainted with the rela-
tions and inter-relations of the multitude of species of animals
and plants in and about the lake, and their dependence and inter-
dependence among and upon each other. The field naturalist is
constantly observing facts and phenomena, climatic and biologic,
which impress upon him the great principle of the dependence of
the varied forms of organic life upon climatic conditions and of
the inter-dependence of the various species among themselves and
upon each other. One who has never made any special study of
these problems in the field may find it difficult to discover the rela-
tions or to appreciate their significance. That is to be expected.
Some of the relations and the significance of others may not always
be evident even to him who has given them consideration; but he
feels that all available facts are worth recording and that the rela-
tions and the meaning thereof will in time appear.

Acknowledgments: To mention the names of all those from
whom the writers have received assistance in their study of Lake
Maxinkuckee would be impossible. Nearly every cottager about
the lake, and scores of the anglers who visit the lake from time

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 19

to time, have extended courtesies in various ways, such as giving
information regarding their angling experiences at the lake, per-
mitting their catch to be measured and weighed, and furnishing
fish to be examined for a study of their food or parasites. Similar
favors have been shown by a number of persons who come to the
lake in the fall to hunt ducks. We are under special obligation
to Mr. S. S. Chadwick, formerly of Long Point, Lake Maxinkuckee,
now of Ithaca, Mich., Mr. George E. Farrington and other officials
of the Vandalia Railroad, and Captain Eisenhard of the Culver
Military Academy, for assistance of various kinds.

To the Lake Maxinkuckee Association, particularly to its some-
time secretary, Mr. W. T. Wilson of Logansport, we are indebted
for courtesies of many kinds. -Mention should be made also of the
late Colonel A. F. Fleet, for many years Commandant of the Cul-
ver Military Academy; Colonel L. R. Gignilliat, the present Com-
mandant of that flourishing institution ; of Mr. Brownell of Peru ;
Mr. Clement Vonnegut of Indianapolis; and Mr. J. H. Vajen of
Indianapolis; also of Judge A. C. Capron and Colonel Daniel Mc-
Donald of Plymouth. All these gentlemen rendered us real service
for which we desire to express grateful appreciation.

To Mr. Chadwick we are indebted for the air and water tem-
perature records from October 18, 1899, to June, 1900, and for
other briefer periods, also for a vast amount of useful informa-
tion regarding the fishes, birds and mammals, and regarding
weather conditions. Mr. Chadwick's long and intimate acquaint-
ance with the lake, keen powers of observation, and skill as hunter
and fisherman, enabled him to supply us with much valuable data
which could have been secured from no other source.

To Mr. Farrington we are indebted for material assistance in
enabling the Bureau to keep the lake stocked with bass and wall-
eyed pike.

To these gentlemen and .to all others who co-operated so effect-
ively with us in our work we take this opportunity to express,
not only for ourselves but for the Bureau of Fisheries, grateful
appreciation.

SPECIAL LOCALITIES OFTEN REFERRED TO IN VARIOUS CHAPTERS

OF THIS REPORT

In the chapters which follow frequent references are made to
various particular localities or places about the lake. In order
that these references may be readily understood, the locations of
the places referred to are here definitely described:

20 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Arlington Hotel: On the west side of the lake at the base of the
east side of Long Point, and within a few yards of the Arlington
railroad station.

Assembly grounds: On the west side of the lake about 1,000
to 2,000 feet north of the Outlet. These grounds are across the
railroad from the lake and are high and sparsely wooded.

Bardsley cottage: On the northeast shore of Lost Lake in the
west of Green's woods. Known also as Sunset cottage.

Birch swamp: On west side of railroad near Walley's, about
a mile south of Arlington.

Chadivick house: Near the end of Long Point on the west side
of the lake.

Culver Academy grounds: On the north side of the lake near
the east side, fronting on the west part of Aubeenaubee Bay.

Culver Creek: Entering the lake at Aubeenaubee Bay in the
east part of the Academy grounds.

Belong: On Tippecanoe River, 3 miles south of Lake Maxin-
kuckee.

Drained lake: About 2^ miles west of the Outlet.

Edwards' boathouse: On the east side, at the mouth of Au-
beenaubee Creek.

Farrar's woods : A heavy forest of many acres along the south
end of the lake from Murray's east to the neighborhood of Over-
myer's brook. This wood consists chiefly of oaks, hickories, elms,
willows, poplars, sassafras, and dense underbrush. It is fully de-
scribed elsewhere.

Fish Commission stoMon: The Shady Point (formerly the
Duenweg) cottage on the west side of the lake in front of the Arl-
ington railroad station and adjacent to the Arlington hotel. (See
plate 34.)

Gravelpit: Just west of the railroad on the west side of the
lake, 600 to 1,800 feet south of the Arlington station.

Green boathouse: On the lake shore at the west edge of the
Norris Inlet marsh the large marsh at the head of the lake.

Green's marsh: Sometimes called Green's flat, a tract of about
11 acres of low, marshy ground, on the west side of Long Point,
between it and the railroad and just south of Outlet Bay. This
marsh is covered with a rich growth of blue-joint grass (Calama-
grostis canadensis) , sedges (Carex), a large clump of button-
bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) , low willows (Salix bebbiana),
and a little Cornus. During times of high water this marsh be-
comes flooded so that a boat can be rowed about over it. In dry
weather it can be walked over.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 21

Green's woods: Between Lake Maxinkuckee and Lost Lake.

Hawk's marsh: At the southwest border of the town of Cul-
ver, or just west of the Assembly grounds. The marsh comprises
3 or 4 acres. It is a sphagnum bog with a dense thicket of poison
sumac, mountain holly, winter holly, chokeberry, and the like. In
the middle of the marsh is a small pond around which are cran-
berries, pitcher plants, high bush huckleberries, leather leaf, marsh
rosemary, cotton grass, etc.

Ice-houses: On the west side of the lake at Outlet Bay and
north of the Outlet about 500 feet.

Indiana boathouse: On the east side about half a mile north of
the Maxinkuckee road.

Indianapolis pier: On the east side about 2500 feet south of
the mouth of Aubeenaubee Creek.

Jenks' cottage: East side of Long Point near the McSheehy
cottage.

Lakeview Hotel: On the north shore of the lake about 1,000
feet east of the Culver railroad station.

Lapaz Junction, 18 miles north of Culver.

McOuat cottage: On east side of lake north of the Indianapolis
pier.

McSheehy cottage: East side of Long Point near the tip.

Murray's: A small farm bordering the southwest part of the
lake, south of the Gravelpit.

Norris pier: At the southeast corner of the lake about 1,200
feet from Norris Inlet.

Outlet: At the base of the north side of Long Point. It is
crossed at its beginning by a concrete bridge on the public high-
way and also by the Vandalia Railroad a few feet further down.
Sometimes referred to as the Thoroughfare.

Outlet marsh: The low, marshy ground along the Outlet be-
tween the railroad bridge and the upper end of Lost Lake. This
marsh is mostly under water and is covered with a rank growth of
bluejoint grass, sedges and cattails. It is a favorite resort for
bitterns, rails, long-billed marsh wrens, and red-winged blackbirds.

Outlet stream: The stream connecting Lost Lake with the
Tippecanoe River; sometimes called Outlet Creek.

Overmyer's woods: On the south shore of the lake between
Farrar's woods and Norris Inlet. This has the same general char-
acter as Farrar's woods, ^except that much of it is on higher ground
in which there is a good deal of clay.

Palmer house: On the north shore just west of the Academy
grounds.

22 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Scovell cottage: On the east side of Long Point.

Shady Point: In front of the Arlington station and adjacent
to the Arlington hotel grounds. This was formerly known as the
Duenweg cottage and was occupied by the U. S. Fish Commission
party in 1899-1901. (See plate 34.)

Tamarack swamp: About two miles west of the Assembly
grounds.

Thoroughfare: The Outlet or stream connecting the two lakes.

Va jen's cottage: On northeast side of lake.

W alley's woods: Just west of the railroad and bordering Out-
let Creek, about a mile southwest of the lake.

Walter Knapp cottage: East side of Long Point just north of
the Scovell cottage.

Win field's cottage: On the west side of the lake north of the
Outlet.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

Location: Lake Maxinkuckee is situated in about 41 12' north
latitude, and 86 24' west longitude, in northern Indiana, on the
Terre Haute and Logansport Railroad (Vandalia Line). It is 34
miles south of South Bend, Indiana, 94 miles southeast of Chicago,
32 miles north of Logansport, 121 miles north of Indianapolis and
149 miles north of Terre Haute. It is easily reached by the Penn-
sylvania Line from any of the places above mentioned. It lies
wholly in Union Township in the southwest corner of Marshall
County; the distance westward to the Starke County line being
2,25 miles, and to the Fulton County line on the south, but 1 mile.

The Vandalia Railroad runs north and south along the west
shore of the lake. Near the north end of the west side of the lake
is the town of Culver, with a population of about 1,500, which is
the principal railroad station for Lake Maxinkuckee. One mile
south from Culver is a flag station called Arlington. On the east
side of the lake, and about a half mile back from it, is the little
village of Maxinkuckee with a population of about 100. Near the
middle of the north shore are the buildings and grounds of the
Culver Military Academy, a flourishing institution.

Elevation above sea-level: The surface of the lake at the aver-
age stage of water, is 734.5 feet above sea-level of the Gulf of
Mexico at Biloxi, Miss., 150 feet above Lake Michigan, and 130
feet below the summit of the divide between Lake Michigan and
the Wabash drainage. It is 15 feet above Tippecanoe River 4
miles south, into which it drains, and 75 feet above English Lake
20 miles west. The lake itself, therefore, is situated on a south
and west slope.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 23

Size, form, etc.: Lake Maxinkuckee lies in a north and south
direction and its greatest length is 2.6 miles. The maximum width
from east to west is 1.6 miles. The lake covers parts of sections
15, 16, 21, 28, 32, and 34 north, range 1 east of the second prin-
cipal meridian, and has a total area of 1,854 acres. The average
length of the shore line is 7.3 miles. The distance around the lake
by the road which goes around it at some distance from the shore,
is about 12 miles.

The form of the lake, as may be seen from the map, is quite
regular. The major axis lies in an approximately north and south
direction, but about one-quarter east of the middle of the lake.
The longest line from east to west is about the same distance north
of the middle of the lake. In the north half of the lake the east
and west shore lines are approximately parallel, but in the south
half they converge considerably, and that part of the lake is much
narrower than the north half.

There are not many bays or indentations of importance. At
the northeast corner of the lake is Aubeenaubee Bay, the most
pronounced of any. On the east the shore-line sweeps eastward
in a long regular curve, making a long but narrow bay. At the
south end, as already stated, the lake narrows greatly, producing
a considerable bay extending somewhat toward the southeast.
Near the middle of the west side is a point of land known as Long
Point, projecting into the lake toward the northeast. This is the
most pronounced and conspicuous irregularity in the shore-line of
the lake. The north line of Long Point runs approximately east
and west and at the Outlet the shore-line turns to the northward
again, resulting in a considerable indentation known as Outlet Bay.

Character of the surrounding country: The country surround-
ing Lake Maxinkuckee lies wholly in the glacial region of Indiana.
The lake is near the southwestern angle of the Saginaw Moraine,
and deep borings in the adjacent soil indicate that at its greatest
depth it does not reach the bottom of the drift. The topographic
features are somewhat varied, as shown on the accompanying map.
There are numerous small hills with gentle slopes, and among
them are a good many kettle-holes, some of considerable depth,
and with more or less water during wet seasons, while others are
less deep and fairly dry. While the surface irregularities are con-
siderable, they are, as a rule, not abrupt. The highest land any-
where about the lake is a hill just east of the village of Maxin-
kuckee about one-half mile from the lake. Its elevation above
the surface of the lake is 136 feet.

24 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Soil: It is desirable to give some consideration to the char-
acter of the various kinds of soils of the region about the lake;
for the soil determines in some measure many of the physical and
biological factors which influence the lake more or less directly,
such as the topography of the country, the flora, fauna, clearness
and purity of the water, and the lake bed.

The Lake Maxinkuckee region is highly favored in that it con-
tains many kinds of soils, which the glaciers brought down and
deposited about the lake. Speaking broadly, it may be said that
the soil about Lake Maxinkuckee is composed chiefly of sand.
There are a few isolated areas of clay, usually of small extent,
and even they usually have a considerable proportion of sand
mixed with the clay. The west and south sides of the lake are
more sandy than the east and north. Long Point is a high sand
ridge underlain with gravel, and is continued out into the lake a
considerable distance beyond the shore in a long sandbar in shal-
low water. In some places, at the southeast corner of the lake,
there is considerable gravel and clay mixed with the sand, and
at a few places on the north and east sides, and one place at the
southwest corner, there are a good many boulders of moderate
size. There are only six places about the lake where there is any
marsh ; two of these are on the north end, two on the south, and
one each on the east and west. The west -one of those on the north
is in the vicinity of the Morris boathouse and is of small extent,
the other is on Aubeenaubee Bay at the northeast corner of the
lake. This is of considerable extent, but the western part of it
has been filled in by the improvements at the Culver Academy
grounds. The marshy tract on the east side lies about the mouth
of Aubeenaubee Creek and extends eastward to near the head of
that creek. At the southeast corner of the lake is the largest and
lowest area of marsh; this lies along Norris Inlet, and several
acres are entirely too marshy to permit walking over. Near the
middle of the south end is another small area of low ground which
at times is under water. The remaining patch of marsh is on the
south of Outlet Bay and west of Long Point. This is known as
Green's marsh and is in the shape of a narrow strip on the north-
west side of Long Point, widening to the westward and covering
several acres just south of the Outlet.

The soils of the catchment basin of Lake Maxinkuckee have
been classified by the United States Bureau of Soils 1 as Miami

1 Soil Survey of Marshall County, Indiana, by Frank Bennett and Charles W. Ely, Field
Operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1904, pp. 689-706, with map.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 25

gravelly sandy loam, Marshall sandy loam, Miami sand, Miami
clay loam, and muck.

The first of these, as described by Bennett and Ely, is usually
a light or, dark brown sandy loam, containing a high percentage
of gravel and, frequently, small glacial boulders. The subsoil is
a gravelly or sandy clay with numerous small stones scattered
through it. This is the type of soil found bordering lakes or old
lake basins as a chain of rounded knolls or hills, which are gen-
erally composed of stratified and unstratified sands, clays and
gravels. There is a large area of this soil, the largest in the county
according to Bennett and Ely, on the east side of Lake Maxin-
kuckee. It borders the lake from the mouth of Culver Inlet on
the north to the mouth of Aubeenaubee Creek near the middle of
the east side, and extends east and southeast from the lake about
1V-2 miles or to the head of Aubeenaubee Creek.

The Marshall sandy loam borders the lake from the mouth of
Aubeenaubee Creek south to Norris Inlet, thence across the south
end and up 'the west side to Arlington station. There is also a
small area between the mouth of Culver Inlet and the Academy
grounds. This type of soil usually presents a rolling topography
and generally occurs in irregular ridges composed of rounded
knolls. The soil in the intervening depressions is a heavy black
sandy loam. On the rounded knolls the soil is often quite gravelly.
Granite boulders often occur scattered over the knolls and ridges.

The entire north end of the lake and all of the west side south
to beyond the Gravelpit is Miami sand. A narrow tongue of
the same runs southward along the lake shore to the extreme
southern end. The town of Culver and the entire region for some
distance to the northwest is of this character. The surface to a
depth of about 9 inches is a slightly loamy grayish or yellowish
sand of medium texture, while the subsoil is a yellow or orange-
colored sand of about the same texture. In the depressions the
soil is more loamy, much darker, and extends to a greater depth.
The Miami sand presents a very rolling topography and much of
it resembles sand dunes in form and appearance. In all prob-
ability a large portion was formerly old sand dunes on which
plants obtained a foothold and checked the action of the wind.
Some of it is even now shifted about by the winds. This soil has
been, and still is, a more important factor than any other in deter-
mining the character of the lake.

Miami clay loam is found near the lake in only one place,
namely, in a narrow ridge across the south end of the lake and

26 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

some rods back from it. This is a yellowish white loam, almost
white when dry, but dark gray when damp, composed of about
equal parts of sand and silt. There is usually some gravel scat-
tered through this soil or left on the surface by erosion.

Muck is found only in a few places about the lake and in lim-
ited areas along the creeks. The largest area is that about the
lower course of Norris Inlet. The low ground along the Outlet
between Outlet Bay and Lost Lake (including Green's marsh), a
narrow strip on either side of the creek below Lost Lake, and a
similar narrow strip along the lower part of Aubeenaubee Creek,
are of muck. There is also a small amount about the mouth of
Culver Inlet, and west of the lake about a mile is a large area.

This soil usually represents deposits of partly decayed organic
matter, and occurs in low, wet places, commonly known as
"marshes". The muck is usually several feet deep and is black
or brownish-black in color. It has much to do in determining the
character of the water and the vegetation of the parts of the lake
where it occurs.

The relation of the soils of the country surrounding the lake
to the lake itself is an intimate one. In the first place the kind
and amount of soluble salts in the soil will determine the mineral
character of the water. In certain places there appears to be con-
siderable iron in the soil. This is particularly noticeable at the
Gravelpit where large masses of post-glacial conglomerate are
found resulting from the cementing of pebbles together. There
is a smaller area of similar material on the east side. There is
also some lime in the soil and no doubt much is leached out and
carried into the water of the lake from which it is again removed
by the various mollusks, and by certain plants. The water of the
springs and flowing wells also contains considerable iron and lime.

Erosion: Not a great amount of eroding is now going on about
the lake. Although heavy and frequent rains occur, the soil is
sufficiently sandy to take up most of the water readily and the
run off is not great. Most of the abrupt slopes are still covered
fairly well with vegetation, A few hills or ridges, especially along
roadsides, are rather deeply grooved and channeled, but the eroded
material is largely deposited before reaching the lake. The fall
in the inlets is so slight that comparatively little detritus reaches
the lake and the deltas and sandbars formed at their mouths are
insignificant. The largest delta is at the mouth of Overmyer's
Creek at the south end of the lake where a hilly region, chiefly of
Miami clay loam, near the lake, has long been cleared and is most
eroded.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 27

Tributary streams: Lake Maxinkuckee is a body of water in
which the physical and biological conditions are bunched ; the lake
is only of moderate size and regular in form ; its catchment basin
is quite limited, it being hardly more than three times as large
as the area of the lake itself, and there are no important connect-
ing streams or other waters which complicate the conditions. The
streams flowing into the lake are few in number and inconsider-
able in size. There are only three deserving any special descrip-
tion; these are known as Culver Creek, Aubeenaubee Creek, and
Norris Inlet.

Culver Creek: This creek enters Aubeenaubee Bay at the
northeast corner of the lake. It rises in a small marsh about 2
miles from the lake, and pursues a winding course in a general
southwesterly direction, entering the lake in the eastern part of
the Culver Military Academy grounds. Just before entering the
Academy grounds, this creek turns abruptly to the west, and, after
flowing a few rods in that direction, turns southward to enter the
lake. At the first bend mentioned, the stream, on August 21,
1900, was about 4 feet wide, and with a maximum depth of three
feet, though the average depth was not more than two feet. From
this point it increases in width and depth through the Academy
grounds where the banks have been improved by sodding. Much
marsh gas comes up when the bottom is disturbed. There is
everywhere an abundance of aquatic vegetation, chiefly Philotria
canadensis, Ceratophyllum demersum and Potamogeton. An effort
is made by the Academy authorities to keep the lower portion of
this creek free of vegetation by dredging it out with rakes (as
explained elsewhere).

Aubeenaubee Creek, named for the Pottawattomie chief who
at one time owned the land on the east side of the lake, rises in
a small marsh some two miles east of the lake. This creek flows
through a low level meadow or prairie region. It averages about
four feet wide and from a few inches to a foot in depth with
occasional deeper holes. The bed in the upper part of its course
is usually of fairly compact sand with some admixture of muck,
and its banks are sodded and rather firm. In the lower portion
of its course, the shores are more marshy, the banks less stable,
and the bed has an increasingly larger percentage of muck.
Throughout most of its length this creek is overhung by bushes
and briars and is full of sticks and brush. It enters the lake at
the Edwards boathouse near the middle of the east side of the
lake, or S 1 /^ rods south of section line No. 28.

28 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Norris Inlet has its sources in some small springs southeast of
the lake and about two miles distant. It flows in a northwesterly
direction and enters the lake through the marsh at the southeast
corner. Though this creek does not carry much, if any, more
water than either of the others just described, it is usually spoken
of as "the inlet". The upper part of this creek flows through
fields and other cleared land, and the banks are usually well defined
and sodded. The marsh about the Norris Inlet is about 80 rods
wide and i/2 mile long, and is a flat, level, quaking bog full of
holes. The lower portion of the creek is through a wet marsh
with an abundance of marsh-grass and sedges but with scarcely
any woody vegetation except a few bushes of Decodon verticillata,
scattered low clumps of pussy-willow, and an occasional button
bush (Cephalanthus). There is but little vegetation in the upper
part of this stream, but the lower part is well filled with horn-
wort (Ceratophyllum), milfoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum) , spat-
terdock (Nymphaea advena), and various species of duckweeds.

Overmyer's Brook: A few rods west from the mouth of Nor-
ris Inlet is a small brook about a mile long which usually contains
some water. This may be called Overmyer's Brook or Creek. Be-
sides this there is a very small brook a few rods long near the south-
west corner, another small one coming from the Peebles' flowing
well on the northeast part of the lake, and two or three very small
streams from flowing wells at the north end.

The total volume of water carried into the lake by these vari-
ous little streams cannot be conveniently nor accurately deter-
mined; but from observations and experiments made at various
times, the total daily flow during July and August, 1900, probably
did not exceed 400 gallons per minute.

Floiving ivetts: There are on the immediate shores of the lake
more than 100 wells, of which about 50 are flowing wells, i.e., wells
in which the water rises above the surface of the ground without
being pumped. With the exception of one or two recently dug
along the south shore, these wells are all located on the east and
north sides of the lake. Beginning just north of Norris Inlet,
flowing wells have been secured at irregular intervals all along
the east shore and across the north end, the last one being at the
Vandalia Railroad station at Culver. These wells vary greatly in
depth; some are only 27 to 30 feet deep, while others are as
much as 138 feet deep. The depths of all were not learned,
but the majority seem to be between 50 and 80 feet. In driving
these wells it often happened that flowing water could be obtained
at a certain depth, and, by going deeper, a stronger flow would

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 29

be secured. The deep wells seem to have the strongest flow, though
this is not invariably the case; indeed, the "Wise well" at the
Maxinkuckee road is said to be 110 feet deep and flows only a
trifle over one gallon per minute, while the Sheerin well on the
north side is only 38 feet deep, flows 50 gallons per minute, and
is the strongest well about the lake. The flow of the different
wells ranges from three-tenths of a gallon to 50 gallons per minute,
and the total flow of all is about 400 gallons per minute. In some
the water barely rises to the surface of the ground, while in others
it will rise from 10 to 18 feet above.

The temperature of the water as it leaves the pipes is usually
52 F., the variation being from 51.5 to 54.5. This variation
is probably due chiefly to the length of pipe on or above ground,
and to the difference in rapidity of flow. The coldest of all the
flowing wells is the one at the cottage of Mrs. Judge A. R. Heller,
on the east side. This well is 103 feet deep, flows 25 gallons per
minute, and has a temperature of 51.5. The warmest is that of
Otto Stechhan, also on the east side, flowing only two-thirds of a
gallon per minute and with a temperature of 54.5. The water
in several of the pump wells is colder than in any of the flowing
wells, the coldest being that at the cottage of Judge John Mitchell
on the east side, the depth being 36 feet and the temperature 50.5.
All the wells about the lake were examined August 25 and 26, 1900,
and the temperatures and volumes given were obtained on those
dates.

LIST OF WELLS ON SHORE OF LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

The following table gives the most important facts about the
wells in the vicinity of the shore of the lake. The temperatures
were taken with a Queen & Company's protected thermometer,
and the volume determined by noting the time required to fill a
bucket holding 2.5 gallons. Several tests were usually made at
each well for temperature and for volume. The work began at
the well of H. R. Norris, at the southeast corner of the lake, and
proceeded northward. The temperatures and depths of the pump
wells as well as those of the flowing wells, were recorded.

The list is as of August, 1919. In order that the table may be
useful in various ways we have given a complete list of all the lots
on the shore of the lake whether there is thereon a flowing well or
not. In column 1, we have numbered the lots consecutively begin-
ning with the Vandalia Railroad land at the Culver station and
proceeding around the lake on the north side, then south, then
west, thence north to the starting point. In column 2, we give the

3.)

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

owner of each lot; in 3, the frontage; in 4, whether there is a cot-
tage or not ; in 5, the depth of the well ; in 6, .the size of pipe ; in 7,
the flow in gallons per minute, if it is a flowing well ; and in 8, the
temperature of the water of the well.

It is difficult to prepare a table of this kind that will remain
accurate very long. Lots are changing hands, new wells are being
driven, old wells deepened, pipes changed, etc., etc. It is believed,
however, that this list will be found useful and interesting. For
much of the data we are under obligations to the Culver Military
Academy.

No.

OWNER

Front
Feet

Cottage

Well
Depth
feet

Size of
pipe, in
inches

Number of
gallons per
minute

Temperature
of water,
degrees Fahr.

Vandalia Railroad

2,500

Lakeview Hotel

1 000

Hotel

Ed. Morris

213

S. P. Sheerin.

313

Yes

53 5

Carrie B. Waldorf

100

Yes

Albert F Schad

Yes

Fred Thompson

Yes

Helen Albrecht

Yes

3 53

Adolph Herz . .

1 A

7 5

187

Hotel

2 1 A

52 5

1 60

1 UU

Pump

52 5

1 65

Wm. F. Kuhn and Oscar D. Bohlen

Yes

2 5

3.35

Pump

Theophilus Gonzelman

4.41

4 500

E R Culver

124

Yes

Culver-Bell

Yes (2)

245

Yes

100

Yes

2 5

1.01

110

Yes

100

Yes

52 5

100

Yes

Maude F Wolfe

llO

Yes

214

Yes

J.W. Smith

400

Hotel

104

George E. Miller

Yes

M.M. Milliken

Yes

107

Wm. E. Wheeler

Yes

103

2 5

8.33

52.5

Yes

Pump

4,3

Gideon W. Blane. . .

156

Yes. . .

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

No.

OWNER

Front
Feet

Cottage

Well
Depth
feet

Size of
pipe, in
inches

Number of
gallons per
minute

Temperature
of water,
degrees Fahr.

272

Yes

103

51 5

173

Yes

104

5.55

Yes

104

1.22

52.5

21.43

115

Charles C Perry

410

Yes

H R Bliss

105

52 5

Elizabeth B Crawford

190

Yes

24.17

.40

L B Martin *

Yes

1 25

Worth B Steele

Yes

C R Green

Milton Shirk . ...

208

Yes

10 29

Guy T Bigley

"Wise well"

105

1.07

16.67

Mrs S R A Rector

Rector

Spring

3.75

53.5

Yes (2) ....

24.75

Yes

100

140

Yes

100

A B Gates

110 to

140

Yes.

115
100

2
2

1.16

Pump

51.5

Pump

52.5

R T Daggett

Pump

52.0

140

Yes

Pump

Charles E Coffin

213

Yes

100

Yes

104

Yes

106

Yes

110

Yes

116

Yes

120

212

Yes

W W Wilson

110

Yes

120

F M Harwood

Yes

47 5

Pump

356

Yes

130

1^4

Pump

Ada Stuart

Yes

8fi

100

Yes

Pump

50.5

Yes

143

Yes

148

Yes .

T H Wilson

Pump

Yes

Pump

52.5

101

Yes

Pump

51.5

W T Wilson

Yes

Pump

107

Yes

Pump

51.5

125

Yes

Pump

100

Yes

Pump

52.2

100

Yes

Pump

100

Yes

101

Mrs W E Shedd

Pump

51.4

102

L. T. Van Schoiack. .

Pump

317618

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

No.

OWNER

Front
Feet

Cottage

Well
Depth
feet

Size of
pipe, in
inches

Number of
gallons per
minute

Temperature
of water,
degrees Fahr,

103

E. B. McOuat

207

Yes

104

Lavina Walker

454

105

Sidney A. Vaughn

100

Yes

106

Mary Van Schoiack

107

J. D. Ferguson

125

Yes

108

Fred Gompf

120

Yes (3)....

101

J. A. Maxwell .... .

Pump

110

Walter Twiname

Yes

111

Marion Ellsworth

100

Yes

52 5

11?

C. D. Snoeberger

Yes

113

Anna B. Bramen

Yes

114

A. Curtis.

Pump ....

52 5

115

W. F. Christian

100

Yes . .

116

Wm. Wallace

Yes

117

Pierce and Ward

118

M. V. McGilliard

Yes

Pump

111

J. M. Dresser

Yes

63.5

Pump

53.6

I'O

Mary L. Taylor

200

Yes (3) ....

1?1

Lavina Walker

514

100

Eva Sherman

Yes

1?3

Richard Irwin .

Yes .

100

1?4

Otis Hann . . .

163

Yes

1'5

Cordelia Edwards

127

Yes

196

Marvin T. Loudon

1?7

EffieCrabb

Yes

1?8

Chester Edwards

Yes

19Q

Wm. Daggett

Pump

51.8

H. C. Chandler

0.66

53.4

131

Daniel W. Gardner .

Yes

(104)
64

(2)
1

52.5

1,3?

Edwin Fulton

372

Yes (3) ....

(100)
71.6

3.57

52.5

133

200

Yes

134

William J. Wood.

143

Yes

135

136

Harvey R. Norris

J^mile
1 200

(No)
Yes
Yes

(104)
66

1.2

53.8

137

100

Yes

138

548

Yes

131

101

Yes

500+

141

I. & H. Faulkner

14?

143

140

Yes

144

William Cline

52.8

145

Yes

146
147

Ada F. Daugherty (Col. Farrar estate)
(John Murray plot:)
Ida Walker

J^ mile
172

Yes

Pump
Pump

51
51

148

Ida Rovell

Yes

14fl

100

Yes

150

James E Hillis

Yes

151

Yes

IV?!

153

400

Yes

154
155
156

James Green (Wm. O'Keefe)
Bardsley Cottage (Lost Lake)
Schroff (Shady Point)

160

Yes
Yes
Yes

Pump
Pump
Pump

157

William H. Holland (Arlington)

160

No . . .

Pump

158

Georee W. Barnes. . .

100

Yes. . . ,

Pump

52.1

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

No.

OWNER

Front
Feet

Cottage

Well
Depth
feet

Size of
pipe, in
inches

Number of
gallons per
minute

Temperature
of water,
degreesFahr.

119

W.C Routh

Yes

160

Cordelia C Shafer (Scovell)

Yes

161

Frank C Murphy (Walter Knapp)

162

163

Yes

164

Yes

Pump. . . .

52 8

165

Yes

166

Mary B Reitemeier .

Yes

167

100

Yes .

168

Arthur H. Springer

Yes

I'. 1 '

Frank B Murphy (Plank)

Yes

170

Fred A. Seeburger,

Yes....

171

John J. Campbell

100

Yes

17?

Jacob W. Miller

100

Yes

Pump

52.5

173

37 5

Yes

174

Webster & Folrath. .

37 5

171

Keller, Florin & Retz.

Yes

176

Jessie Uhl and Mary Traut

Yes

177

Yes

178

H. J. McSheehy

Yes

Pump....

179

Kathryn Duenweg

Yes...

Pump.. . .

180

83 25

Yes

181

Weinstein & Dahlen

55 5

Yes....

18 9

Edward W. Johnson

55 5

Yes

18?

55 5

Yes

184

Jane A. Fisher (Judge Slick)

27 75

Yes

185

(Chadwick plot: )

450

Yes

186

187

Melvin T. Anderson (Chadwick)

274
191

Hotel
Yes

Pump

188

440

Yes

189

C. C. Durr and George Green

No. . .

190

Maurice Winfield

1,000

Yes

Pump

191

Daniel Wolf

Yes .

Pump

19'

M. R. Cline

140

Yes

19?

130

Yes

194

Helen M. Outland

100

Yes

191

J. Freeman .

100

196

Ed Morris

100

There are a few small springs along the shores, and probably
a good many in the bottom of the lake, but how much they con-
tribute to the supply of the lake, there is no means of knowing.

The water of the springs and wells in several cases contains
a considerable amount of iron. In some wells the iron is per-
ceptible to the taste and discolors the drain troughs. The water
in all contains some lime, the well-water being about three times
as hard as that of the lake. In some instances boards exposed to
it become coated with lime.

In addition to the wells given above, numerous others have been
constructed since our observations were made. Weak flowing wells
have been obtained at the McDonald cottage between Farrar's and

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

the south spring. Many of the wells which are not flowing have
the water within a few feet of the surface.

President W. W. Parsons of the Indiana State Normal School,
who has built on the east side since the census of wells was taken,
has a flowing well 116 feet deep which remains at 52 the year
round; now owned by Francis W. Jones.

The sum total of water entering the lake from the flowing wells
actually measured, is, therefore, about 400 gallons a minute, which
equals 24,000 gallons an hour or 576,000 gallons, or considerably
over a half million gallons, every day of 24 hours. Add to this
another 400 gallons per minute from the various tributary creeks
and we have a total of 1,152,000 gallons daily. This large amount,

The Duenweg or Shady Point Cottage, used as headquarters by the investigators in 1899-
1901. The Arlington station seen in the background at the right.

added to the unknown amount from under-water springs, must
exercise a great influence on both the character and temperature
of the lake water the year round.

The Outlet: The outlet or thoroughfare of Lake Maxinkuckee
is near the middle of the west side just north of Long Point,
through a small stream which, after flowing sluggishly for about
3 rods to the west and south, enters Lost Lake. Just as the Outlet
leaves the lake it is crossed by a wagon bridge, and 27 feet west
of this the Vandalia Railroad bridge also crosses it. Immediately
below the railroad bridge the stream turns southward and con-
tinues nearly due south through a somewhat artificial channel for
800 feet, and then through a wet marsh about 1,000 feet to Lost

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 35

Lake into which it gradually widens. The banks are low and the
adjacent ground is of soft black muck over which one cannot pass,
except in the driest season, without danger of miring. At the
lower end the marsh along its edges is continually under water.
The bed of the stream at the bridges is artificially 16 feet wide
and the water about 18 inches deep in dry weather. There is
usually a fairly strong current at the bridges, but below them it
is barely perceptible.

Shore and Beach: The shores of Lake Maxinkuckee are in
most places several feet above the lake level; there is very little
marsh ground anywhere. The beach is usually of compact sand
or fine gravel; with the exception of a few rods at Norris Inlet
and a few yards in 3 or 4 other places, it would be possible to
drive a team and wagon entirely around the lake in shallow water
without any danger of miring.

Beginning at the Outlet and proceeding southward the shore
and beach may be described in detail as follows:

From the Outlet to the middle of the north side of Long Point
the shore is low and continuous with Green's marsh. During
extreme high water the public highway is sometimes flooded.
Recently the western - portion of this section has been materially
modified by filling in and is now firmer ground than it was orig-
inally. The beach is of fine yellow sand, usually quite firm and
free of vegetation.

Long Point rises abruptly to a maximum height of 35 feet
above the lake. The distal end of this point has recently been
cut down considerably but still remains several feet above the
lake. The crest of Long Point from near the extreme end to the
Arlington station is 20 to 35 feet above the water line. The shore
is abrupt and bluff -like.

The beach along the east side of Long Point and southward
to Arlington is of clean yellow sand with a considerable propor-
tion of pebbles and fine gravel just below the water line.

Toward the south the gravel becomes rather more evident.
From Arlington to the Gravelpit there is a narrow low strip ex-
tending back to the railroad west of which the shore rises abruptly
to an extreme height of 40 feet, the highest point being at the
Gravelpit. Opposite the Kettlehole and just south of the Gravel-
pit the high ground again approaches very close to the water's edge,
so that we have a quite narrow beach, and the bare beach patches
are not sandy, but both shore and bottom are covered by very
coarse gravel, the component pebbles of the gravel being about
the size of a goose's or hen's egg. There are also quite large rocks

36 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

of a granitoid nature projecting out on the narrow beach from
the base of the hill.

From Murray's to Farrar's there is a rather broad and toler-
ably bare sandy or gravelly beach, with moderately coarse gravel
in the bottom. The shore is low and level, the ice-beach being the
highest ground. The next section of about 1,000 feet east of Far-
rar's presents a strong contrast to the preceding, the immediate
shore being a low marshy woodland with a well-defined ice-beach
near the water's edge. The ridge is narrow, 2 or 3 feet high, and
practically cuts off a strip which otherwise would be a part of
the lake. In some places there is a second, similar ice-ridge paral-
lel to the first and some distance back of it. Both of these ice-
ridges bear trees of considerable size, some of them 6 inches or
more in diameter and 20 feet high. The shore is flat and mucky
and full of muskrat holes. It is thickly covered in some places
by the three-cornered bulrush (Scirpus americanus). It is too
miry to walk on between the water-line and the ice-ridge ; one has
to walk on the ridge in places.

Following this flat shore is a stretch of 110 feet of fine sandy
beach, where a hill comes down to the shore. This is in line with
a public road, and is used for a boat-landing. There is a broad
beach of fine yellow sand, and a gravelly shelly bottom, bare and
sandy a distance out from shore. The break in the rush patch is
probably due to boats going over this region.

Then occurs a stretch of about 850 feet reaching from the end
of the sandbar mentioned above to the place where the forest comes
to the shore.

In general this shore is a good deal alike throughout its extent,
is nearly flat, and has behind it most of the way an ice-ridge sepa-
rating it from a large swamp behind ; all of the shore is soft, and
it extends out into the lake as a long broad cape. The apex point
of the cape is sand, but both sides, especially the northern side,
are tolerably black on top from a scum of decaying vegetation.

The hill which forms the border of the swamp approaches the
lake, but does not reach it, so that there lies a flattish, rich, but
dry and elevated plain between it and the lake. This plain is well
forested. At this place the hill is cut in two by a deepish and
rather wide gully with moderately steep, but well rounded sides,
cut by Overmyer's Brook which enters the lake at this point and
forms a large flat sharp delta of sand which projects out for a
considerable distance into the lake. The delta holds a sort of
lagoon, and at the northeast edge of the delta the stream and waves
have combined to form a sandbar with a sharp apex and an almost

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 37

regular and equal slope on each side. The shore is quite irregular
here, with sandy capes and mucky gulfs. The bottom of the north-
ern half of this stretch is of fine sand ; the southern part is a solid
platform of firm black dirt.

The hill or bluff here comes down to the lake and there is a well-
wooded, high slope coming down nearly to the water-line. In most
places there is no beach at all, or only a very narrow one. The hill
is made up of a yellowish clay full of boulders. At about the
middle of the hill a torrent bed cuts somewhat into the hill and
makes a small sandbar off shore. There are many quite large
boulders along the water's edge. Toward the southern half of this
stretch the shore becomes broader. The shore is gradual in its
slope; for the northern half it has coarsish gravel out for a little
way under water; farther out it is fine sand with ripple-marks.
Scirpiis validus, the common bulrush, forms a large patch 15 feet
from shore and farther. Toward the southern end the bottom is
filled with gravel, the pebbles of which are about the size of goose
eggs.

The next stretch reaches from this place to near Norris Inlet.
Back of the shore is a flat, dense willow and red osier dogwood
jungle. There is a broadish beach with a very gradual slope all
the way. The shore changes gradually from a flat soft fine white
sand with considerable vegetable intermixture to a flat miry black
or brown stretch of muck. The Scirpus, Potamogetons, cattail,
etc., grow so densely in the water that the bottom can be seen only
in a few places. It is quite flat and mucky and marly. There is
a good deal of Spirodela (duckweed), dead and white, and much
green algse may usually be seen washed up on this flat miry shore.
At the end of this stretch there are back of the flat beach two low,
broad, flat ice-ridges, very close together and side by side.

The region about the mouth of Norris Inlet is a flat sedgy plain
with a low ice-ridge near the water's edge. At the west end this
ice-ridge is quite high and well-marked; at the east end nearer
the creek it is less distinct.

The Inlet is tolerably narrow and deep where it enters the
lake ; farther up it becomes very crooked and shallow, and its bot-
tom is full of rootstocks of the yellow pond-lily, or spatterdock,
Nymphaea advena. It is surrounded by about 40 acres of flat, wet
marsh, overgrown with sedges, reeds, cattails and various grasses,
with bushes of red osier dogwood, or willow here and there. Much
of it is tussocky. Near the lake it is quaky and full of holes.
Along the sides of the Inlet are many lagoons. On both banks
near the water's edge is a thick, narrow growth of Decodon verti-

38 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

cillata. This plant forms a fringe on each border some distance
upstream about a quarter of a mile.

Besides the spatterdock already mentioned as growing 1 in the
bottom, the water of the Inlet contains much vegetation on its
surface along the edges the various duckweeds in great masses,
and great quantities of the floating liverwort, Riccia fluitans. The
duckweeds thrive in great abundance at the mouth of the Inlet.

From Norris Inlet to the Norris pier about 1,000 feet the
shore, except for the last few yards, is low and boggy. The ice-
ridge is pretty plainly marked for much of this distance. At Nor-
ris's the low flat country ceases and the hill slopes gently down
to the water's edge. The ice-ridge stops and the beach is composed
of a strip of gravelly sand. Then the ice-ridge reappears and is
overgrown with tall willows and sycamores.

From the Norris pier northward the shore is low, but rises
near the Indianapolis pier and continues high until Aubeenaubee
Creek is reached. The beach is mostly of fine firm sand with con-
siderable gravel in places and a number of large granite boulders
sparsely scattered near shore.

At the mouth of Aubeenaubee Creek the country has been modi-
fied somewhat by dredging and straightening the stream. The
stream now flows through the center of a marshy tract about 200
feet wide. This marsh is of flat black miry ground covered with
a rank growth of marsh vegetation.

From Aubeenaubee Creek northward to beyond the Maxin-
kuckee road is a long stretch of low, level ground extending back
to beyond the public highway. The hills or high ground recede
gradually from the lake, leaving broad, dry greenswards of gentle
slope. Just north of the Maxinkuckee road the high ground again
approaches the lake and forms an abrupt bluff 20 to 50 feet high
for a distance of about three-fourths of a mile, or to the southeast
corner of Aubeenaubee Bay. The only considerable break in this
line is the narrow canyon of Spangier Creek just south of Brownell
Point. There is another small gully north of the Indiana boat-
house. Throughout this entire distance the shore rises abruptly
from the water line and much of it is protected by a stone break-
water. There is, consequently, no beach. In the shallow water
near shore are a good many granite boulders of various sizes, and
a few masses of post-glacial conglomerate. This shore is the
highest and most abrupt of any about the lake; it is also the most
considerable section of high shore.

At Aubeenaubee Bay the high ground recedes from the lake
front and turns suddenly almost at a right angle from the lake.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 39

There is, therefore, facing on this bay a broad area of low, almost
marsh, ground. The beach is broad and of fine sand with a con-
siderable admixture of muck which induces a rank growth of
aquatic vegetation.

The eastern part of the ground at the north end of the lake is
occupied by the Culver Military Academy. This ground has, of
course, been greatly modified in response to the needs of this insti-
tution. The grounds are relatively level and are bordered in the
rear by the usual ridge of higher ground.

West of the Academy grounds and extending to the Vandalia
Railroad station at Culver, the shore is somewhat higher, espe-
cially at the Lakeview Hotel where it ascends abruptly to a height
of 30 feet or more. Along this shore there is not much beach,
the shore-line being for the most part artificial. There are, how-
ever, a number of short stretches of sandy beach with boulders
scattered here and there.

From the railroad station at Culver southward to the Assembly
grounds the shore is relatively level and elevated 5 to 15 feet above
the lake. This section has undergone many modifications incident
to the development of the town of Culver and the construction of
the railroad which, in the main, parallels the shore. There are
two or three small marshy areas, and at one place there is a small
cape with lower ground between it and the higher land in the
background. Beginning with the Assembly grounds and extend-
ing to the Outlet the shore rises abruptly as a sandy hill to a
height of 30 feet or more, there being only a narrow strip of low
ground scarcely wider than needed by the railroad. The beach
along this side of the lake is usually of very fine sand with but
few boulders except at the cape, and but little gravel. It has a
sufficient percentage of muck and marl to support a luxuriant
growth of aquatic vegetation.

The Ice-beach: One of the most interesting phenomena at
Lake Maxinkuckee is the ice-beach or ice-ridge so well-marked on
many parts of the shore. In many places where the shore is low
and moderately firm, an ice-beach is more or less evident. Start-
ing at Long Point and proceeding southward the ridge is but
faintly or not at all marked until in the vicinity of the Farrar
cottage. There are slight evidences at the base of Long Point
and also between Green's pier and Murray's and just west of
Farrar's. It is probable ridges form periodically along this shore,
but soon become obliterated through various agencies. Just east
of Farrar's is a very definite ridge, high and narrow, and much
resembling an artificial dam or towpath. It juts up against the

40 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

shore and partially cuts off what was originally part of the lake.
In some places there is a second similar ridge parallel to the first
and some feet back of it. Both of these ridges have growing on
them trees of considerable size, some of them about 6 inches in
diameter and 20 feet high. East of this the ice-ridge is for a
distance old and worn away on the lake side, so that many of the
trees growing on it have been more or less undermined and now
lean out over the water. The commonest species of tree on the
ridge is the water-beech ; there is an occasional willow, soft maple,
elm and kinnikinnik (Cornus sericea). From this point east to
Norris Inlet, an ice-ridge is more or less evident and back of it
a second, and sometimes a third, older ridge appears for short
reaches.

These ridges, even the last and most evident one, are usually
not continuous for more than a few rods without interruption.
The wearing away most often takes place on the lake side and is
the result of undermining by the waves.

After passing the miry ground at the mouth of Norris Inlet some
500 feet the ice-ridge reappears and is overgrown with tall slender
willows, weeds and grasses. Just before reaching the Norris pier
it stops, but soon reappears again as a high broad ridge overgrown
with tall willows and sycamores. The ridge then disappears and
is not seen again until just south of the Indianapolis pier where
it is quite pronounced and separates a small pond from the lake.

The rest of the lake shore from this point on north and around
to Long Point, seems to be entirely without any ice-ridge.

HYDROGRAPHY

Depth: In determining the depth of the lake several thousand
soundings were made. The method followed in taking soundings
was essentially as follows:

Two different sounding machines were used during this work.
The first consisted of a brass reel with a grooved rim on which
was wound piano wire of sufficient length. The circumference of
the reel or wheel was just 3 feet, so that in sounding, each revo-
lution of the wheel reeled off exactly 3 feet of wire. The sounding
lead consisted of a 21/2 Ib. piece of lead shaped like a truncated
pyramid with a cupshaped base in which was placed a small quan-
tity of lard and beeswax for the purpose of securing samples of
the bottom. In the end of the axle was placed an ordinary cyclom-
eter which recorded the revolutions made by the wheel. The reel
thus equipped was installed in the bow of a rowboat. In taking

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 41

soundings 3 people were employed, one to row the boat, one to
operate the sounding machine, and one to record the readings.

A smaller machine was sometimes used when sounding in shal-
low water. This consisted of a wooden reel cut out of a thoroughly
seasoned piece of oak and then boiled in oil and paraffin to pre-
vent splitting. This reel was just two feet in circumference, and
on its grooved rim was wound piano wire. A similar but lighter
sounding weight was used and the reel was installed in the boat
in essentially the same manner as was the larger one.

Usually a sounding was taken at the end of every 15 oar strokes.
An effort was made to have the same person do all the rowing.
Before entering on the work he endeavored, through practice, to
acquire a uniform stroke, to the end that 15-oar-stroke intervals
between soundings might be approximately equal.

Quiet days with little or no breeze and with the lake surface
undisturbed and smooth were selected for this work; under these
conditions the drifting of the boat was reduced to a minimum and
it was easy to follow a definite line. In order to do this, range
signals were placed on shore; these were always visible to the
rower.

Lines of soundings were run across the lake on all section, half-
section and quarter-section lines, both east and west and north and
south, and in a number of places lines were run at even closer
distances.

In order to determine the location and extent of bars, deep
holes, or other topographic features of special interest, a buoy was
established on the bar or other special feature, from which radi-
ating lines of soundings were run in sufficient number and with
the soundings at sufficiently short intervals to determine the de-
sired facts. The locations of these buoys were determined by
sextant readings based on shore marks of known position.

During the winter of 1900-1901, a number of lines including
several hundred soundings were run by Mr. Clark when the lake
was covered with ice. The exact position of each of these sound-
ings was determined from known shore positions by measure-
ments on the ice.

It is believed that the care taken at all times while carrying
on this work, the great number of soundings taken, and the fre-
quent verification of questionable results, justify the belief that
the hydrography of this lake has been pretty accurately deter-
mined and that the contour lines on the map showing the depths
may be depended upon as showing the actual depths with reason-
able accuracy.

42 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Topography of the lake bottom: There are many striking
features in the topography of the lake bottom; in fact, it is quite
diversified and the contour lines, as may be seen by an examina-
tion of the map, are very irregular both as regards direction and
spacing. There are a number of low hills and plateaus with gentle
slopes, others of smaller area and rising abruptly from deep water,
numerous long, narrow troughs or valleys running between bars,
and a number of holes where the depth over a limited area is
noticeably greater than in the surrounding region. Only a few of
the more salient topographic features need be described in detail.

The Deep Hole: The greatest depth known in Lake Maxin-
kuckee is 89.5 feet. The locality where this sounding was gotten
is known as the "Deep Hole". It is about midway on a direct line
between the tip of Long Point and the J. H. Vajen cottage, a short
distance north of the Maxinkuckee road. It is also on a direct
line drawn from the Palmer House to Overmyer's spring at the
south end of the lake. Located more precisely, its center is 3,426
feet (about 2/3 of a mile) from the end of the Maxinkuckee road,
3,140 feet (nearly 2/3 of a mile) from the end of Long Point, 4,568
feet (or about 5/6 of a mile) from the Palmer House, and 8,000
feet (or 1.5 miles) from the Overmyer spring.

This so-called "deep hole", in which the depth is 70 feet or
more, is quite irregular in shape. Its greatest length lies north
and south and is about 2,500 feet; about 1,000 feet of this, how-
ever, is a narrow trough (400 feet wide) of 70-foot water extend-
ing northward from the main body. The average width of the
main part is between 700 and 800 feet. The total area of 70-foot
water and over is close to 40 acres.

The Sugarloaf: At the northern edge of the main body of
deep water is a small area (about 100 feet long by 75 feet wide)
known as the "Sugarloaf", over which the depth is but 10 feet.
The sides of this little hill are very steep, the distance to 40-foot
water in any direction being only 50 to 100 feet.

The Sugarloaf is on a direct line from the end of Long
Point to the Indiana Boathouse and almost midway between the
two points. It is also on a direct line drawn from the Maxin-
kuckee road to the tabernacle in the Assembly grounds; also be-
tween the Lakeview Hotel and Norris's pier ; also between the depot
pier at Culver and the Indianapolis pier.

The Weedpatch: This is an east-and-west bar about 1,200 feet
long and 500 feet wide, on a direct line between the Arlington
Hotel and Van Schoiack's place and just midway between these

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

two points. A line drawn from the Palmer House to the mouth
of Overmyer's brook passes over the east end of the Weedpatch;
one from the Lakeview Hotel to the same point passes over the
west end of it ; and a line from the tip of Long Point to the Chan-
dler cottage passes over the center of the Weedpatch.

This bar rises rather abruptly from 40-foot water, the mini-
mum depth on the bar being about 10 feet, of which there is an
area of about 4 acres.

The Weedpatch is remarkable because of the very luxuriant
growth of the large-leaved pondweed, Potamogeton amplifolius,
found there.

The Kettlehole: This is a deep hole about 1,000 feet off the
shore between Murray's and: Farrar's, in the southwestern corner of
the lake. Over the greater part of this portion of the lake the depth
is less than 10 feet. At the Kettlehole the depth increases rather
abruptly to 20 feet, 30 feet, and then to 40 feet. The area over
which the depth is 20 feet or more is ovoid in shape, the major
axis being about 1,000 feet, east and west, while the north and
south line is about 700 feet. The area of 40-foot water is about
600 feet long (from east to west) and not much over 100 feet wide.

While the above are the only topographic features of the lake
bottom which have received definite names there are several others
worthy of special mention. Among deep holes are the following:
In front of the Arlington Hotel, or little south of it, and about
1,200 feet off shore is an oblong area of 60-foot water, about 1,000
feet long from southwest to northeast, and about 200 feet wide.
This is surrounded by much shallower water. A short distance

The Cadets of the Culver Summer Cavalry School occasionally take their horses along for the afternoon swim.

44 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

east of this are two smaller deep holes, of 50 feet and 60 feet re-
spectively, and between them and the Deep Hole is another with
a depth of 70 feet.

While that portion of the lake north of Long Point is mostly
shallow, there are in it a few deeper areas. About 1,200 feet
north from Long- Point is a hole 35 feet deep. Just off the Assem-
bly grounds is a small 20-foot hole; off Winfield's cottage is a 45-
foot hole, while some distance farther out and 1,400 feet south-
east from the Lakeview Hotel is another of about the same depth.
Northeast from the Sugarloaf are 3 or 4 small areas in which
the depth reaches 50 to 70 feet.

Among bars of special interest are the following: Just east
of the Deep Hole and the Sugarloaf is a considerable bar rising
out of deep water and extending northeast and southwest on which
the minimum depth is less than 10 feet. North of it some 1,300
feet is another small bar with a depth of 20 feet.

A long, narrow bar extends north and east from Long Point
for nearly 2,500 feet before the depth exceeds 10 feet, and a sim-
ilar but broader bar extends west from the mouth of Aubeenaubee
Creek nearly 3,000 feet before a greater depth than 10 feet is
reached. On the other hand, a deep, broad trough of 30 to 50-foot
water comes from a little north of west to near shore at the mouth
of Aubeenaubee Creek, and a similar trough is found off the Arling-
ton Hotel, and another off the Indiana Boathouse.

There is no deep water at the shore in Lake Maxinkuckee; the
depth everywhere increases from shore so gently or gradually that
there is scarcely any probability of even a small child ever getting
beyond his depth when wading in the lake. There are no sudden
irregularities or increases in depth; the increase in depth is so
uniform and gentle that several steps would be necessary to make
any appreciable difference. Small children can therefore wade
about along shore with perfect safety. But beyond the 5-foot con-
tour line the irregularities are greater and well-marked.

If the water level of the lake were lowered 10 feet, the result
would be the formation of at least 3 islands (Weedpatch, Sugar-
loaf and the large bar east of Sugarloaf). At the same time
the Kettlehole would become detached from the main lake and
become a small independent lake. Another small lake would be
formed north of Long Point; another would be formed off the
Assembly grounds, and perhaps others would be made.

The peculiar distribution of deeps and shallows, the abundance
of shallow bars and deep holes closely associated, taken together

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 45

with the favorable character of the bottom, present a combination
of conditions remarkably favorable to fish life, and distributed in
such a way as to make practically every part of the lake attractive
to the angler.

The very gradual slope and absence of stepoffs in the shallower
portion of the lake near shore which make the lake so admirable
as a bathing resort is due in large measure to the waves, and espe-
cially the undertow which rolls the fine sand near the shore down
to lower levels and thus produces a marked levelling action. The
effect of waves upon bottom topography is quite marked and well-
formed ripple marks which are formed in water to a depth of 5
feet or more are often left when the lake freezes over, where they
remain until spring and can ^be observed to an advantage through
the clear ice.

The depths at 10-foot intervals are shown by the contour lines
on the map which accompanies this report. Most of the topo-
graphic features mentioned are indicated on the map.

THE LAKE BOTTOM
Soils

So far as we have been able to determine, there is no bedrock
anywhere on the bottom of the lake. Several hundred tests in
different parts of the lake, and the fact that wells about the lake
drilled to depths of 100 to 150 feet pass through only sand, gravel
and clay without reaching bedrock, indicate that the original bed
of the lake was composed wholly of morainic materials, chiefly
sand and gravel with a few boulders and some boulder clay. Over
the greater part of the original bed has been deposited a more or
less thick coating of marl and mud.

The morainic or drift material of the original bed is composed
essentially of the same materials as those that make up the drift
of the surrounding land.

Sand: Along most portions of the shore, particularly on the
west, north and southeast, there is considerable compact fine sand
out to a depth of 2 to 6 or 8 feet.

Gravel: On the east, and in limited stretches elsewhere, there
is mixed with the sand considerable gravel . This is especially true
on the north and east sides. This gravel ranges from very fine,
almost sand, to rather coarse. The most conspicuous gravel areas
are across the north end from the Lakeview Hotel eastward, and off
the east shore, particularly near the Indiana Boathouse. There is a

46 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

little gravel along the east side of Long Point, and between the
Kettlehole and the shore. The Sugarloaf appears to be made up
largely of gravel. Dredging on the north and south sides of it re-
vealed considerable gravel ranging up to the size of hen eggs. This
gravel was usually not round but rough and angular. Doubtless
there is much gravel in the lake bed that is not apparent, it is so
mixed with or covered by sand or other fine material.

Boulders: There are not many boulders on the lake bottom.
There are a few on the north end and a few scattered ones on the
east side and south end. The more or less mythical "split-rock",
of which some of the older fishermen and boatmen speak, is said
to be somewhere in the south end of the lake, perhaps near the
Flatiron or the Weedpatch bars. Although we made frequent
search for this alleged rock, and asked many people about it, we
never succeeded in finding it, or, in fact, in finding but two men
who claim to have seen it. It must therefore remain as one of the
mysteries of Maxinkuckee.

Marl: The most interesting and important component of the
lake-bed is marl. The hard compact sandy bed usually extends
out to a depth of but a few feet on the west side from 2 to 4
feet, on the east to a somewhat greater depth. Beyond this border
of hard bottom the marl begins. The depth to which it extends
varies considerably. Off Long Point it is first met in water about
2 feet deep. On the north and east the depth is usually greater,
and in some places is as much as 6 to 8 feet. From these depths
the marl extends inward and covers practically all the lake bed.
It is most evident on the bars, but is present everywhere. The
thickness of the marl bed varies considerably. Along the outer
edge it probably nowhere exceeds 6 or 8 feet in thickness. In
deeper water and on the bars it is probably thicker. The greatest
thickness determined by us was about 22 feet which was in the
southern part of the lake, off the Gravelpit. The color and purity
of the marl seem to vary in different parts of the lake. It appears
to be composed chiefly of calcium carbonate mixed with more or
less decaying vegetable matter and fine sand of aeolian origin.
Samples from the surface are usually quite dark; those from
deeper in the bed are much lighter in color.- The color and purity
are doubtless related to the amount of decaying vegetable matter
present. Analyses of several examples of marl from different
parts of the lake were made by Dr. Wm. A. Noyes, formerly of
the Rose Polytechnic Institute, now of the University of Illinois,
with the following results:

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 47

Sample No. 1, from a bar east of the Long Point bar, just
south of the center of the northeast quarter of Section 28 :

Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) 85.02

Magnesium carbonate (MgCOs) 3.85

Ferric oxide (Fe 2 3 ) 0.33

Alumina (A1 2 O 3 ) 0.12

Calcium sulphate (CaSCX) 0.17

Insoluble inorganic matter (silica, etc.) 5.67

Organic matter 3.21

98.37

Sample No. 2, taken 5 feet down in a bed in 8-foot water

Calcium carbonate (CaCO s ) 85.38

Magnesium carbonate (MgCO 3 ) 3.50

Ferric oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) 0.33

Alumina ( A1 2 O 3 ) . 05

Calcium sulphate (CaSO 4 ) . 17

Insoluble inorganic matter (silica, etc.) 6.40

Organic matter 3 . 15

98.98

Sample No. 3, from the surface of a marl bed in deep water
off the Gravelpit :

Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) 75.07

Magnesium carbonate (MgCOs) 4 . 18

Ferric oxide (Fe 2 3 ) 0.51

Alumina ( A1 2 O 3 ) . 09

Calcium sulphate (CaS0 4 ) 0.11

Insoluble inorganic matter (silica, etc.) 15.26

Organic matter 3 . 65

98.87

The last of these shows too high a percentage of magnesium
carbonate and insoluble elements to render it satisfactory in
cement making. The first and second samples are much purer,
and would make a good cement.

The origin of marl is a question of popular interest. The marl
of Lake Maxinkuckee, as well as of the other lakes of northern
Indiana, is evidently a secondary deposit on the original bed of
glacial drift. The water of all the wells and springs of the region
contains more or less lime and is usually regarded as hard, while
the water of the lake, although containing considerable calcium
carbonate, is relatively soft. That certain species of animals and
plants dwelling in the lake have been important, perhaps the only

417618

48 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

important, agents in separating the lime from the water, is quite
certain. Chief among these agencies are the various mollusks,
especially the Unionidse and Vivipara contectoides, and certain
plants, such as the Charas and Potamogetons. These have the
power of separating out from the water the soluble calcic com-
pounds and converting them into insoluble compounds which con-
stitute the basis of the marl.

The most abundant and most widely distributed mollusk in
the lake is the univalve, Vivipara contectoides. This rather hand-
some and beautifully marked shell occurs throughout the lake,
apparently at all depths and on all kinds of bottom, but it is most
noticeable in the great windrows of dead shells that are so often
seen lining the beach, particularly at low water. These mollusks
evidently die by the million every year. Their shells are fragile
and disintegrate rapidly. The total annual limy accumulation on
the lake bottom from this source alone must be quite considerable.

Next to Vivipara contectoides is the species of mussel known as
fat pocket-book, Lampsilis luteola. As set forth elsewhere in this
report, this is the most abundant species of freshwater mussel in
the lake. It is pretty generally distributed and is very abundant.
There are several very extensive beds, particularly off Long Point
and in the south end of the lake. Then there are at least 13 other
species of mussels and no fewer than 30 or 40 species of gastero-
pods, some of them represented by myriads of individuals. Be-
sides such of the mussels as naturally die, the muskrats make
considerable onslaughts upon them, leaving their shells strewn
over the bottom to decay, and millions of the gasteropods die every
year, and their decaying shells go to augment the lime deposited
in the bottom of the lake. And there are several species of plants
which have the power of separating the lime from the water. The
most notable of these are the various species of Chara, some of
which are so heavily encrusted in lime that when dried out on shore
they become a chalky brittle mass and are accordingly known among
fish-culturists as "lime-plants". These grow in depths up to 15
or 20 feet, and most of the plants grow in thick carpets on the
bottom, the older portions becoming so thickly encrusted that they
are hardly recognizable.

Besides the Charas there are not fewer than 14 species of pond-
weed or Potamogeton, all of which, in varying degrees are lime
gatherers. Their leaves, particularly those of Potamogeton ampli-
folius, P. compressus, P. robbinsii and P. americanus, are often
encrusted with lime, the first mentioned species so heavily that the

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 49

leaf coatings often drop off as casts and are to be found lying
heaped up about the bases of the plants. The so-called ditch-moss,
Philotria, is an energetic lime gatherer; indeed, all the other sub-
mersed plants in the lake possess this same property and contribute
in the aggregate in no inconsiderable degree to the amount of marl
in the bottom of the lake.

In addition to the mollusks and plants there are still other
organisms which play a part in the formation of marl; among
these are the various species of crustaceans, particularly the craw-
fishes, whose shells contain calcic compounds.

The rate of deposition of lime in the lake is quite difficult to
estimate. It was probably more rapid during the early life of
the lake when the amount of calcium carbonate in the water was
greater than it now is. Even at best the rate must be very slow,
indeed. An annual deposit of one-hundredth of an inch has been
estimated. A deposit of 10 feet would therefore require 12,000
years as the age of the lake. But this is scarcely more than a
mere guess, and signifies very little.

THE LAKE LEVEL

Stage of water: The mean elevation of the surface of the
water of Lake Maxinkuckee above sea level at Biloxi, Mississippi,
is 734.5 feet. Records kept by the Office of Engineer, Maintenance
of Way, of the Terre Haute and Logansport Railway Company,
from October 18, 1895, to May 7, 1900, totaling about 50 observa-
tions, show that the lowest water in that period occurred on Octo-
ber 18, 1895, when it stood at 733.30 feet. The highest, 735.21
feet, was recorded March 13, 1899. The extreme variation was
therefore 1.91 feet or 22.92 inches.

Our party began making observations on the stage of the water
in the lake on August 14, 1900. On that date a three-foot rule,
graduated to inches, was properly installed at the side of the
wagon bridge which crosses the Outlet just as it leaves the lake.
The position of this gauge was correlated with that of the up-
stream girder of the railroad bridge, which crosses the Outlet 27
feet below the wagon bridge. Readings were taken from time to
time from that date up to October 22, 1913. The lowest water was
recorded November 3, 1908, and the highest July 8, 1902.

Starting with the extreme low water of November 3, 1908, as
"zero" and reducing all observations to that basis, we have the
following table :

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

TABLE SHOWING STAGE OF WATER IN INCHES ABOVE EXTREME LOW WATER MARK IN

LAKE MAXINKUCKEE.

Date

Height in inches
above extreme low
water mark

Remarks

1900

August H

20.25

22.25

Lake rose 2 inches. Heavy rain yesterday.

22.00

September 13

19.00

18.00

17.50

17.25

October 10

16.75

15.50

14.75

November 5

14.00

13.25

14.25

Rained all night o[ the 17th. S. E. wind. Heavy rain on the 18th, day

and night, with S. wind. Rain also on 19th.

18.75

18.50

19.50

December 2

18.50

18.00

17.75

18.00

1901

August 13

10.75

1902

January 27

Lake very low.

June 30

26.50

A good deal of rain last night. N. E. wind.

July 1

27.00

27.25

27.00

28.00

28.25

27.50

Heavy and almost continuous rain for more_than a week.

28.25

28.50

Highest water yet recorded.

24.50

26.50

Rain.

24.50

23.50

Rain.

25.75

August 11

22.50

21.50

Rain.

21.00

20.50

19.50

17.00

19.00

Rain.

September 5

18.50

19.50

17.00

19.00

Rain four daya

October 16

17.00

17.25

November 1

15.75

14.00

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

TABLE SHOWING STAGE OF WATER IN INCHES ABOVE EXTREME LOW WATER MARK IN
LAKE MAXINKUCKEE Continued.

Date

Height in inches
above extreme low
water mark

Remarks

1902

December 9

12.50

17.00

17.50

1903

February 1

15.50

17.50

19.50

18.00

19.50

March 1

20.50

21.00

21.50

20.00

19.50

16.50

April 16

21.50

May 1

20.50

16.50

15.50

15.00

14.50

June 7

16.50

13.50

July 1

13.00

' 2

21.00

Exceedingly heavy rains.

21.50

22.25

Heavy rains.

21.50

20.50

22.75

August 8

19.25

16.00

September 16

23.50

Screen put in at railroad bridge, raising the lake.

24.25

Rain for several days.

22.00

October 22

22.00

1901

June 18

12.25

July 4

11.25

August 1

6.25

October 18

8.50

8.25

November 3

7.00

8.50

1906

January 22

10.50

Recently rose 3 inches

August 20

Lake rose 1?<4 inches.

October

3.50

1907

September 12

10.50

10.20

October 1

9.00

9.50

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

TABLE SHOWING STAGE OF WATER IN INCHES ABOVE EXTREME LOW WATER MARK IN
LAKE MAXINKUCKEE Continued.

Date

Height in inches
above extreme low
water mark

Remarks

1907

October 14

8.50

9.50

November 2

10.00

1908

October 1

Very low.

November 3

0.00

Lowest water yet recorded.

1911

November 18

8.50

1913

September 9

7.50

7.00

6.00

6.50

October 1

6.80

7.00

6.50

6.75

6.50

6.75

7.00

6.75

6.50

6.00

6.80

6.50

6.00

As shown by the above table, the water was continuously and
quite uniformly low during the fall of 1913. There were no rains
sufficient to produce any effect on the lake. The slight variation
of an inch in September and October was doubtless due to winds.
A southwest wind continuing for any length of time would blow
the water back from the Outlet, thus slightly lowering the water
at the gauge, while a northeast wind would blow the water into
Outlet Bay and slightly increase the depth at the Outlet.

It will be observed that our observations were not taken at
regular intervals. They were usually taken whenever we were
at the lake and occasion seemed to require ; records were also made
from time to time by Mr. Chadwick, especially at times of sudden
change and of unusually high or low water. It is believed that

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 53

the extremes for the period from 1899 to 1914 have been recorded
in the table.

Although the catchment basin of the lake is small (less than
8,000 acres) the lake is very sensitive to rains and responds
promptly. Every heavy rain causes an almost immediate rise in
the lake. High water will therefore be correlated with heavy
continued rainfall and low water with the dry season. The early
spring rains and melting snows put the lake up somewhat above
the winter conditions, and the heavy rains that usually come in
June and early July produce the highest water. The lake is there-
fore apt to be highest in June and July, after which it begins to
fall until minimum low water is reached toward the last of Octo-
ber and early in November. As already stated the lowest water
recorded was that of November 3, 1908, and the highest that of
July 8, 1902, when it was 281/2 inches above extreme low water.
This extreme high water of 281/2 inches followed three weeks of
heavy and almost continuous rains. As early as June 15 the water
was higher than old residents about the lake had ever seen it. It
kept on rising until July 8. The ice-beach on the west and south
shores was entirely covered; it was impossible to walk along the
beach between Long Point and Arlington; the swamps were full
of water and the low country generally flooded; nearly all the
piers were under water, and a portion of the public road near the
Outlet was flooded. Green's marsh was flooded so that one could
go about all over it in a boat. One old resident says that the lake
was equally high in June or July, 1896, and quite high in May and
June, 1892.

The extreme low water of November 3, 1908, followed a rather
dry summer and fall. Our records show very little rain in August,
September or October of that year.

Volume of outfloiv: The volume of water flowing from Lake
Maxinkuckee varies greatly from time to time. As already stated,
at times of high water, the depth at the bridge is 3 to 31/2 feet.
The current, however, is never strong, and does not vary much.
The water surface in the two lakes varies synchronously and the
current therefore does not vary greatly.

Measurements of the outflow were taken at various times. The
results are recorded in the following table. It will be observed
that the variation in number of gallons is considerable. The mini-
mum, 1,168 gallons per minute, was recorded on September 25,
1899, at which time the average width was 15 feet, the depth 14.7
inches and the current 1.7 feet per second. This would mean an
outflow of 1,681,920 gallons per day. The greatest volume of out-

54 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

flow was recorded July 8, 1902, when the width was 15 feet, the
depth 42.5 inches and the current 1.4 feet per second. This indi-
cated an outflow of 33,915 gallons per minute or 4,883,184 gallons
per day.

Number of gallons flowing out of Lake Maxinkuckee as deter-
mined on various dates:

Aug. 8, 1899 4,424 gallons per minute

" 11, 1899 2,576 gallons per minute

" 27,1899 3,347 gallons per minute

Sept. 7, 1899 2,512 gallons per minute

" 25, 1899 1,168 gallons per minute

July 1, 1902 32,288 gallons per minute

8, 1902 33,915 gallons per minute

Sept. 10, 1913 2,618 gallons per minute

THE OUTLET

Lake Maxinkuckee drains into Lost Lake through a short but
very interesting little stream or thoroughfare known locally simply
as "The Outlet." This stream leaves the lake at the north side of
the base of Long Point or at Outlet Bay, which is on the west side
about one-third the distance south of the north end of the lake.
Just as it leaves the lake it is crossed by the wagon bridge on the
public highway which follows the lake shore closely from the
southwest corner of the lake to the Arlington station, then cuts
across the base of the broad peninsula known as Long Point, and
again approximating the shore along the north side of Long Point,
only to leave it again immediately after crossing the Outlet.
Twenty-seven feet below the wagon bridge the Outlet is crossed
by the Vandalia Railroad bridge. Under and between these two
bridges the stream flows nearly west, then turns southwest and
south through the marsh until it finally loses itself in Lost Lake.

Under the bridges and for a few yards below, the stream has
a maximum width of 16 to 20 feet and a depth varying with the
stage of water in the lake. During the period of our observations
it has varied from about 6 inches to something more than 3 feet.
Early in July, 1902, at the time of highest water, the depth was
about 3i/> feet and the water rushed through with a good strong
current. In September and October, 1913, the lake was quite low,
only 6 inches above extreme low water mark, and the depth under
the bridges was only 6 inches or less, which made it very difficult
to get a row boat through.

The bed of the Outlet at the bridges is of fine sand. Formerly
this bed was overgrown sparsely with certain aquatic plants,

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 55

chiefly wild celery (Vallisneria spiralis) and floating pond weed
(Potamogeton americanus), which prevented washing and gave the
bed a permanent character. In August, 1913, the old wooden
wagon bridge was torn down and replaced by a concrete structure.
In the work incident to this change the vegetation was destroyed
and the bed torn up, since which it has silted up with clean sand
in which the vegetation has not yet re-established itself.

The distance that the stream pursues through the marsh below
the railroad bridge and before losing itself in Lost Lake is about
1,500 feet. Through the upper part the course has been dredged
and the banks are well defined; but lower down, the banks are
scarcely evident, the stream -widens out through the dense growth
of Carex, cattail, bluejoint grass, etc., and finally loses itself com-
pletely in a large area of spatterdock at the head of Lost Lake.

The water in the Outlet is always very clear. The current
does not vary much, the rate being about the same whether the
water be high or low.

LOST LAKE

Lost Lake, on a cursory examination, might be regarded merely
as an expansion of the Outlet, but such is not the case. It is a
real lake occupying a considerable hole probably of independent,
though synchronous, origin with that of the large lake. There is
considerable evidence to show, however, that the high sand ridge
separating the two lakes and terminating in Long Point with the
long shallow bar extending out into Lake Maxinkuckee from the
tip of Long Point, is largely of aeolian origin, built up in part at
least by the strong southwest winds.

The open part of this lake, that is, the part not obscured by
rank vegetation, is about 2,500 feet long and 1,500 feet wide, the
major axis or length extending northeast and southwest. On the
southeast side is a high sandy hill or ridge heavily timbered over
its northern half and a cultivated field at the southern end, which
slopes gradually down to the lake. The shore on this side is in
most places a few feet above the water and is dry and firm. There
is high ground at the northwest corner of the lake and for most
of the distance along the southwest side, bordered by a narrow
strip of marsh but rising rather abruptly into a high sandy ridge.
At the upper and lower ends are the large areas of lily-pads, etc.,
already mentioned.

Lost Lake is very shallow. Many soundings were taken. One
line of soundings, taken every 10 oar strokes, from the Bardsley

56 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

cottage on the east side toward the north end of Hawk's house on
the west side, gave the following depths in feet: 2f, 4, 5, 4, 3f,
3-J, 3, 3, 3f, 3f, and 1. The greatest depth found was 5 feet.
The bottom everywhere was covered with a dense bed of Chara,
patches of Potamogeton, Myriophyllum, etc., with white and yel-
low pond-lilies at the west end, all growing in deep mud. In most
places the sounding pole could be pushed down 2 to 8 feet in soft
muck.

At the lower end of the lake just where it narrows, the depth
varied from 5 to 9 feet, and the bottom was more firm in some
places. A little farther north and west is a considerable area over
which the depth is uniformly 9 feet, which is the greatest depth
found in this lake. A line run from the lower to the upper end of
the lake gave 9 feet along the southwest end and 8 to 4 feet toward
the northeast. Along this line there was an abundance of Chara,
Myriophyllum, etc., and the bottom everywhere was of very soft
muck; in fact, the bottom everywhere is of this character and in
some places it is so thin as to be almost impalpable.

In front of the Bardsley cottage is a "floating island", probably
a detached portion of a pond-lily patch that has floated away from
shore, or possibly material that has been built up around a musk-
rat home.

This lake is so shallow that a lowering of the water 15 feet
would convert the entire lake-bed and many acres of marsh into
tillable land.

The margin of Lost Lake outlet is a wide plain bordered by
a gravelly hill; then an inner margin of a broad belt of Bidens
comosa and B. laevis, then sedges. Many of the sedges in the
former portion are annually cut for hay, chiefly for the Calamagros-
tis they contain.

OUTLET CREEK

At the lower end of Lost Lake is another marsh similar to
that at the upper end but larger, in which the outlet stream again
gradually becomes definite and well defined. The upper portion
may be regarded practically as a continuation of the lake, so over-
grown with water-lilies, spatterdock and other water plants as to
obscure its lake character as well as the channel. This marsh-
lake gradually narrows, however, and finally becomes a well-defined
creek, filled in places with patches of long-stemmed Ceratophyl-
lum, Potamogeton, and some wild rice. Then the stream becomes
a quite definitely defined creek with low grass-grown banks pur-
suing its way with many windings and turns through low grassy

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 57

meadows dotted here and there with clumps of slender black oak
trees growing on little hummocks which were doubtless little islands
when the whole region was a lake or river. The stream averages
perhaps 5 feet wide and one to three feet deep, with occasional
holes that are much deeper. The banks are low everywhere and
are of rich black loam ; the bed is usually of fine white sand, with
a little gravel in places. The water is always very clear and pure
and cold enough for rainbow and black-spotted trout.

Although the distance in a direct line from Lost Lake to the
Tippecanoe River does not exceed 4 miles the sinuosities of the
stream increase its length to at least 12 miles. At times of low
water it is difficult to get a boat down the creek to the river but
when there is moderately high water an ordinary clinker-built row-
boat passes through nicely, and no more delightful trip can be
taken than that through the outlet from Lake Maxinkuckee to the
Tippecanoe River.

METEOROLOGY

INTRODUCTION

The remarkable development of animal and plant life in and
about Lake Maxinkuckee is undoubtedly due in large measure to
the unusually favorable geologic and climatic conditions of the
region in which the lake is situated. The geological features are
discussed elsewhere in this report; the climate may be considered
here.

The cold winters and the warm summers, together with favor-
able winds, adequate rainfall advantageously distributed through-
out the year, and the varying conditions of sunshine and clouded
sky, make up an environment peculiarly favorable to the develop-
ment and maintenance of an abundant and varied flora and fauna.
Many correlations between certain climatic conditions, such as tem-
perature, direction of wind, character of sky, and rains, and the
habits of the fishes, turtles, ducks, coots, certain insects, etc.,
readily suggest themselves to any one interested in such problems
and a number of them can be demonstrated. The distribution of
the fishes in the lake, with reference to depth and nearness to
shore, is particularly influenced by such factors as those men-
tioned. This fact is well understood by the experienced anglers
familiar with this lake.

During the investigations at Lake Maxinkuckee considerable
attention was given to meteorological conditions. Early in the
work arrangements were made for making regular observations

58 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

regarding the more important meteorological phenomena, such as
the temperature of the air, the direction and strength of the winds,
the character o'f the sky, rainfall, snow, fog, frost, dew, storms, etc.

Our first records of air temperatures taken at the lake were
made in November and December, 1898, by Mr. S. S. Chadwick.
These records, few in number, were of the readings from an ordi-
nary thermometer, hung about 6 feet above the surface of the
lake on the north side of a house-boat on the east side of Long
Point. Following these are a few records for January, February
and March, 1899, also made by Mr. Chadwick.

On July 5, 1899, the recording of temperatures was regularly
begun by our party and continued without serious interruption
until July, 1901, since which date records have been kept for vari-
ous periods from then to the end of 1913.

SKY

Along with the other weather observations kept at the lake,
the condition of the sky as to clearness and cloudiness was also
recorded. Generally, the condition of the sky was noted whenever
temperatures of the air and water were taken, that is, three times
a day. In addition to this, however, any sudden clearing off or
clouding up that was observed and noted, and for each day's
journal was entered a general summary of the day's weather.
The state of the sky was usually written out in considerable de-
tail ; much more than would be desirable in a general report. In
looking over the records it was observed that the various days
could be described as clear, cloudy clearing, clouding and partly
clear, and partly cloudy. These terms are generally relative. Days
without the sign of a cloud are not very frequent. Days without
a patch of blue sky anywhere are not very common, but more
common that absolutely cloudy ones. Accordingly, by days with
clear sky is meant days when clouds were relatively few, and gen-
erally speaking such days are very bright and cheerful, although
absolutely clear days, so far as clouds are concerned, may be hazy
or very smoky, and relatively dull, while days entirely overcast
by thin clouds may be fairly bright. The terms "clearing" and
"clouding" are self-explanatory. Partly cloudy and partly clear
mean, of course, throughout the day the clouds and blue sky have
so evenly balanced that neither greatly prevailed.

During the period from November 2, 1899, when the record
begins, to September 17, 1908 with considerable gaps from time
to time the state of the sky has been observed for 1,223 days ; of

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

these, 393 were clear, 530 cloudy, 151 clearing, 104 clouding up and
49 about evenly balanced between cloudy and clear.

In a discussion elsewhere of the conditions of the sky for vari-
ous months, the conditions were given for periods of observation,
so that the observations along that line could fit in well with the
temperature records taken three times daily. In the present con-
sideration they are given by days.

Taking the year extending from July 1, 1900, to June 30, 1901,
the year for which the record is most complete, there are repre-
sented in the record 361 days (4 days in December having no
record). Of these 361 days 79 were clear, 168 cloudy, 53 clearing,
46 clouding, and 15 partly cloudy and partly clear. Taking this
year by months, the days were distributed as shown by the fol-
lowing table :

CONDITION OF SKY FOR 1 YEAR FROM JULY 1. 1900, TO JUNE 30. 1901

Partly

Month

Clear

Cloudy

Clearing

Clouding

cloudy

Total

partly clear

July 31, 1900...

Aug. 31, 1900 ..

Sept. 30, 1900...

Oct. 31, 1900...

Nov. 30, 1900. . .

Dec. 27, 1900...

Jan. 31, 1?01...

Feb. 28, 1901...

Mar. 31, 1901...

April 30, 1901.. .

May 31, 1901...

June 130, 1901..

Although the records of no other year are full enough to make
the giving of the full year satisfactory, the records of a number
of months are almost complete, and those of a few months fully
complete. A table for such months as have complete records is
given below for the sake of comparison:

Month

Year

Clear

Cloudy

Clearing

Clouding

Partly
cloudy;
partly clear

Total

April

1900

February
March

1902
1902

15
11

6
14

28
31

April

1902

December

1904

October

1907

60 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

THE Am

Pressure: The data concerning air pressure at Lake Maxin-
kuckee were obtained by readings taken 3 times daily, at 6 a. m.,
noon, and 6 p. m., from a compensated aneroid barometer kept
hanging on a porch of the cottage used as our laboratory. The
readings were continued from July 25, 1900, to June, 1901. The
average pressure during that time was 29.291 inches. The mini-
mum pressure recorded during that period was 28.62 inches, taken
at noon of March 8, 1901, and the highest pressure noted was
30.26 inches on January 3, 1901, about 6 a. m., giving a range of
1.64 inches. A self-recording instrument would in all probability
have given a lower minimum, a higher maximum, and larger range.
The average pressure did not vary greatly during the different
months of the year. The month having the lowest average was
October, with an average of 29.005, and that having the highest
was February, with an average pressure of 29.583. The month
having the least range was August, in which the pressure varied
from 29.42 to 29.85, exhibiting a variation of .43 inch, and the
month showing the greatest range was January, with a range of
from 28.82 to 30.26, or 1.44 difference. The greatest change of
the barometer noted within the space of 6 hours was a fall of .9
inch between noon and 6 p. m. on May 2, 1901, and the greatest
change in the same direction for a single period of 24 hours was
from 29.85 on the evening of September 14 to 28.88 on the even-
ing of September 15, making a fall of .97 inch. The greatest
increase of barometric pressure between two consecutive observa-
tions was from 28.91 at noon of May 21 to 29.77 at 6 p. m., a
rise of .86 inch, and this was followed by an almost equal fall
within the next 12 hours. It not infrequently happened, espe-
cially during the month of August, 1900, that 2 successive read-
ings were the same, or nearly the same, and in nearly all cases
where this occurred the two nearly equal or equal readings were
those of noon and evening, there being usually little change during
the afternoon. The period of 24 hours showing the least change
was from noon August 14 to noon August 15, during which the
change was only .08 inch.

In the study of the barometric readings at the lake these were
plotted in a graph (the time periods being represented by abcissas
and the height of the barometer in inches by ordinates) and the
graph so constructed exhibited at a glance the most striking
features of the barometric record. Of these the following may be
noted :

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 61

The pressure for August, 1900, was remarkably uniform, the
graph for this month standing in marked contrast with all the
other months considered. There were no rapid or violent changes
whatever. The average for the whole month is just a trifle below
the average for the whole period, and the pressure for the middle
third of the month is somewhat lower than that for either end.
While there are no violent changes in pressure whatever there is
a remarkably regular daily pulse of variations. With only two
exceptions the morning reading is the highest; from this time
there is a fall of about .16 inch (varying from about .09 to .2
inch) until noon, after which there is usually very slight change
toward evening, after which it rises back to nearly its original
morning reading. We have then for this month a rather constant
daily mode. This mode is of quite frequent occurrence through-
out the whole year, and there are all degrees of approximation
to it and divergence from it ; during the autumn, winter and early
spring months its appearance is somewhat less frequent. Rather
strictly interpreted, this mode occurs with the following coefficient
of frequency for different months : August, 21 ; September, 4 ;
October, 13; November, 5; December, 2; January, 2; February,
5; March, 4; April, 9; and May, 4.

The average height of the barometer is determined by the alti-
tude of the place, and the great barometric changes are due to
the passage of general storm centers. The small daily changes,
however, are quite probably due to local conditions, and even the
large changes are due to conditions which are represented on a
small scale in the area immediately about the lake. Among these
causes are difference in nature of the surface of areas of land and
water and the presence in the atmosphere of clouds, vapor, dust,
etc.

Generally speaking, the air mass over a water area is com-
paratively stable in relation to daily changes of temperature, while
that over land areas is subject to much larger changes. We have
differences somewhat analagous to differences of potential between
different elements in a galvanic cell. The air above the land sur-
faces becomes superheated during the day and during the after-
noon represents areas of low pressure, while the air mass above
them becomes cooled during the night and becomes areas of high
pressure during the latter part of the night.

Again taking up land surfaces in detail, these differ consider-
ably among themselves. Large areas of sand have a greater daily
amplitude of temperature than areas of loam or muck, and these
more than clay, so that, continuing the analogy of the galvanic

62 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

cell, we have a greater difference of potential between areas of
sand than between muck, loam or clay. No marked tendency is
shown to congregate in the vicinity of the maximum.

While the morning readings appear to have a pretty distinct
mode, no such feature is apparent in the other two readings,
although it cannot be said that a long and diligent scrutiny might
not yield some results. For the month of August they are usually
close together, but rather indifferent as to position, although in
a small majority of cases the evening reading is the lower and
when the reverse is true the difference is usually less. On several
occasions they were equal. Of 22 observations where the maxi-
mum reading was not represented by the morning, however, 15
were represented by evening readings and 7 by morning, so there
is quite discernible a tendency for these readings to differentiate in
this regard. It is worthy of note, too, that of these 22 observa-
tions, 7 (4 of the noon and 3 of the evening) represent strong
and sudden changes in the barometer at the time, so that the de-
parture from the mode may be explained in these cases, quite
markedly when all are taken together, as a result of a sort of
inertia carrying the barometer beyond its normal reading, and
the advantage of the one additional abnormality in favor of the
morning reading is, taken altogether, of almost equal value in
explaining the abnormality there.

Am TEMPERATURES

During the investigations at Lake Maxinkuckee considerable
attention was given to air temperatures.

Beginning with July 5, 1899, the temperature readings were
from a Wilder protected thermometer which had been tested by
the U. S. Bureau of Standards. This thermometer, from July 5,
1899, to May 31, 1901, was hung about 10 feet above the surface
of the lake on the shaded side of a cottage near the Arlington
station on the west side of the lake. After May 31, 1901, it was
hung about 15 feet above the surface of the lake, on the north
side of the Chadwick House on Long Point.

Temperature readings were usually taken three times daily, at
6 a. m., noon, and 6 p. m. During the year 1900-1901 a set of
standardized maximum and minimum thermometers was installed
on the shaded side of the cottage at Arlington and readings from
these are given in the appropriate accompanying tables.

The temperature observations were made and the record kept
by various persons, as follows:

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 63

Period. Observer.

November, 1898, to July 1, 1899 S. S. Chadwick

July 5, 1899, to September 1, 1899 T. Bronte Evermann

September 1 to October 18, 1899 Barton W. Evermann

October 18, 1899, to June 19, 1900 S. S. Chadwick

June 19 to July 15, 1900 J. T. Scovell

July 15 to December 11, 1900 Barton W. Evermann

December 11, 1900, to May 31, 1901 H. Walton Clark

December 8, 1901, to October 10, 1903 S. S. Chadwick

October 18, 1904, to January 4, 1905 H. Walton Clark

January 5, 1905, to July 22, 1906 S. S. Chadwick

July 23, 1906, to October 24, 1906 H. Walton Clark

October 25, 1906, to September 6, 1907 S. S. Chadwick

September 7, 1907, to October 31, 1907 H. Walton Clark

November 1, 1907, to August 26, 1908 S. S. Chadwick

August 27, 1908, to September 26, 1908 H. Walton Clark

September 27, 1908, to August 31, 1913 S. S. Chadwick

September 1, 1913, to October 31, 1913 Evermann and Clark

November 1, 1913, to February 1, 1914 S. S. Chadwick

JANUARY

Temperatures: The total number of records for January is
485, as follows: 5 for 1899; 93 for 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903 and
1914 each ; 12 for 1905 ; 3 for 1906, and 1 for 1907.

The lowest temperature recorded for this month was 12 on
the 27th and again on the 28th, in 1902. The highest was 65
on January 20, 1906. The extremes for each year were as follows :

1900, -8 January 31, and 42.5 January 18; range 50.5.

1901, -1.3 January 1, and 45 January 21; range 46.3.

1902, -12 January 27 and 28, and 38 January 2; range 50.

1903, -4 January 12, and 50 January 29; range 54.
1914, 4 January 12, and 56 January 29; range 52.

Records of temperatures at or below freezing were made as
follows: In 1899, at 6 a. m. on the 8th, 29th, 30th and 31st, the
only dates on which temperatures were recorded; in 1900, at 6
a. m. on the 1st to 4th, both inclusive ; 8th, 9th, llth, 12th, 13th,
16th, 17th, 21st, 22d, 23d, and 25th to 31st, both inclusive, and
at 6 p. m. on the 1st, 2d, 3d, 10th to 13th, both inclusive; 16th,
20th, 23d, and 25th to 31st, both inclusive.

From this it appears that, in January, 1900, the temperature
was at or below freezing on 21 days at 6 a. m., at noon on 11
days, and on 18 days at 6 p. m. The average temperature for
the month is shown in a table elsewhere in this report (page 70).

In 1901, freezing temperatures were recorded at 6 a. m. on the
1st to 6th, both inclusive; 9th, llth, 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 18th,
19th, and 22d to 31st, both inclusive, and 6 p. m. on the 1st, 2d,
3d, 5th, 7th, llth, 12th, 13th, 16th to 19th, both inclusive. In

517618

64 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

other words in January, 1901, the temperature was at or below
freezing at 6 a. m. on 24 days, at noon on 17 days, and at 6 p. m.
on 20 days.

In 1902, freezing temperatures were recorded at 6 a. m. on the
1st, 3d to 6th, both inclusive; 8th to 17th, both inclusive; 19th
to 25th, both inclusive, and 27th to 31st, both inclusive; at noon
on the 3d, 4th, 5th, llth, 12th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 23d, 24th,
25th, and 27th to 31st, both inclusive ; at 6 p. m. on the 1st to 5th,
both inclusive ; 10th to 16th, both inclusive, and 18th to 31st, both
inclusive. The temperature was at or below freezing at 6 a. m.
on 27 days, at noon on 17 days, and at 6 p. m. on 25 days.

In 1903, freezing temperatures were recorded at 6 a. m. on the
1st, 2d, 4th to 26th, 30th and 31st, at noon on the 4th to 14th,
17th, 18th, 19th, 21st to 25th, both inclusive, and 30th, at 6 p. m. on
the 1st, 3d to 15th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 22d, 23d, 24th, 25th, 29th
and 30th. The temperature was therefore at or below freezing on
27 days at 6 a. m., on 20 days at noon, and on 23 days at 6 p..m.

In 1905, we have records for only the first 4 days of January.
On the 2d, the temperature was below freezing at noon and at 6
p. m., while on the 3d and 4th it was below freezing all day.

In 1914, at 6 a.m. on the 1st to 8th, both inclusive, 10th to
14th, both inclusive; 17th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 22d, 23d, 25th, 26th,
30th and 31st ; at noon on the 1st, 4th, 6th, 10th to 13th, both in-
clusive; 18th, 21st to 25th, both inclusive, 30th and 31st; at 6
p. m. on 4th to 7th, both inclusive, 10th, llth, 12th, 13th, 18th, 23d,
25th, 26th, 29th, 30th and 31st ; or at or below freezing at 6 a. m.
on 22 days, at noon on 15 days, and at 6 p. m. on 17 days.

The greatest daily range in January was as follows :

January 24, 1900, from 33 to 56.5, or 23.5.
January 2, 1901, from 1.5 to 24, or 22.5.
January 28, 1902, from -12 to 10, or 22.
January 1, 1903, from 16 to 40, or 24.
January 29, 1914, from 32 to 56, or 24.

The average temperature for the month was as follows: In
1900, 24.2 at 6 a.m., 33 at noon, and 29 at 6 p.m., or
28.7 for the day; in 1901, 23.8 at 6 a.m., 31.3 at noon, 29.2
at 6 p. m., or 28.1 for the day; in 1902, 19.3 at 6 a. m., 29.9 at
noon, 24.7 at 6 p.m., or 24.6 for the day; in 1903, 22.1 at 6
a.m., 31 at noon, 27.1 at 6 p.m., or 26.7 for the day; in 1914,
29.2 at 6 a.m., 34.4 at noon, 32.8 at 6 p.m., or 32.1 for the
day.

Sky: The records show that clear and cloudy periods in Janu-
ary, 1901, were about equally divided, with the clear periods some-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

what in excess. This month for 1901 was markedly cloudy, the
sky being obscured about of the time. In 1902 it was again
about equally divided as to clearness and cloudiness, with only 1
extra period in favor of cloudiness. In 1903 it was again markedly
cloudy. Taking the entire period observed under consideration,
there are almost twice as many cloudy days as clear ones. In
1914, the first clear day was on the 8th; the next two cloudy, the
12th very clear; 13th, 15th and 17th clear; 14th, 16th, 18th, and
31st, cloudy ; no record for the other days.

Winds: North and east winds are relatively infrequent. Winds
from other directions are so evenly distributed that we cannot
speak of any as a prevailing wind. Taking the period as a whole,
indeed, the southwest winds are considerably in the lead of the
others but a consideration of the several years shows that on some
years other winds predominate, for example, the west winds in
1900 and 1901, so that a different series of years would yield some-
what different results. The southwest winds, especially those of
winter and autumn are usually chilling, and frequently bring
storms. Calm periods were fairly common in 1900. The January
of 1901 was unusually calm, the calm periods being considerably in
excess of any wind from any particular direction and, indeed, ag-
gregating nearly J of the entire month. The months of January,
1902 and 1903, were unusually boisterous, no periods of calm being
recorded for either.

Snow: Rainstorms are only occasional, 3 or 4 for the month
being the usual number. Snow storms are more frequent. The
unusual number of 23 were reported for 1901, but a number of
these were rather light snow flurries.

In 1914, there was snowing all day on the 2d, snow and rain
on the 3d and 4th, rain on the 14th, and snow all day on the 18th
and 31st.

The following tables represent briefly and comprehensively the
weather phenomena for January during the periods when the lake
was under observation:

VlNDS

Rain

Snows

fall in

Year

Clear

Cloudy

Calm

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

inches

1900

1901

1902

1903

7.5

1914

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

29
30
31

-9

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

< 9.3

18.3

20.6

39.6

36.6

28.6

36.3

34.3

30.3

31.6

38.5

35.5

15 '

39.3

32.3

31.5

35.5

42.5

44.1

44.6

35.6

41.5

32.1

35.3

43.5

35.5

56.5

46.5

27.5

18.5

19.6

8.5

13.8

2.5

6.1

11.3

8.6

-2.6

Average

24.2

33.0

29.0

28.7

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

1.3

16.1

7.9

7.6

16.9

1.9

1.5

17.9

14.4

24.6

6.5

23.1

23.5

17.7

27.6

20.8

39.9

32.1

30.9

40.1

16.5

25.2

25.8

25.3

29.9

24.5

38.9

37.9

33.9

41.2

21 5

33.3

39.2

8 ,

38.9

47.9

45.6

51.7

31.5

32.3

39.1

30.5

36.2

34.7

45.8

32.1

31.5

32.1

33.9

26.4

33.7

27.3

34.3

24.4

31.7

29.2

23.5

36.3

39.8

39.3

44.7

28.3

30.1

48.2

40.8

48.5

29.1

34.9

31.9

34.2

20.3

20.7

18.9

19.9

28.5

18.3

10.1

24.1

25.1

19.8

25.6

9.1

13.6

19.5

24.8

19.3

27.5

13.1

34.7

50.5

48.5

44.5

54.9

22.9

42.7

40.5

47.1

33.6

24.8

32.5

29.4

34.8

21 9

38.3

33.7

27.9

28.5

29.3

25^9

19.8

18.5

24.8

22.1

25.3

14.5

24.5

26.3

25.8

27.5

22.6

29.5

28.9

24.2

27.5

23.9

20.3

21.5

23.2

28.1

18.2

11.3

22.1

23.5

18.9

25.1

5.3

20.5

15.1

20.8

29.7

3.2

24.5

17.4

27.5 3.2

Average

23.7

31.3

29.2

28.1

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

29.3

16.6

22.3

36.3

35.6

"38.3

18.3

26.3

24.3

29.3

28.6

34.3

-8

6.6

0.6

12.3

' 13.6

Average

19.29

29. 94

24.74

24.6

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

29.3

32.6

26.6

29.3

20.3

26.6

13.6

9.3

14.6

1.3

2.5

12.5

22.3

31.3

33.3

16 3

21.6

30.3

28.3

23.3

26.6

39.3

Average

21.11

29.68

25.48

25.4

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1905

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

1
2
3
4
5

36
35
9
9

50
28
19
24

42
22
17
21

42.6
28.3
15
18

50
46
25
28
23

35.1
22
9
6

Average

22 5

30 3

25 5

Am TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1906

There are only three records for this month, all at 6 a. m., viz. :
January 20, 65 ; 21st, 60 ; and 22d, 35.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1907

There are only two records for this month, viz. : January 19,
60 maximum, and January 20, 6 at 6 a. m.

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1914

DATE

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Range

Average

32.7

35.3

31.3

30.7

35.3

20.7

21 .

16.7

14.5

15.5

- 24.2

41.7

33.3

30.7

34.7

25.3

19.5

14.5

26.2

28.7

32.7

27.7

31.3

44.3

42.7

28.3

Average

29/2

34.4

32.8

32.1

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1900

24.2

33.0

29.0

28.7

1901

23.8

31.3

29.2

28.1

1902

19.3

29.9

24.7

24.6

1903

21.1

29.7

25.5

25.4

1914

29.2

34.4

32.8

32.1

For fi

ve years

23.5

31.7

28.2

27.8

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey
FEBRUARY

The weather conditions for February during the time when
this month was under observation are given in brief form in the
following table :

Year

SKY

WINDS

Rains

Rain-
fall in
inches

Snows

Snow-
fall in
inches

Clear

Cloudy

Calm

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

1900
1901
1902
1903

20
34
20
12

10
50
11
17

4
4

7
4

8
2

8
7
2
2

4
2
5

11
5

6
7

9
19
6
4

8
14

20.2

11.5

Sky:- February of 1900 was a relatively clear bright month,
the records for clearness being twice those for cloudiness. That
month for 1901 on the other hand was considerably more gloomy,
the records for cloudiness exceeding those for clearness. 1902 was
similar to 1900 in weather conditions prevailing during this month,
it being a bright cheerful month, while in 1903 it was just a trifle
more frequently cloudy than clear. For the whole period of the
4 years this month was under observation there is a remarkable
balance between clear and cloudy periods, these being very nearly
equal, the total number of clear periods being exceeded by cloudy
periods by only 2.

Winds: North winds are the least frequent, being almost rare.
Northwest winds are the most prevalent not only for the greater
number of years but rather markedly so for the whole period ob-
served, being on the whole twice as frequent as any wind from any
other direction but not by any means equalling the sum total of the
other winds combined. Generally speaking, February is a rattter
blustery month, periods of calm being rare. The February of
1901, however, was unusually calm, the number of calm periods
exceeding considerably that of any particular wind, and giving
for the entire period a very respectable sum total of calm periods.

Storms: Rainstorms are of rather infrequent occurrence.
Snow flurries and snow storms are common, there being usually a
foot of snowfall for this month.

Temperatures: The total number of records for February is
438, as follows: 13 for 1899; 84 each for 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903,
and 1914; 1 for 1905; 3 for 1906; and 1 for 1908.

The lowest temperature recorded for this month was 22 on
February 18, 1905. The highest was 56 on February 8, 1900.
The extremes for each year were as follows:

72 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

1900, -8 February 1 and 17, and 56 February 8; range 64.

1901, -14.5 February 6, and 37.5 February 17; range 52.

1902, -13 February 3, and 52 February 27; range 65.

1903, -6 February 19, and 49 February 10; range 55.

Temperatures at or below freezing were recorded as follows:
In February, 1899, at 6 a. m. on the 1st, 2d, 7th to 15th, both
inclusive ; 25th and 27th, the only days on which observations were
recorded: Zero weather was recorded on the 1st, 2d, and 7th to
13th, both inclusive. In 1900, on the 1st, 2d, 3d, 5th, 6th, 9th,
10th, llth, 13th to 20th, both inclusive, and 22d to 28th, both in-
clusive, at 6 a. m. ; on the 1st to 5th, both inclusive ; 9th, 13th to
19th, both inclusive, and 24th to 28th, both inclusive, at noon ; and
on the 1st, 2d, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 13th to 19th, both inclusive;
22d and 24th to 28th, both inclusive, at 6 p. m.

The temperature was therefore down to freezing on 23 days
at 6 a. m., on 18 days at noon, and on 20 days at 6 p. m. Zero
weather was recorded on the 1st, 16th, 17th, 24th and 25th.

In February, 1901, the temperature was down to freezing on
every day at 6 a. m. ; on the 1st to 17th, both inclusive, 19th to 24th,
both inclusive, and 26th to 28th, both inclusive, at noon; and on
the 1st to 24th, both inclusive; 16th, and 18th to 28th, both in-
clusive, at 6 p. m. The temperature was therefore at or below
freezing at 6 a. m. on every day of the month, at noon on every
day but the 18th and 25th, and at 6 p. m. on every day except the
15th and 17th. Zero weather was recorded on the 6th, 7th, and
21st.

In February, 1902, freezing temperature was recorded at 6
a. m. on every day except the 27th and 28th, at noon on every day
except the 21st to the 28th, both inclusive, and at 6 p. m. on every
day but the 23rd to the 28th, both inclusive. In this month records
of zero or below at 6 a. m. were made on the 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 7th,
8th, 9th, llth, 14th, 15th, 18th, 19th and 20th, 13 days in all.

In February, 1903, freezing temperatures were recorded at 6
a. m. on the 3d, 5th to 10th, both inclusive, and 13th to 26th, both
inclusive; at noon on the 4th, 5th, 8th and 13th to 22d, both in-
clusive ; at 6 p. m. on the 3d to 8th, both inclusive, and on the 28th.
The temperature was at freezing or below on 21 days at 6 a. m.,
on 13 days at noon, and on 21 days at 6 p. m. Zero weather was
recorded on the 17th, 18th, and 19th. We have no record for
February, 1904, and only one for 1905, when on February 18, 22
below zero was recorded, the coldest temperature that has been
noted during the period covered by these observations. In 1906,
only 3 observations were recorded for this month, namely, 50

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

on the 12th, 42 on the 13th, and 18 on the 14th, all at 6 a.m.
The only record for February, 1908, is 4 at 6 a. m. on the 22d.

In February, 1914, freezing temperatures were recorded at 6
a. m. on all the days except the 3d and 28th ; at noon on all the days
except the 2d, 3d, 6th, 17th, 26th, 27th, and 28th ; and at 6 p. m.
on all days except the 2d, 4th, and 27th. .The temperature was
therefore at or below freezing on 26 days at 6 a.m., on 22 days
at noon, and on 25 days at 6 p. m. Zero weather was recorded
on the 8th, 9th, and 15th.

The greatest daily range was as follows:

February 17, 1900, from -8 to 18, or 26.
February 6, 1901, from -14.5 to 15.9, or 30.4.
February 22, 1902, from 4 to 44, or 40.
February 25, 1903, from 13 to 40, or 27.
February 9, 1914, from -2 to 28, or 30.

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR FEBRUARY, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

Average

1.07

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR FEBRUARY, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

5.6

29.3

27.3

32.6

4*0.3

41.6

17.6

27.3

34.3

36.6

18.3

13.6

6.3

14.3

16.3

31.6

35.3

32.6

8.3

13.3

15.6

20.3

Average

17.4

26.5-

22.7 '-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR FEBRUARY, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

12.5

15.2

16.9

23.9

9.5

2.5

25.5

27.3

18.7

27.5

29.5

30.5

31.3

26.5

28.5

27.8

27.6

22.2

12.7

23.9

14.8

17.1

23.5

14.5

15.9

14.5

5.3

18.3

19.1

22.9

11.2

22.1

23.9

26.5

22.5

22.8

25.8

24.8

29.9

8.5

18.2

15.9

29.9

13.5

21.8

21.1

32.1

9.5

20 5

16.6

27.6

7.5

11.1

22.9

24.5

19.5

25.5

14.9

20.3

17.5

23.1

9.5

28.1

32.5

21.5

1.6

18.1

28.5

24.8

30.1

14.5

31.3

37.5

31.2

38.1

27.8

35.5

31.8

31.7

11.9

17.3

11.9

13.7

27.2

9.5

21.5

16.5

14.6

5.1

0.1

23.2

19.9

14.1

0.1

2.5

14.7

5.5

7.5

0.1

12.1

12.3

19.7

0.1

11.2

26.1

26.9

21.4

27.9

32.9

27.5

29.4

36.5

22.6

4.9

25.9

16.1

15.6

24.6

4.8

18.5

17.5

25.6

26.3

18.9

30.3

0.9

Average

11.3

24.8

19.3

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR FEBRUARY, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

13.3

2.6

6.6

1.3

5.3

2.6

16.6

16.3

15.3

23.6

14.3

23.3.

25. if

36.3

34.3

37.6

40.3

Average

7.4

27.1

19.7

17.8

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR FEBRUARY, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

~ 40

40.6

* 45

43.3

32.3

29'

28.3

27.6

29.6

27.3

30.6

38.6

34.6

24 .

28.3

29.6

10.6

0.6

0.3

7.3

17.3

20.3

29.3

25.6

27.6

34.3

35.6

Average ...

21 7

31.8

27.2

26.8

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR FEBRUARY, 1914

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

23.7

36.3

27.3

28.0

30.7

14.0

4.0

18.0

23.7

16.7

10.0

10.7

18.3

13.0

29.3

29.7

24.0

23.0

21.3

18.3

11.3'

16.7

19.7

27.3

35.3

36.3

Average . ...

14.6

27 46

23.39

21.9

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR FEBRUARY

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1900

17.4

26.5"

22.7

22.0

1901

11.3

24.8

19.3

1902

7.4

27.1

19.7

17.8

1903

21.7

31.8

27.2

26.8

1914

14.6

27.5

23.4

21.8

Average for five years.. .

14.5

27.6

21.5

MARCH

March is prevailingly a cloudy month. Of thirty observations
in 1900 as to condition of the sky, 12 showed clear and 18 cloudy ;
of 90 observations in 1901, 18 were clear and 72 cloudy; in 1902,
33 observations were made of which 15 recorded the sky as clear,
and 18 as cloudy; while in 1903, of 41 recorded observations, 19
report the sky as clear and 22 as cloudy.

March is generally a boisterous month, with very little calm.
Of 46 observations in 1900 no period of calm was observed ; of the
46 winds observed nearly every direction was represented, there

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

being 5 winds from the north, 6 from the northeast, 5 from the
east, 4 from the southeast, 4 from south, 8 from the southwest, 6
from the west and 8 from the northwest, the winds from the
southwest and northwest being slightly in the majority. In 1901
the month was considerably more calm than during the preceding
year. Of 91 observations 18 were calm, 1 north wind, 9 from
the northeast, 3 from the east, 6 from the southeast, 13 from the
south, 25 from the southwest, 2 from the west, 14 from the north-
west, showing again the southwest and northwest winds slightly
in the majority.

In 1902, of 33 observations, there was recorded no period of
calm, 1 north wind, 8 from the northeast, none from the east, 3
from the southeast, 6 from the south, 8 from the southwest, 1 from
the west and 6 from the northwest. In 1903, of 50 observations,
there were 2 periods of calm, 6 north winds, 11 from the north-
east, 4 from the southeast, 10 from the south, 8 from the south-
west, 5 from the west and 4 from the northwest. A considera-
tion of all these records shows that there is no especial direction
from which winds come during this month; it varies from day to
day and year to year.

March is generally a rather stormy month with a trifle more
snow than rain. In 1900 there were 5 rainstorms, 6 snow storms
with a total snowfall of about 7 inches, and 2 sleet storms. In

1901 there were 13 rainstorms. During 15 periods snow was re-
corded as falling but these were usually light snow flurries, the
total depth of snowfall registering only about 2| inches. 4 fogs
were recorded, 15 hazy days, one electrical storm and 1 frost. In

1902 there were 5 rainstorms and 4 slight snow storms, the total
snowfall being 3 inches. 2 fogs and 1 frost were recorded. In

1903 there were 7 rainstorms, 3 snowstorms, 3 fogs and 1 frost.
There was a cold snap at the end of the month during which ice
was frozen on pools. The month is marked by rather sudden up-
ward changes of temperature, one hour changes of 25 being
common.

General weather conditions for March are given briefly in the
following table:

Year

SKY

WINDS

Snow-
fall in

Clear

Cloudy

Calm

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

inches

1900

1901

1902

1903

617618

80 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Sky: As shown by our records, March, in all the years rec-
ords have been kept, has shown an excess, sometimes inconsider-
able, sometimes considerable, of cloudy weather. During the years
1900, 1902 and 1903, the excess was not great, the month being
pretty evenly divided as to periods of cloudiness and clearness. In
the spring of 1901 this month was unusually cloudy, there being
3 times as many cloudy periods as clear ones. It is the abnormal
condition of this particular spring that makes the periods of cloudi-
ness during the 4 years studied sum up to more than twice as fre-
quent as the clear ones.

Winds: North, east and south winds are relatively infrequent.
The winds from other directions vary from year to year in fre-
quence, but, taken as a whole, are so evenly distributed that none
can be called the prevailing wind. Most years this is rather a rude
boisterous month with few periods of calm.

Storms: Rainstorms, the first of the spring rains, and snow
storms, are quite frequent.

Temperatures: The total number of records for March is
370, as follows : 8 for 1899 ; 93 for 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903.

The lowest temperature recorded was zero, on March 17, 1900.
The highest was 73 on March 19, 1903. The extremes were as
follows :

1900, March 17, and 52 March 9; range 52.

1901, 5.5 March 6, and 64.8 March 25; range 59.3.

1902, 10 March 17, and 65 March 19; range 55.

1903, 18 March 1, and 73 March 19; range 55.

Temperatures at or below freezing were recorded as follows:
In March, 1899, at 6 a. m. on the 12th, 22d, 23d, 24th, 28th, 29th
and 31st. The only other record was 50 on the llth. In 1900,
March furnished freezing temperatures at 6 a.m. on the 1st to
5th, both inclusive ; 7th to 10th, both inclusive ; 12th, 14th to 18th,
both inclusive; 20th, 21st, 22d, 24th, 25th, and 27th to 31st, both
inclusive ; at noon on the 1st, 5th, 6th, 12th, 14th to 17th, both in-
clusive; 20th, 21st, and 29th; at 6 p.m. on the 3d to 8th, both
inclusive ; llth, 13th to 17th, both inclusive ; 19th, 20th, 21st, 25th,
29th and 30th. The temperature was down to freezing at 6 a. m.
on 25 days, at noon on 11 days, and at 6 p. m. on 19 days.

In March, 1901, freezing temperatures were recorded at 6
a. m. on the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, llth, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th,
21st, 22d, 27th, 28th, 29th and 31st; at noon on the 5th, 6th, 20th
and 21st; at 6 p.m. on the 4th, 5th, 6th, 15th, 20th, 21st, 27th, and
28th. The temperature was at or below freezing on 16 days at
6 a. m., on 4 days at noon, and on 8 days at 6 p. m.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

In March, 1902, freezing temperatures were recorded at 6 a. m.
on the 2d to 6th both inclusive, 10th, 14th, 17th to 20th, both in-
clusive, and 31st ; at noon on the 2d, 3d, 4th, 17th and 18th ; at 6
p. m. on the 2d to 5th, both inclusive ; 16th, 17th, and 18th. The
temperature was at or below freezing on 12 days at 6 a.m., on 5
days at noon, and on 7 days at 6 p. m.

In March, 1903, freezing temperatures were recorded at 6 a. m.
on the 1st, 2d, 3d, 13th, 21st, 22d, 24th, 25th and 29th; at noon
on the 1st and 24th, and at 6 p. m. on the 1st and 24th. The tem-
perature was therefore at or below freezing at 6 a.m. on 9 days,
at noon on 2 days, and at 6 p. m. on 2 days.

For March, 1907, we have but three records, these showing that
the maximum on each of the three days, March 21, 22, and 23, was
84.

The greatest daily range for March was as follows:

March 3, 1900, from 7 to 43, or 36.
March 23, 1901, from 40 to 62.2, or 22.2.
March 26, 1902, from 40 to 60, or 20.
March 31, 1903, from 35 to 60, or 25.

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR MARCH, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

27.6

34 3

39.3

35.6

34.3,

28.6

26.8

.18

10.6

38.3

24.3

30.6

29.3

40.3

34.6

34.3

32.6

33.6

36.6

Average

25.8

35.2

30.5

30.4

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR MARCH, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

34.5

32.8

20.2

34.2

38.8

35.1

40.6

33.8

38.4

42.4

33.4

33.5

33.8

4.9

31.4

8.5

16.9

10.8

5.5

24.5

26.4

18.8

28.6

3.1

26.1

40.8

36.2

34.3

42.4

2}. 4

38.1

41.8

43.7

41.2

44.5

34.4

36.8

35.2

34.5

35.5

33.9

34.5

42.5

39.9

38.9

47.5

31.8

28.1

33.6

31.5

35.5

27.3

28.2

36.3

38.5

34.3

38.9

41.6

37.5

34.7

37.9

43.5

34.2

30.7

35.5

33.1

37.3

30.4

28.5

30.5

34.9

26.6

19.6

39.5

35.2

31.4

40.6

31.1

49.5

44.5

39.3

66.5

55.9

69.3

39.3

47.8

57.1

49.2

51.3

58.5

44.4

32.5

26.1

29.5

53.9 '

25.3

22.9

29.5

25.1

29.5

21.9

40.1

43.1

47.8

21.5

62.2

49.5

50.5

44.5

52.1

50.8

58.5

46.6

64.8

50.8

67.3

41.9

46.1

41.1

47.5

40.5

36.2

33.4

40.3

31.7

34.5

32.1

37.9

29.1

29.9

35.2

37.9

34.3

38.1

22.9

32.5

32.8

32.7

36.5

30.1

35.1

38.2

34.4

29.9

Average

31.8

40.5

37.2

36.5

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR MARCH, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

35.0

27.3

28.3

29.3

31.3

38.3

41.6

35.3

40.6

49.6

58.6

42.6

49.3

36.3

11.3

19.3

35.3

41.6

42.6

41.6

45.6

51.3

53.6

38.3

37.6

Average

34.8

46.2

41.3

40.7

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR MARCH, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

24.6

33.6

32.6

38.6

41.6

52.3

39.6

41.6

43.5

*13

43.3

43.6

50.3

60.3

64.3

51.3

38.3

42.3

41.3

31.3

40.6

47.6

44.3

Average

37.1

49.1

42.6

43.4

* The maximum for the 13th was 70

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES FOR MARCH

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1900

25.8

35.2

30.5

30.4

1901

31.8

. 40.5

37.2

36.5

1902
1903

34.8
37.1

46.2
49.1

41.3
42.6

40.7
43.4

32 4

42 8

37 9

37.7

Lake Maxinkuckee > Physical and Biological Survey

APRIL

Sky: Of 39 observations of the sky made in April, 1900, we ,
have 24 records of clear and 15 cloudy ; of 89 in 1901, 33 recorded
the sky as clear, 56 as cloudy; of 31 in 1902, 15 noted clear, and 16
cloudy; and of 71 in 1903, 39 records gave clear and 32 cloudy,
making a total of 111 records clear and 119 cloudy, the weather
being pretty evenly divided in this particular, there being a few
more cloudy periods than clear ones.

Generally, this month shows a very even balance between pe-
riods of clearness and of cloudiness, the month for 1900 showing
a greater number of clear periods than cloudy, the spring of 1901
showing the reverse, and April of 1902 and 1903 being very little
different. For the whole 4 years there are 8 more cloudy periods
than clear ones.

Winds: Generally speaking, calm periods are rare in April,
none at all being recorded in 1900, 1902 and 1903. In 1901 it was,
however, unusually calm, there being 19 periods of calm recorded.
As to direction, winds are pretty equally divided; so much so that
taking year after year, one cannot speak of any marked tendency
toward a prevailing wind from any particular direction ; the rec-
ords are as follows:

Year

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

1900

1901

1902

1903

There are fewer west winds than any other, and more north-
east than any other, the others being well distributed. The north-
east winds generally bring cool weather and storms. It is gen-
erally a boisterous month, with but few calms.

Storms: Both snowstorms and rainstorms are rather frequent.

As compared with other months, rain storms are usually rather
infrequent; we have a record of 3 rainstorms for 1900, of 6 for
1901, of 4 for 1902. In 1903 it was unusually wet, there being 11
periods of rain recorded for April of that year. There are occa-
sional snowstorms; we have 4 recorded for 1900, 1 for 1901, and
.75 inch for 1902. There was one sleet storm in 1900. Five
records of frost in 1901, and one hailstorm in 1903.

The following table shows the general weather conditions for
April :

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Voar

SKY

WIND

Snow-

Clear

Cloudy

Calm

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N W

1900
1901
1902
1903

24
33
15
34

15
56
16
32

3
4

26
5

8
10
2

2
9
2
8

6
1
3
18

5
9

1
2

18
8
5

3
6
4
11

4
1

Temperatures: The total number of temperature records for
April is 362, as follows : 90 for 1900, 1901, 1902 and 1903 each,
and 1 each for 1907 and 1909.

The lowest temperature recorded was 18 on April 10, 1909.
The lowest recorded in years of full records was 25 on April 5,
1900, and again on April 4, 1903; the highest was 88 on April
29, 1900. The extremes were as follows:

1900, 25 on April 5, and 88 on April 29; range 63.

1901, 30.1 on April 1, and 85.1 on April 30; range 55.

1902, 22 on April 8, and 86 on April 21; range 64.

1903, 25 on April 4, and 75 on April 12; range 50.

The temperature was at or below freezing as follows: In
April, 1900, at 6 a.m. on the 1st, 3d, 4th, 5th and 10th to 14th,
inclusive ; at noon on the llth ; and at 6 p. m. on the 3d, llth, and
13th. The temperature was freezing at 6 a. m. on 9 days, at noon
on one day, and at 6 p. m. on 3 days.

- In April, 1901, it was at or below freezing at 6 a. m. only on
the 1st, and at no time at noon or 6 p. m.

In April, 1902, it was at or below freezing at 6 a. m. on the 1st,
2d, 3d, 4th, 7th and 8th; at noon on the 1st and 7th; and at 6
p. m. on the 1st, 7th and 8th. In this month it was down to
freezing on 6 days at 6 a. m., on only 2 days at noon, and on 3
days at 6 p. m.

In April, 1903, the temperature was down to 30 at noon and
6 p. m. on the 3d; to 25 at 6 a. m., and 32 at noon and 6 p. m.
on the 4th, to 28 at 6 a.m. on the 5th, and to 32 at 6 a.m. on
the 23d.

In April, 1909, when only one observation was recorded, it
was 18 at 6 a. m. on the 10th.

The greatest daily range was as follows :

April 26, 1900, from 46 to 77, or 31.
April 30, 1901, from 62.9 to 85.1, or 22.2.
April 21, 1902, from 48 to 86, or 38.
April 1, 27, and 28, 1903, from 40, 40 and 50, respectively,
to 60, 60 and 70, respectively, or 20.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR APRIL, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

1 .

55"

40.6

34.3

40.6

45.3

54.3

61.3

52.3

57.5

44.1

37.6

30.3

34.6

44.6

63.6

59.3

56.6

55.6

58.6

52.3

74'

61.6

59.6

Average

"62.5

51.4

52.3

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR APRIL, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

30.1

44.2

45.7

40.3

34.1

44.5

42.5

35.1

53.5

47.5

43.1

51.5

47.2

47.3

43.8

44.9

43.2

38.9

41.5

47.1

40.1

40.9

38.3

48.8

43.6

35.8

51.9

46.5

40.3

52.5

51.9

42.8

40.6

51.5

47.1

47.2

48.8

43.5

59.8

57.8

43.9

58.2

51.4

41.9

60.2

49.4

50.5

53.7

51.5

40.5

48.6

32.5

37.9

36.1

32.2

41.1

37.4

33.3

47.1

38.2

39.5

35.3

42.6

36.8

38.2

41.4

44.5

50.1

45.3

51.9

52.2

58.9

56.5

53.1

49.5

53.5

52.7

64.1

62.5

59.8

57.9

70.5

63.3

63.9

58.6

69.2

60.2

77.5

71.3

69.7

62.9

85.1

71.5

73.2

Average ....

42.9

53.3

50.4

48.9

* Maximum air temperature for the 1st was 48.4; minimum, 26. l c

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR APPRIL, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

~32

38.3

40.6

47.3

51.6

27.6

53.3

38.3

40.6

44.3

50.6

52.6

57.3

53.6

70.3

46.6

53.3

60.6

48.6

57.3

65.6

59.3

Average

41.9

55.7

51.4

49.7

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR APRIL, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6p.m.

Average

63.3

29.6

56.3

48.3

63.3

68.3

49.6

47.3

52.3

.50

48.6

'52.3

43.3

50.6

46.3.

48.6

54.3

63.6

68.6

43.6

Average

44.1

53.8

51.9

49.9

AVERAGE AIR TEMPERATURES FOR APRIL

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1900

43.0

62.5

51.4

52.3

1901

42.9

53.3

50.4

48.9

1902

41.9

55.7

51.4

49.7

1903

44.1

53.8

51.9

49.9

Average for four years . .

56.3

51.3

50.2

MAY

Sky: Of 35 observations made in 1900, 21 record the sky as
clear, and 14 as cloudy; of 95 in 1901, 23 record the sky as clear
and 72 as cloudy; of 31 records in 1902 we have 15 clear and 16
cloudy ; and of 76 records for 1903 we have 49 clear and 27 cloudy,
making a total of 108 records for clear and 129 of cloudy, the
cloudy periods being somewhat in excess of the clear ones.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

May is generally a bright sunny month, most of the records
showing a preponderance of bright days. Many of the periods
marked "cloudy" in 1901, were bright and pleasant, either because
of thinness of the clouds or broken rifts in them.

Winds: As with April, this is a month of comparatively few
calms, none being reported for 1900, 1902, or 1903. In 1901, for
which our records are much fuller, we have recorded 15 periods
of calm.

West winds were rather few; all others were pretty well dis-
tributed, those from the south being on the whole, the most abund-
ant. For the year for which we have the fullest records we have
a goodly record of periods of calm.

The following is a record of the winds for the time observed :

Year

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

1900

- 1

1901

1902

1903

Storms: Rainstorms are frequent, just about as frequent as
in April. Two rainstorms were recorded for 1900, 4 in 1901, none
in 1902, and 6 in 1903.

Of other atmospheric phenomena there was one thunderstorm
in 1901, and there were 2 cases of noticeably heavy dewfall. It
may be observed that "dew", as commonly observed, especially on
grass, is as much a biological as an atmospheric phenomenon,
being the result of transpiration by herbage, although peculiar
atmospheric conditions favor its manifestation.

The general weather conditions for May are shown in the fol-
lowing table :

SKY

WIND

Clear

Cloudy

Calm

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

1900

1901

1902

1903

Temperatures: The total number of temperature records for
May is 310, as follows: 90 in 1900, 91 in 1901, 53 in 1902, and 76
in 1903.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

The lowest temperature recorded was 30 on May 1, 1903.
The highest was 93 on May 14 and again on May 16, 1900. The
extremes were as follows :

1900, 35 on May 3, and 88 on May 25; range 53.

1901, 42.5 on May 30, and 89 on May 23; range 46.5.
1902,* 43 on May 15, and 88 on May 18; range 45.
1903, 30 on May 1, and 90 on May 17 and 19; range 60.

In the 4 years for which records were made the temperature
in the month of May fell as low as freezing only once, which was
at 6 a. m. May 1, 1903, when it stood at 30.

The greatest daily range was as follows :

May 10, 1900, from 37 to 77, or 40.

May 23, 1901, from 60 to 89, or 29.

May 3, 1902, from 62 to 90, or 28.

May 10, 1903, from 54 to 83, or 29.

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR MAY, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 D. m.

Average

63.3

65.3

49.6

58.3

57.3

72.6

14 f

82.6

9"0

80.3

58.3

54.6

58.6

61.3

71.6

75.6

79.3

72.6

71.3

79.3

73.3

Average

56.9

76.3

64.7

*No record after May 18.

t Maximum air temperature, 93

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR MAY, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

83.8

75.3"

85.9

73.1

79.5

51.5

65.4

48.9

62.9

59.6

58.9

74.3

70.5

67.9

73.2

62.3

65.8

57.8

61.8

57.8

59.1

60.3

58.8

49.5

63.9

58.5

53 2

59.5

59.6

50.5

64 1

61.8

58.8

51.6

55.5

53.4

46.5

66.1

55.8

56.1

46.6

" 59.8

60.5

55.6

42.9

70.3

65.4

82.6

64.5

55.1

83 5

80.5

62.3

79.2

70.4

70.6

54 N 2

64.9

53.5

67.9

60.1

52.8

57.4

59.6

56.6

66.6

61.2

85.9

78.3

60.9

57.5

52.5

47.6

51.1

49.4

51.5

47.8

56.9

54.9

52.6

52.2

65.2

62.6

43.9

57.9

54.5

52.1

42.5

58.9

57.9

53.1

68.9

Average

52.2

66.9

63.7

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR MAY, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

57.3

76.6

67.3

61.6

49.3

47.3

50.3

59.6

52.3

61.3

81.3

76.5

Average

53.2

66.7

62.4

61.2

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR MAY, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

45.0

51.6

50.3

58.3

61.6

56.6

67.3

65.6

70.3

72.3

69.3

64.6

69.6

74.6

75.3

20'

70.3

75.3

72.3

Average

56.6

75.5

63.5

65.4

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES FOR MAY

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1900

56.9

76.3

64.7

66.0

1901

52.2

66.9

63.7

61.0

1902

53.2

66.7

62.4

61.2

1903

56.6

75.5

63.5

65.4

Average for four years . .

54.7

71.4

63.6

63.3

JUNE

Sky and Winds: We have complete records for June for only
2 years, 1900 and 1901, the records of other years being too frag-
mentary to tabulate. Of 36 records in 1900, 23 record the sky as
clear and 13 as cloudy; of 78 for 1901 we have 33 records of clear
sky and 45 of cloudy, leaving the month for 1900 with an excess
of clear records and that for 1901 with a somewhat similar ex-
cess of records for cloudy. The total observations for the 2 years

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

are 56 clear periods and 58 cloudy, which is a remarkably even
balance.

In 1900 there were 10 more observations marked "clear" than
cloudy, while in 1901 cloudy periods were somewhat more frequent
than clear. Taking observations for both years, we have the pe-
riods pretty evenly divided.

These observations show that, taken as a whole, the cloudy pe-
riods and clear periods are about equally divided, the clear periods
being more prevalent in 1900 but less so in 1901. North and west
winds are relatively infrequent ; winds from other directions are so
evenly balanced that none can be called the prevailing wind. This
is an evenly tempered uneventful month and the minor weather
phenomena such as fog, haze, electrical storms, etc., were not suf-
ficiently marked to attract especial attention.

Rainstorms are not especially frequent during this month.

The results of our observations are given in the following table :

SKY

WINDS

Rain-

Year

I? *

fall in

Clear

Cloudy

Calm

N.E

S.E

S.W

N.W

inches

1900

1.5

1901

Temperatures: The total number of temperature records for
June is 202, as follows : 90 in 1900, 90 in 1901, 10 in 1902, and 12
in 1903.

The lowest temperature recorded was 45.5 on June 1, 1901.
The highest was 95 on June 28, 1901.

The extremes were as follows:

1900, 49 on June 3 and 88 on June 16; range 39.

1901, 45.5 on June 1 and 95 on June 28; range 49.5.
1902, 1 50 on June 21 and 22, and 66 on June 30; range 16.
1903 2 , 62 on June 27 and 86.2 on June 30; range 24.2.

Our records show no freezing temperature for June,
greatest daily range was as follows :

June 9, 1900, from 54 to 80, or 26.
June 16, 1901, from 65 to 90, or 25.
June 28, 1902 1 , from 56 to 61, or 5.
June 29 and 30, 1903% 72 and 73 to 85.2

The

and 83.2, or 13.2 c

1 Records for only 6 days.

2 Records for only 4 days.

717618

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JUNE, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

78.3

64.3

58.3

67.6

67.5

73.5

71.3

70.3

64.6

71.6

70.6

71.6

75.6

69.3

67.3

75.3

71.3

69.3

71.6

63.5

70.5

63.5

69.5

67.5

66.8

64.3

84.5

70.8

74.6

85.7

76 5

84'. 7

79.5

78.4

77.3

76 5

74.8

66 6

Average

66.2

78.3

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JUNE, 1901

Dftte

6 a. in.

NOOT

6 p. m.

Average

45.5

66.1

58.5

52.2

66.1

79.5

65.9

57.3

79.5

81.2

72.7

60.1

82.1

75.4

' 5

65.9

73.9

69.6

76.5

71.2

52.5

52.9

53.8

63.9

55.2

78.5

77.1

70.3

62 1

71.3

79.6

' 73.8

91.5

93.5

86.3

75.1

79.7

89.8

7,9.9

73.8

-91.6

82.5

82.6

82.5

78.2

83.8

79.6

66.1

71.5

73.5

70 4

62.9

83.6

73.5

73 3

85.9

79.5

77.8

63.9

77.1

74.9

69.9

75.8

79.3

87.8

87.9

82.6

67.8

81.9

83.3

77 7

73.9

90.1

76.1

94.5

83.8

84.8

76.5

93.4

83 6

76.5

82.5

82.3

79.8

94 2

92 9

88.9

Average

66.3

81.8

79.2

75.7

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JUNE, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Rarfc

Average

28
30

56
64

59
52

5
14

58.7
60 7

55 5

63 5

55 5

59.7

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JUNE, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Averape

75"

70.3

63.5

72.2

85.2

82.5

79 9

86 2

Average

67 6

80 4

78.9

75.6

98 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AVERAGE AIR TEMPERATURES FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1900

66.2

78.3

69.0

71.0

1901

66.3

81.8

79.2

75.7

1902

55.5

63.5

55.2

59.5

1903

67.6

80.4

78.9

75.6

Average for four years . .

63.9

70.6

70.4

JULY

Sky: The records for July are fairly complete for only 3 years
and accordingly do not admit of the checking up and balancing
which is possible where we have more years to compare. It may
briefly be observed that the clear periods were somewhat in ex-
cess of the cloudy ones for the years under observation and that
the south winds were somewhat more common than those from
any other direction. The calm periods were surprisingly few.

Winds: Northeast, west and northwest winds were the least
frequent, the prevailing wind being from the south. Periods of
calm were rather infrequent.

Storms: Compared with other months, showers were rather
frequent; of fairly complete records of 34 months, we have only
six that equal or exceed that of this particular month.

Temperatures: The total number of temperature records for
July is 330, as follows : 93 in 1899, 93 in 1900, 26 in 1902, 93 in
1903, 24 in 1906, and 1 in 1910.

The lowest temperature recorded for this month was 54 on
July 1, 1902; the highest was 103 on July 1, 1910. The extremes
for each year were as follows :

1899, 58 on July 8 and 89 on July 21; range 31.

1900, 60.5 on July 1 and 9, and 92 on July 4; range 31.5.
1902 1 , 54 on July 1 and 90 on July 7 and 27; range 36.
1903, 60 on July 15 and 16, and 91 on July 3 and 4; range 31.
1906 2 60.5 on July 31 and 94 on July 23; range 33.5.

Our records show no freezing temperature for July.
The greatest daily range was as follows :

July 12, 21 and 24, 1899, from 71, 73 and 71, respectively,

to 87, 89 and 87, respectively, or 16.
July 14 and 28, 1900, from 71 and 64, respectively, to 88

and 81, respectively, or 17.
July 24, 1902, from 65 to 88, or 23.
July 2, 1903, from 68 to 88, or 20.
July 31, 1906 3 , from 60.5 to 84, or 23.5.

1 Records for only 11 days.

2 Records for only 9 days.

3 Records for only 9 days.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JULY, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

70.6

75.6

70.5

65.5

76.5

72.5

76.3

83.5

78.5

86.5

81.5

72 3

77.5

77.1

69.3

81.6

81.3

77.6

73 5

69.5

75.5

72.3

69 6

75.5

Average

68.9

80.2

77.9

75.6

100 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AiK TEMPERATURES FOR JULY, 190U

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

60.5

73.0'

76.5

70.0

68.4

86.5

70.5

81.5

87.3

90.5

85.5

77.3

89.5

83.9

76.5

77.8

67.5

60 5

68.5

77.3

60.3

64.5

75.5

74 5

71.5

85.

81.3

84.5

83.5

71.5

73.8

71.5

78.5

73.6

72.3

75.8

72.8

73.6

67.5

69.1

71.6

74.6

82.

77.6

70.5

88.5

78.6

Average

80.4

77.3

75.9

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JULY, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

62.6

72.6

81.6

77.3

79.3

78.3

6J 6

83 9

73 4

76 4

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 101

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JULY, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Nocn

tip. m.

Average

73.5

77.8

75.5

84.5

81.6

77.6

79.6

75.2

83.7

87.5

88.5

75.2

83.2

81.1

70.5

-82

77.5

76.6

78.5

72.2

73.5

73.2

71.5

66.5

69.6

71.6

73.5

73.3

85.5

77.1

70.5

73.1

< 72

82.3

86.5

83.8

79.3

67.5

75.1

80.3

76.5

75.8

68.5

68.8

07.5

63.8

Average

72.5

83.9

76.6

75.9

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR JULY, 1906

Date

6 a. m.

Nocn

6 p. m.

Average

85.3

63.9

78 5

71.2

87 9

76.9

71.9

79.6

92.2

71.8

80.6

73.9

83.9

79.9

76.9

60.5

75.5

Average

68 6

83.6

78.9

76.9

102 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES FOR THE MONTH OF JULY

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1899

6S.9

80.2

77.9

75.6

1900

80.4

77.3

75.9

1902

69.6

83.9

73.4

76.4

1903

72.5

80.9

76.6

75.9

1906

68.6

83.6

78.9

76.6

Average for five years. .

69.9

81.8

76.8

76.1

AUGUST

Sky: For August we have fairly complete records for only 2
years, 1900 and 1906. We have pretty full temperature records
for 1902 but few. records of other weather conditions.

Our records show an abundance of cloudy weather, and for the
summer of 1906, a considerable excess. In many cases of cloudy
weather, however, the clouds were much broken up, permitting
many bright days and clear bits of sunshine.

Winds: August is notably a month of calms and it is due to
the placid untroubled surface of the lake that the plankton scum,
which begins either at the end of the preceding month or the be-
ginning of this, forms on the surface and reaches its maximum de-
velopment. West winds are the least frequent; east winds the
most so.

Storms: In keeping with the prevailing calm, storms are rela-
tively infrequent.

The following is the record in tabular form :

SKY

WIND

Cloudy

Calm

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

VV.

N.W.

1900

1906

Temperatures: The total number of temperature records for
August is 382, as follows : 93 in 1899, 93 in 1900, 23 in 1902, 74
in 1906, and 15 in 1908,

The lowest temperature recorded was 51, on August 28, 1906;
the highest was 98, on August 2, 1906.

The extremes for each year were as follows:

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 103

1899, 58.5 on August 15 and 88.5 on August 19; range 30.

1900, 62 on August 31 and 92.1 on August 10; range 30.1.
1902,' 54 on August 23 and 90 C on August 5; range 36.
1903, 55 on August 12 and 86.5 on August 23; range 31.5.
1906, 51 on August 28 and 98 on August 2; range 47.
1908, 2 62.5 on August 27 and 87.4 on August 31; range 24.9

Our records show no freezing temperature for August,
greatest daily range was as follows:

The

August 3, 1899, from 69 C
August 19, 1900, from 70 c
August 5, 1902, from 65'
August 21, 1903, from 59 C
August 29, 1906, from 56 c
August 28, 1908 2 , from 63 to 81, or 18.

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1899

to 88, or 19.
to 91.5, or 21.5 C
to 90, or 25.
to 79, or 20.
to 77.5, or 21.5 C

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

67.0

73.5

82.5

74.3

76.5

74.5

73.5

78.8

73.5

72.2

69.5

74.5

76.5

73.5

69.2

82.5

80.5

77.6

86.5

81.5

72.5

83.5

76.5

77.5

64.5

67.8

68.6

58.5

75.5

78.5

71.2

81.5

68.8

69.5

77.2

88.5

81.5

80.5

76.2

71.5

77.5

77.2

74.6

82.5

78.2

83.5

82.5

67.5

81.5

76.3

82.5

77.<;

62.5

82.5

70.5

78.8

72.6

83.5

78.3

Average

67.9

79.5

75.1

1 Records for only 12 days.

2 Records for only 5 days.

104 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

Range

65.8

76.5

78.0

73.1

79.4

64.5

14.9

69.5

73.8

67.2

11.8

81.1

82.8

67.2

15.6

7J.2

89.8

82.3

90.5

67.4

23.1

89.8

84.2

73.6

17.4

76.5

87.5

86.8

83.6

89.8

15.8

89.5

86. .5

83.6

80.6

71.8

8.8

85.1

90.4

70.6

19.8

74.5

90.2

87.5

91.5

70.4

21.1

77.4

90.8

88.4

85.5

92.1

75.2

16.9

73.5

18.5

69.5

76.4

74.3

81.8

69.5

12.3

80.2

76.4

84.5

65.6

18.9

67.6

68.5

70.1

73.2

68.5

4.7

65.8

71.3

78.5

64.6

13.9

73.9

75.3

80.5

13.5

86.6

82.2

90.4

69.8

20.6

68.5

78.5

91.5

21.5

71.5

88.5

80.3

90.5

69.6

20.9

64.8

80.9

75.5.

73.4

83.8

63.2

20.6

71.9

76.6

82.8

70.5

12.3

69.4

72.8

69.4

12.6

71.5

78.5

70.2

15.8

77.3

77.7

86.5

70.6

15.9

70.5

75.5

75.3

80.6

69.8

10.8

(8.5

79.8

75.4

82.2

65.2

65.5

74.1

81.8

64.5

17.3

69.5

76.1

82.6

15.6

82.5

74.8

77.3

85.2

23.2

Average

70.8

81.9

77.5

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

NOOT

6 p. m.

Average

77.5

19
20
21

72
76
65

80
74

79.3
75

22
23

56
54

62.3

28
30

60
62

76
81
88

70
73

68.6

Average

62.2

79.5

72.4

71.4

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 105

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

66. 6 J

75.3

70.5

77.1

73.5

71.5

78.5

7 '

68.5

63.3

67.3

61.5

69.5

64.3

70.6

69.6

74.3

65.3

67.6

75.3

23.

86.5

82.5

79.6

81.3

68.6

71.6

Average

63.3

72.7

70.7

106 Lo,ke Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1906

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

65.5

83.5

83.9

77.6"

85.7

3 .

65.9

85.5

75.9

75.8

72.9

91.5

72.9

79.1

87.5

71.9

78.2

70.9

68.8

73.4

74.1

68.5

83.5

67.5

76.9

74.1

66.4

79.5

74.9

73.6

70.1

66.4

13'

59.9

72.5

69.1

14'

15'

80 9

72.5

87.8

80.5

80.3

76.5

74.1

73.9

81.8

72.6

74.1

75.5

90 5

81 8

80.5

70.5

78.5

74 5

82.5

89 5

66 5

58.9

65 9

61.9

66.9

65.5

61.1

77.5

69.5

61.5

65.8

Average

67 4

81 1

75 1

74 9

1 Maximum for the day, 77.8.

2 Maximum for the day, 74; minimum, 51.9.
8 Maximum for the day, 89; minimum, 79.

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1908

Date 1

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

62.5

72.8

74.3

72.3

70.5

82.1

78.5

87.4

82.1

Average

67 6

80 9

75 8

Records only for the last five days of the month.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 107

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1899

67.9

79.5

79.0

75.1

1900

70.8

81.9

77.5

1902

62.2

79.5

72.4

71.4

1903

63.3

72.7

70.7

1906

67.4

81.1

75.1

74.9

1908

67.6

80.9

Average for six years . . .

66.5

79.8

76.4

74.3

SEPTEMBER

Sky: The month of September generally contains a good pro-
portion of fair bright days. Our table for 1900 shows a consider-
able excess of cloudy days, but the conditions are reversed in 1903,
when, however, we have only about a third of the month repre-
sented. In 1906, the records cover only the first 19 days and are
expressed in too general terms to easily adapt themselves to tabu-
lar form, but which, of the 19 days, record 16 days as "fine" or
"fair weather" and 3 as cloudy or showery. The only fairly com-
plete record for September is that of 1900. In 1902 we have
scattered records covering 6 days, too fragmentary to be tabulated.
In 1903 we have continuous records only from the 21st to the
30th, but as these are pretty full records they are entered.

Winds: Calm days are frequent. In September, 1900, south
winds were the most prevalent. In September, 1906, northeast
winds were frequent ; these are usually cold disagreeable winds.

Storms: Rainstorms are rather frequent most years and are
accompanied by cool weather. Fogs are occasional, and this is
the month of the first frosts.

The following is the table for the two years :

SKY

WIND

Clear

Cloudy

Calm

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

1900

1903

Temperatures: The total number of temperature records for
September is 452, as follows : 84 in 1899, 88 in 1900, 11 in 1902, 25
in 1903, 52 in 1906, 61 in 1907, 47 in 1908, and 84 in 1913.

The lowest temperature recorded was 37 on September 29 and
30, in 1899; the highest was 95 on September 1, 1913.

108 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

The extremes for each year were as follows :

1899, 37 on September 29 and 88 on September 2; range
51.

1900, 37.3 on September 18 and 90.3 on September 10;
range 53.

1902. 1 42 on September 14 and 80 on September 21; range
38.

1906. 2 51 on September 14 and 90 on September 12; range
39.

1907. 3 39 on September 25 and 86 on September 17; range
47.

1908. 4 50 on September 3 and 88 on September 11; range
38.

1913, 39 on September 22 and 23, and 95 on September 1;
range 56.

1 Records for only 6 days.
- Records for only 19 days.

3 Records for only 22 days.

4 Records for only 17 days.

Our records show no freezing temperature for September. The
greatest daily range was as follows:

September 16, 1899, from 50.5 to 86, or 35.5.
September 5, 1900, from 59.5 to 88.8, or 29.3.
September 5 and 21, 1902, 1 from 51 and 60 respectively to

71 and 80 respectively, or 20.
September 22, 1903, 2 from 56 to 76, or 20.
September 11, 1906, 3 from 65.5 to 88.1, or 22.6.
September 14, 1907, 4 from 62 to 80, or 18.
September 3 and 11, 1908, 5 , from 50 and 64 respectively to

72 and 88 respectively, or 22.
September 10, 1913, from 51 to 75, or 24.

1 Records for only 3 days.

2 Records for only 7 days.

3 Records for only 16 days.

4 Records for only 19 days.

5 Records for only 15 days.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 109

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

81.5

77.8

81.6

76.8

84.7

72.4

77.9

59.6

71.5

78.5

76.6

79.1

69.6

59.5

61.8

69.5

67.5

66.8

61.3

47.5

58.5

55.3

59.5

75 8

84.6

74.5

63.2

64.7

56.4

55.5

55.9

61.6

54.2

46.5

60.1

62.6

55.6

65.5

60.7

71.6

64.2

49.5

51.8

54.5

48.8

60.2

46.5

41.5

47.5

41.1

Average . . .

67.9

63.5

63.1

110 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1900

Da:e

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

71.8

76.9

85.0

71.8

82.5

76.5

71.5

72.6

67.5

76.2

70.7

59.8

64.2

84.5

78.5

88.8

59.5

71.3

64.5

78.8

71.6

82.9

85.2

76.7

69.5

88.2

. 77

78.2

90.3-

69.5

87.5

79.8

88.6

71.5

67.8

t>7.4

58.5

68.5

77.3

62.2

76.5

72.5

80.6

60.5

81.9

74.6

85.5

61.5

53.6

57.6

55.4

71.6

53.5

47.5

44.5

38.5

55.1

37.5

58.8

60.4

58.7

61.6

62 5

74.5

69.3

60.5

62.2

61.5

60.2

51.5

65.5

61.6

48.6

72.7

64.2

56.5

72.5

63.5

64.1

87.5

80.5

88.8

70.5

75.9

66.5

70.8

80.5

65.5

58.5

60.5

58.7

59.2

64.5

67.5

62.8

69.5

55.2

61.5

59.1

66.2

50.5

62.8

63.1

58.8

63.1

Average

61.3

74.2

69.7

68.1

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

21
23

60
66

70.6

61.3

Average

53.7

71.7

64.3

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 111

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

55 5

57 7

65.3

-78

66.3

Average

53 3

67 1

60 2

59.5

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER. 1906

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

71.5

65.2

71.1

69.4

62.5

65.8

59.5

66.3

56.2

66.4

70.3

63.9

80.9

73.9

72.9

80.5

76.3

65.5

88.1

74.9

76.2

71.7

67.5

68.2

58.6

63.1

57.6

59.8

60.3

69.3

73.3

83.5

77.2

Average

62.2

76.7

70.2

69.3

112 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1907

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

66.7

65.7

56.5

56.2

60.7

56.5

79.5

70.3

71.3

72.3

78.7

74.3

56.9

63.6

55.3

58.3

46.3

53.3

54.7

52.5

Average

67.5

63.9

62.9

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1908

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

74.5

63.5

70.5

64.7

66.5

62.8

58.1

66.7

70.5

70.7

69.5

64.5

62.5

79.5

65.5

82.8

75.4

83.5

76.8

77.9

76.3

72.7

71.7

72.3

17 1

Average

63.3

77.8

73.2

71.5

1 At 6 a. m. on ths 23th ths air was 43, and tha maximum for that day was 92.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 113

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1913

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

87.0

78.7

64.7

66.7

69.3

- 65

67.3

65.3

53.7

67.7

51.7

53.7

Average

55.3

65.8

64.1

AVERAGE AIR TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1899

58.0

67.9

63.5

63.1

1900

61.3

74.2

69.7

68.1

1902

53.7

71.7

64.3

1903

53.3

67.1

60.2

59.5

1906

62.2

76.7

70.2

69.3

1907

67.5

63.9

62.9

1908

63.3

77.8

73.2

71.5

1913

55.3

65.8

64.1

Average for eight years.

58.1

71.7

66.6

65.4

OCTOBER

Sky: The records are fairly complete for October in the years
1899, 1900, 1903 and 1913. We have also a fragmentary record
for 1902 which is too incomplete to tabulate.

114 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

October is singularly blest with bright, sunny days, the clear
periods having outnumbered the cloudy periods every year obser-
vations were taken, and in the sum total of our records exceeding
the cloudy periods by nearly 50 per cent.

Winds: It is also a month of calm, the number of calm pe-
riods generally exceeding that of any other month. October is
made up largely of pleasant hazy Indian summer days. When the
calms are broken it is usually by pleasant southeast or southerly
winds, winds from the north, northeast, west and northwest being
the least frequent.

Storms: Storms are not frequent, and such rains as fall are
usually gentle drizzles such as weight down the loosened leaves and
bring them to earth. Fogs are common in low places, especially
in the morning. There are few records of frost, probably on ac-
count of the fogs.

The following table gives the general weather features :

SKY

WINDS

Clear

Cloudy

Calm

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

1899

1900

*1903

Temperatures: The total number of temperature records for
October is 507, as follows: 88 in 1899, 93 in 1900, 27 in 1902,
24 in 1903, 42 in 1904, 45 in 1906, 93 in 1907, 1 in 1908, 1 in
1912, and 93 in 1913.

The lowest temperature recorded was 28.5 on October 11,
1906 ; the highest was 84 on October 5, 1900.

The extremes for each year were as follows :

1899, 36

1900, 33.7

1902. 1 33

1903. 2 46

1904. 3 30
42.

1906, 28.5

1907, 33
1913, 30

53.

on October 1 and 82 on October 15; range 46.
on October 17 and 85 on October 5; range 51.3 c
on October 29 and 93 on October 26; range 60.
on October 10 and 80 on October 3; range 34.
on October 28 and 72 on October 18 and 19; range

on October 11 and 68 on October 17; range 39.5.
on October 19 and 78 on October 2; range 45.
on October 21 and 31 and 83 on October 10; range

1 Records for only 11 days.

2 Records for only 8 days.

8 Records for only 14 days.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 115

Freezing temperatures were recorded as follows: In 1899,
1900, 1903, and 1907, none; in 1904, October 27, 32 and October
28, 30 ; in 1906, October 10, 28.9 and October 11, 28.5 ; in 1913,
October 21, 30, October 22, 32, and October 31, 30.

The greatest daily range was as follows:

October 15, 1899, from 60.5 to 82, or 21.5.

October 4, 1900, from 62.5 to 84.5, or 22.

October 26, 1902, 1 from 63 to 93, or 30.

October 10, 1903, : from 46 to 64, or 18.

October 28, 1904, 3 from 30 to 51, or 21.

October 20, 1906 4 from 42 to 63.8, or 21.8.

October 19 and 22, 1907, from 33 and 40 respectively to

54 and 61 respectively, or 21.
October 9, 1913, from 50 to 77, or 27.

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER,

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

54.5

47.8

71.5

66.5

62.6

61.6

55.2

62.5

55.1

61.5

54.5

44.5

53.2

50.6

42.5

56.5

75.2

65.4

59.5

61.5

61.3

60.5

65.5

69.8

60.5

72.8

78.8

67.6

51.3

65.3

62.6

53 '

53.5

49.6

43.5

48.2

Average

51.6

66.4

59.8

58.1

1 Records for only 11 days.

2 Records for only 8 days.

* Records for only 14 days.
4 Records for only 14 days.

116 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

54.3

66.0

62.4

53.6

58.5

69.5

78.5

58.5

62.5

81.5

72.5

72.1

62.2

62.5

83.5

76.9

74.3

84.5

62.5

79.8

76.9

64.9

79.5

72.8

84.8

56.5

53.5

59.3

72.5

52.8

50.8

57.5

51.5

53.3

59.8

50.2

40.5

59.5

51.3

39.4

61.5

60.5

55.3

62.4

41.5

57.7

64.5

46.5

51.9

61.1

51.3

54.2

63.9

63.3

60.5

67.2

51.7

48.7

67.5

61.9

.59.4

70.6

46.5

48.9

70.1

62.3

73.4

47.2

55.3

51.8

47.3

54.5

52.5

47.3

58.4

33.7

38.1

53.4

67.1

37.4

46.3

59.5

55.3

61.9

68.5

47.6

61.1

65.1

66.6

64.3

69.5

54.4

65.8

69.2

65.2

66.7

60.3

57.9

65.3

61.5

61.6

66.4

43.7

64.5

62.5

56.9

66.2

47.5

55.3

66.2

63.8

72.5

55.1

59.3

76.3

59.9

65.2

77.5

58.3

47.3

61.8

57.7

67.7

46.2

53.9

69.5

63.8

73.2

51.2

61.5

71.3

69.5

67.4

74.7

61.1

62.7

65.2

71.7

62.3

71.5

70.1

67.5

Average

53.8

67.4

63.8

61.5

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

57.6

51.3

51.6

64.3

68.3

26
29

63
33

51.1

70.1

60.4

61.6

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 117

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

. 73

67.3

73.6

67.3

56.6

Average

62 6

71 7

67 1

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1904

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

64.3

63.6

44.3

41.6

44.6

42.5

57.5

52.5

52 ^

43.5

41.8

43.3

38.2

53.9

50.7

50.5

47.8

53.9

49.6

Average

40.9

53.7

49.3

118 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1806

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

51.0

39.0

28.5

11-

28.5

40.0

33.5

34.0

34.9

51.8

49.8

45.5

60.5

59.5

14.

56.5

47.8

63.7

57.8

56.4

61.5

57.8

17'

62.1

61.4

64.9

62.8

61.2

48.8

62.8

57.5

56.4

63.8

52.6

54.3

54.5

53.2

56.6

56.9

56.2

54.7

37.5

40.2

. 32.5

31.5

30.5

43.5

38.3

38.5

49.5

41.3

37.6

37.2

34.2

Average

44.2

54.3

49.5

49.8

'Minimum for the llth, 28.5
'Minimum for the 17th, 44.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 119

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1907

Date

6 n. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

61.3

69.7

55.7

60.7

61.7

48.3

54.3

44.7

41.7

43.7

47.7

49.3

62.7

46.7

45.7

53.7

48.3

48.7

48.3

40.7

42.7

38.3

42.7

45.3

50.3

Average

45.1

56.2

51.1

120 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1913

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

61.3

57.7

63.3

69.3

74.7

55.7

61.7

57.7

47.3

40.3

33.3

36.7

42.3

49.7

46.7

43.3

41.7

33.7

Average

58.9

53.6

53.2

AVERAGE AIR TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1899

51.6

66.4

59.8

58.1

1900

53.8

67.4

63.8

61.5

1902

51.1

70.1

60.4

61.6

1903

62.6

71.7

67.1

1904

40.9

53.7

49.3

1906

44.2

54.3

49.5

49.8

1907

45.1

56.2

51.1

1913

58.9

53.6

51.1

Average for eight years.

49.5

62.3

56.9

56.3

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 121

NOVEMBER

Sky: Unlike October, November is prevalently a cloudy month,
there being more cloudy periods than clear for every year for
which we have a record, the cloudy periods for the entire time ex-
ceeding the clear by nearly 50 per cent.

Air: Calm periods are still frequent, east winds are the least
frequent, but the others are pretty well distributed.

Storms: Storms, both rain and snow are common. It is
usually a foggy month, the fogs generally being dissipated during
the day but forming again during the night. Eleven fogs were
observed during this month in 1900. Frosts are very frequent, 13
having been recorded for November in 1900. It is the month in
which the pools first freeze over.

There are fairly full records for November for four years,
which are given in the following table:

SKY

WIND,.

Snow-

Clear dourly

Calm

N.E.

E. | S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

inches

1899

1900

1902

5.5

1904

Temperatures: The total number of temperature records for
November is 402, as follows:

Three in 1898, 90 in 1899, 90 in 1900, 52 in 1902, 90 in 1904, 3
in 1906, 3 in 1902, 1 in 1910, 3 in 1912, and 67 in 1913.

The lowest temperature recorded was 5 on November 26, 1898.
The highest was 70 on November 1, 1900, and again on November
2, 1902, and November 20, 1913.

The extremes for each year were as follows:

1899, 30 on November 4 and 61 on November 17; range 31.

1900, 15.9 on November 16 and 70 on November 1; range
54.1.

1902. 1 22 on November 28 and 70 on November 2; range 48.
1904, 19 on November 27 and 64 on November 3; range 45.

1913. 2 20 on November 11 and 70 on November 20; range
50.

Records of temperatures at or below freezing were made as fol-
lows: In 1898, at 6 a.m. November 24, 26 and 27 (the only rec-

1 Records for only 17 days.
- Records for only 24 days.

122 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

ords for that month in 1898) ; in 1899, at 6 a. m. on November 4,
5, 12, 26, 27 and 28, none at noon or 6 p. m. ; in 1900, at 6 a. m.
on November 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 23, 26, 27, 29 and 30, at noon on
November 14, 15, 16 and 29, at 6 p. m. on November 8, 13, 14, 15,
28 and 29. In other words, there were 10 days in November,
1900, when the temperature fell to or below freezing. In 1902 it
was below freezing at 6 a. m. on November 25, 27, 28, 29 and 30 ;
at noon on no day, at 6 p. m. on November 29. In 1904 it was at or
below freezing at 6 a. m. on November 6, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 26, 27,
28 and 30, at noon on November 26, 27, 29 and 30. There were,
therefore, 10 days in November, 1904, when the temperature fell
to or below freezing. In 1907, our only records are for November
1.8 and 27 when the temperature was 20 and 30 respectively, at
6 a. m. Our only record for 1910 is for' 6 a. m. November 6, when
it was 20. In 1912 we have only 3 records, all taken at 6 a.m.,
viz., November 1, 37, November 2, 25, and November 3, 25. In
1913, the temperature fell to or below freezing at 6 a. m. on Novem-
ber 1, 9, 10, 11, and 12; at noon on November 9; and at 6 p.m.
on November 8, 9, and 11.

The greatest daily range was as follows:

November 9, 1899, from 40 to 59.5, or 19.5.
November 22, 1900, from 36 to 67, or 31.
November 28, 1902, 1 from 22 to 38, or 16.
November 18, 1904, from 34 to 64, or 30.
November 12, 1913, 2 from 32 to 52, or 20.

Am TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1898

We have only three records for this month, viz. : November
24, 20 ; 26th, 5 ; 27th, 20, all at 6 a.m.

1 Records for only 17 days.

2 Records for only 24 days.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 123

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

"48.5

44.1"

35.1

35.6

44.5

37.8

39.6

43.6

59.5

49.8

57.5

51.8

45.3

37.3

44.6

46.6

52.3

54.3

49.3

51.3

41.3

38.3

36.6

37.3

52.5

47.5

Average

39.5

49.7

45.4

44.6

124 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

51.8

51.5

.50

51.1

70.0

49.7

37.2

55.1

52.3

48.2

56.8

36.5

37.9

60.5

53.4

50.6

61.3

45.3

64.1

58.9

56.1

66.3

44.8

38.8

48.9

58.2

48.5

40.8

47.5

42.5

31.7

29.6

34.5

30.8

31.6

37.5

29.2-

32.2

38.1

37.6

35.9

41.4

27.8

33.5

34.9

36.8

35.1

36.8

27.9

33.9

39.6

36.5

41.8

28.2

42.8

37.3

28.2

37.3

27.8

34.7

45.7

26.8

16.5

28.6

27.5

24.2

30.2

27.5

28.2

32.5

19.5

31.5

28.3

34.5

15.9

34.1

48.5

41.5

49.1

30.3

52.3

55.5

53.3

56.1

42.1

57.5

57.7

56.7

60.5

59.4

61.2

62.5

42.6

38.4

37.2

39.4

35.5

29.5

38.5

43.2

28.6

38.5

37.5

40.1

36.5

33.8

33.5

32.7

33.3

32.1

28.3

40.1

34.8

34.4

42.1

26.9

28.3

44.3

46.8

39.8

49.9

26.1

32.5

31.1

32.9

31.3

29.1

30.3

29.1

29.5

31.5

27.8

27.3

42.9

38.1

Average

35.6

44.3

44.2

40.7

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1902

Date

Average.

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

43.3

46.6

62.3

44.6 ,

31.3

46.3

53.5

49.1

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 125

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1904

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

40.0

62.0

57.0

53.0

53.6

54.3

40.5

51.2

41.9

43.9

52.2

45.4

40.2

40.1

38.8

38.6

35.5

35.8

27.8

35.9

31.2

21 5

36.2

33.7

23.5

38.4

34.9

34.4

36 3

33 2

29.9

48.8

42.6

29.2

16
17
18
19

31
38.1
36
45

52
53
58
63.2

45
50.5
52
56

42.6
47.2
48.6
54 7

56.5
57
64
64

30.5
33.9
34

20
21

51
30

45.5
49

42
43

46.2
40 6

57
50 1

35.5

42 8

48 5

47 2

24
25
26
27
28
29

40
35
24
19
25
37

38
28.2
27
34

38
34
27
25
33.8
25

40
35.6
26.4
23.6
30.9
31

49
46
35
42
35.4

38
33
23
18.5
22
34

19.5

25 8

Average

34 4

46 2

41 2

40 4

126 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1906

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

31.5

44.9

41.8

39.7

32.1

48.6

46.1

42.2

41.6

45.5

40 5

43.9

42.2

61.1

49.3

46.5

38.3

39.0

36.6

29.5

35.1

29.2

31.2

32.5

29.5

27.9

36.9

35.2

32.5

42.5

46.5

34.4

50.5

46.5

46.6

42 1

42.5

31.5

36.5

35.5

34.5

33 9

33.9

41 5

35.8

37 2

43 7

39.2

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1909

Our only records for this month are: November 18, 20, and
November 27, 30, both at 6 a. m. Maximum for November 27, 45.

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1910
The only record for this month is that of 20 at 6 a. m. on the

6th.

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1912

There are only three records for this month, all at 6 a. m., viz.,
37 on the first, 25 on the second, and 25 on the third.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 127

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1913

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

27.3

28.7

45.3

52.3

40.3

58.7

'~ 64

63.7

42.3

37.3

45.7

46.3

54.7

57.3

58.3

Average

43.3

49.7

49.9

48.6

AVERAGE AIR TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1899

39.5

49.7"

45.4

44.6

1900

35.6

44.3

42.2

40.7

1902

46.3

53.5

49.1

1904

34.4

46.2

41.2

40.4

1913

43.3

49.7

49.9

47.3

Average for five years. .

39.8

48.7

45.7

44.5

DECEMBER

Sky: We have an unusually full record for December, cover-
ing the month for 1899, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1913, and a good part
of 1901.

December is generally a cloudy month, our observations for
every year except 1899 showing more cloudy periods than clear, the
excess of cloudy periods usually being considerable.

Winds: Periods of calm are generally frequent, the weather
being as a usual thing pretty well settled and steady. North winds
are the least common, those from the southeast the most frequent.

917618

128 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Winds from other directions are common and pretty evenly dis-
tributed.

Storms: Rainstorms are generally pretty frequent, but not so
much so as snowstorms.. We have a record of 2 sleet storms in
1904, and of several fogs.

The various elements of weather are exhibited in the following
table :

Year

SKY

WIND

Rains

Rain-
fall in
inches

Snows

Snow-
fall in
inches

Fogs

Clear

Cloudy

Calm

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

1899
1900
1901
1902
1904
1913

19
28
12
8
32
17

63
17
19
59
19

1
24

1
6
1
3
6
1

3
4

11
13
4
4
5

1
5
4
3
11

8
13
6
12
10

8
10
4
1" :
13

10
7
3
3
1

4
5
3
6
4
3

6
9

4
3
11
4

1
5

Temperatures: The total number of temperature records for
December is 528, as follows : 4 in 1898, 93 in 1899, 83 in 1900, 72
in 1901, 88 in 1902, 93 in 1904, 2 in 1907, and 93 in 1913.

The lowest temperature recorded was -13 on December 19,
1901 ; the highest was 54 on December 18, 1901.

The extremes for each year were as follows :

1899, -1 on December 31 and 54 on December 8; range 55.

1900, 10.4 on December 29, and 50.1 on December 22; range
39.7.

1901, 1 -13 on December 19 and 54 on December 18; range

67.

1902, 4 on December 9 and 47 on December 1; range 43.
1904, 3 on December 29 and 55 on December 23; range 52.
1913, 17 on December 7 and 62 on December 3; range 45.

Records of temperatures at or below freezing are as follows:
In 1898 at 6 a. m., December 7, 8, 9 and 14 (the only records made
for that month in 1898) . In 1899 at 6 a. m. on December 4, 5,
6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
and 31 ; at noon on December 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24, 25, 26, 27,
28, 29, 30 and 31 ; at 6 p. m. on December 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31. The temperature was
at or below freezing at 6 a. m. on 21 days, at noon on 14 days, and
at 6 p.m. on 19 days. In 1900 it was at or below freezing at 6
a. m. on December 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21,
24, 28, 29, 30, and 31 ; at noon on December 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16,

1 Records for only 24 days.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 129

24, 28, 29, and 31 ; at 6 p. m. on December 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 28,
29, and 31. Thus the temperature in December, 1900, was at or
below freezing at 6 a. m. on 19 days, at noon on 11 days, and at 6
p.m. on 9 days. In 1901, observations began on the eighth and
records at or below freezing were made at 6 a. m. on the 9th, 10th,
llth, 12th, 14th to 24th, both inclusive, and 28th and 31st, both in-
clusive ; at noon on the 14th to 21st, both inclusive, and 29th and
31st; at 6 p. m. on the 9th to 12th, both inclusive, 13th to 23d,
both inclusive, 25th, and 27th to 31st, both inclusive.

In 1902 freezing temperatures were recorded at 6 a. m. on the
1st, 2d, 4th, 6th to 9th, both inclusive ; 12th to 19th, both inclusive ;
23d, and 25th to 31st, both inclusive; at noon on the 4th, 7th to 9th,
both inclusive; llth to 14th, both inclusive; 16th, 17th, 18th, and
24th to 31st, both inclusive; at 6 p.m. on the 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th,
llth to 14th, both inclusive ; 16th to 18th, both inclusive, and 24th
to 31st, both inclusive. It will thus be noted that in this month
the temperature was at or below freezing at 6 a. m. on 23 days,
at noon on 19 days, and at 6 p.m. on 19 days. In 1904 freezing
temperatures were recorded at 6 a. m. on the 1st to 22d, both in-
clusive; 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th, 29th and 30th; at noon on the 1st
to 6th, both inclusive; 9th to 21st, both inclusive; 24th, 25th, 28th,
29th and 30th; at 6 p.m. on the 1st to 21st, both inclusive; 24th,
25th, 27th, 28th and 29th ; from which it is seen that in December,
1904, the temperature was down to freezing at 6 a. m. on 28 days,
at noon on 24 days, and at 6 p. m. on 26 days. In 1913, the tem-
perature was at or below freezing at 6 a. m. on December 8, 15, 19,
20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 ; at noon on December 7, 29, 30
and 31 ; and at 6 p. m. on December 7, 8, 18, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29,
30 and 31.

The greatest daily range was as follows:

December 8, 1899, from 29 to 54, or 25.
December 12, 1900, from 14 to 35.3, or 21.3.
December 18, 1901, from -13 to 54, or 67.
December 9, 1902, from 4 to 23, or 19.
December 13, 1913, from 34 to 54, or 20.

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1898

For this month there are only 4 records of air temperatures,
all at 6 a. m., viz. : 16 on the seventh, 5 on the eighth, 10 on
the ninth, and 5 on the fourteenth.

130 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

37.5

41.1

38.5

40.1

27.3

19.6

31.3

50.3

27.5

25.5

17.5

11.5

20.3

43.6

28.5

32.5

30.3

32.3

36.6

35.3

36.3

25.3

4.5

14.8

12.6

3.6

8.6

Average

23.5

33.5

27.9

28.2

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 131

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6~p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

36.1

39.7

40.0

38.6

42.0

34.1

29.8

45.7

38.5

48.5

34.2

39.6

38.3

48.5

36.1

35.7

35.9

38.7

34.9

34.5

35.5

35.2

33.9

27.5

41.9

36.5

43.9

37.9

37.5

35.6

39.1

30.8

35.3

33.8

33.3

37.2

28.7

24.4

21.3

24.8

37.2

20.6

25.8

24.5

22.1

27.5

20.3

22.5

22.9

27.7

19.9

35.3

34.6

39.2

13.3

29.8

25.1

36.2

15.9

16.6

24.5

14.8

20.6

25.5

26.5

19.3

20.5

27.5

32.5

26.8

32.6

19.4

42.1

40.5

39.2

36.8

39.9

38.8

38.5

43.9

33.4

26.8

35.7

34.8

23.9

23.1

34.3

30.1

37.4

21.4

29.8

43.5

41.5

38.3

45.4

38.2

45.4

50.1

37.2

43.3

36.7

32.2

37.4

49.5

26.3

30.5

28.4

28.6

28.1

22.2

26.3

33.8

13.4

11.1

30.1

25.8

22.3

30.8

10.4

29.3

32.5

31.6

33.9

20.9

30.5

31.5

20.8

27.6

34.5

19.4

Aver&gc

28.3

34.4

31.8

31.7

132 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

41.3

30.6

36.6

44.6

4.3

3.3

19 1

2.3

5 .

4.3

34.3

33.6

31.3

28.6

Average

18.8

27.1

22.6

'Minimum, 13.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 133

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1902

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m

Average

40"

39.3

29.3

19.5

17.3

37.5

35.8

28 '

27.6

22.3 *

28.6

38.3

36.6

22.3

10.6

13.6

17.3

23.6

26.6

13.6

22.6

Average

24.2

29.8

27.6

27.5

134 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1904

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

Maximum

Minimum

25.2

23.4

25.6

17.5

37.5

21.5

30.5

28.5

16.1

29.3

31.3

26.8

24.6

23.3

20.5

23.5

27.2

20.5

23.5

33.2

15.3

24.5

4.2

7.5

14.3

14.5

27.5

23.1

29.5

18.3

20.5

29.9

26.8

31.5

21.6

15.1

25.3

13.9

11.9

20.3

38.3

20.1

46.6

37.2

23.9

39.8

35.2

27.5

7.8

8.2

17.6

42.9

34.3

41.3

35.2

Average

21.9

28.4

25.7

25.2

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1907

Only two records : December 7, 42, and December 8, 52, both
at noon.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 135

AIR TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1913

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Range

Average

56.3

59.3

45.7

46.3

24.3

30.3

37.3

38.3

45.7

42.7

38.3

36.3

34.3

34.7

30.3

34.3

33.3

33.7

32.7

30.7

30.3

29.7

30.7

Average

35.3

41.8

37.1

38.1

AVERAGE AIR TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER

Year

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

For the month

1899

23.5

33.5

27.9

28.2"

1900

28.3

34.4

31.8

31.7

1901

18.8

27.1

22.6

1902

24.2

29.8

27.6

27.5

1904

21.9

28.4

25.7

25.2

1913

35.3

41.8

37.1

Average for six years . .

25.4

32.5

28.7

28.8

136 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

THE WINDS
INTRODUCTION

Of the more obvious relations of the winds to the lake, little
need be said. Their effect upon the lake surface is evident to every
one. Their effect upon the plankton-scum, the calm days allowing
the minute organizations to ascend to the surface and the more
windy days keeping them churned up with the upper layers of the
water, and the effect upon the temperature of the water of differ-
ent depths the calm days allowing the surface layers to heat
gradually downward while the windy days mix up waters of dif-
ferent temperatures and break up definite stratification are effects
more keenly appreciated by students of these special problems. It
is due to the winds, also, that we have more or less fine sand of a
peculiar sort in the bottom, this having been blown in from the
neighboring hills.

It is doubtless due to the winds that the lake owes the presence
and peculiarities of its plankton, many of the organisms consti-
tuting the plankton being carried to the lake by winds, a fact
which accounts for the worldwide distribution of some of the
species.

In the matter of keeping records, no instruments were used,
and the manner of recording the observations varied somewhat
from time to time and with different observers. At the beginning
of the work, and for some time after the practice of taking the
temperatures of air and water three times a day had been estab-
lished, only a general weather record for the day was made; such
as, for a certain date, "northeast wind, changing to southeast, and
rain" or "wind changing to north" ; "clear" ; "first pleasant day of
spring, though snowing" ; "has been cold with east wind all week,"
etc. Later on, although the general observations were continued,
the habit was formed of observing and recording along with the
temperature observations, the condition of the sky and the direc-
tion of the wind. In summing up results and arriving at conclu-
sions, both the journal and the periodic observations have been con-
sulted and taken into consideration. In the absence of instru-
ments of precision which give in definite units the force and di-
, rection of the wind, the general method which gives in general
terms the prevailing "atmosphere" of the day is about as good as
any, and is certainly in any case indispensible in giving data for
a just estimate of the weather. It has the defect of taking into
consideration only the more remarkable and striking weather

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 137

phenomena, leaving the gentler or less obvious processes pass by
unobserved. The method of periodical observations on the other
hand is likely to present weather as a series of disconnected events,
to ignore even important intervening phenomena, and to force into
prominence unimportant and insignificant details.

Moreover, so far as minor weather events are concerned, the
position of the observer in regard to the lake is of importance. In
the sheltered location of the cottage just below Arlington, where
many of the observations were made, it would be difficult to ap-
preciate the force and keenness of west and northwest winds,
though the position of elevated vanes would show well enough in
which direction the wind was blowing; on the other hand, the
slightest northeast, east, south or southeast wind would be im-
mediately manifest. At Long Point, on the other hand, where
many of the observations were taken, one was protected and kept
from a full realization of the force of southeast and southerly
winds. Even with instruments which gave unbiased records, a
wind on the leeward side of the lake would give somewhat different
effects than the same wind after it had passed to the windward side
and had been tempered by the water surface ; a dry wind taking up
some moisture and a hot wind losing some of its heat.

As a basis for the wind record, where only the journal method
was used, this has been of necessity the basis for calculation.
Where three daily observations were made, these have been used
for the basis, but have been so modified by the journal records that
the number of records for each month is exceedingly variable;
winds shown by the journal as having occurred between observa-
tion periods have been counted in, while on the other hand when
the records show the same wind to have continued throughout sev-
eral periods of observation the records have been fused into one
count so that the number of observations for any one month is
usually more or fewer than 93, generally fewer.

A prominent feature of Maxinkuckee weather is the frequent
occurrence of light, fitful breezes that last for only a short time
and die away, winds that do not belong to the general weather of
the country but are purely local phenomena. That such should
be the case could naturally be expected from the nature of the
country, for we have closely juxtaposed on a small scale as high a
"difference of potential", to use an electrical phrase, as could well
be imagined : a lake of considerable depth and withal spring-fed,
so that the mass of water does not heat up like shallow ponds, but
remains comparatively cool, and, not a great way to the west,

138 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

barren stretches of wind-blown sand which on hot days overheat
the layers of air above them just as the tendency of the lake is
to keep the air above lower than the surrounding air.

Severe wind-storms, however, are rare, and tornadoes almost
unknown. In the record of August 19, 1900, occurs the entry:
"Warm this morning but a breeze came up about 2 p.m. from
south, then changed to north and about 3 p. m. heavy rain came up
from the north with strong wind, thunder and lightning, changing
more or less to all points of the compass and continuing until about
7 p.m. Brilliant lightning in the south until late at night; lake
the roughest I have seen it: steamers had difficulty making land-
ings, excursionists got drenched, one small sailboat capsized two
boys no damage. During p.m. temperature fell from 91.5 to
68.5, a drop of 23." Again in the journal record of September
11, 1900, occurs the note: "Cloudy; barometer fell rapidly during
morning ; strong southwest wind began about 9 a. m. and continued
until 8 or 9 p. m. Severest wind known here for many years ;
several trees blown down ; lake very rough, rain followed the wind
at night." A pretty severe windstorm occurred early in the sum-
mer of 1908 and blew down the large ice-houses on the west side
of the lake. This appears to have been an unusually strong wind ;
none of the dwelling houses in the immediate vicinity, however,
was injured and the destruction of the ice-houses was due to their
being empty at the time and offering much surface and little resist-
ance to the wind.

On July 8, 1913, there was a very severe storm soon after noon
from the northwest, a small tornado, lasting 30 minutes. It be-
gan as a severe windstorm, the wind being full of cutting sand. It
did trifling damage to some buildings and a great deal to forests,
the woodlands around the lake being strewn with fallen timber
many trees being uprooted, and many twisted off from 10 to 20
feet above the ground. The storm was accompanied by some rain,
and by thunder and lightning, the lightning striking one or more
trees on Long Point. A few miles north of the lake there was
at the same time a severe hail-storm which cut the corn into
ribbons.

On the other hand, though local calms are frequent, periods of
widespread calm when the entire surface of the lake lies like
an unruffled mirror, are rather rare; and pretty rough conditions
when the lake is covered with white-caps and it is very unpleas-
ant, though not especially dangerous, to be out on the lake with a
rowboat, are not rare, particularly during the spring and autumn.

Lake Maxinkuckec, Physical and Biological Survey 139

Character of various winds: Everybody has pretty definite no-
tions concerning the character of different winds, and associates
the north and northwest winds with storm and cold; east winds
with raw, disagreeable weather; south winds with balmy, pleas-
ant weather, etc. An attempt was made by collecting data con-
cerning each wind with the accompanying weather, to get more
precisely at the character of each wind. The same associations
were not found together nearly so uniformly as expected; it is
only the general and long continued, persistent winds that 'have
deep-seated influence on the weather. The light local surface
winds are more or less characterless.

Calms: These are generally associated with pleasant weather,
although there are not infrequent instances where they are noted
during cloudy and sprinkling or rainy weather. Calm may be
associated with exceedingly cold weather, and in some cases the
cold of calm fogs is rather depressing. Generally during the win-
ter, calm weather is much to be preferred to wind from any di-
rection whatever. In the hot, sultry days of midsummer, however,
which are fortunately rather few, the calms are very oppressive,
and light winds from almost any direction are welcomed as a
relief.

During the summer the calms are usually associated with fine,
hazy mornings. During the autumn and spring they are usually
associated with low fogs on the marshes and certain parts of the
lake and with heavy frosts. The heavy hoar-frosts which are at
times such a striking feature of the region, in which the various
trees are surrounded by a halo of long needle-like white crystals
standing at right angles to the trunk and branches, are formed only
during periods of almost perfect calm, and are quickly blown off
by the first breeze that springs up. Calms are generally character-
istic of the mornings and evenings of fine days during settled
weather, and on only rather rare occasions do they persist through-
out the entire day. It is rather unusual for the winds to die down
to a calm during the middle of the day.

North winds are relatively infrequent at the lake. The lighter
winds may be associated with either clear or cloudy sky. The
stronger winds, especially in summer, are usually though not al-
ways accompanied by clouds, and frequently storms. During late
autumn and winter and early spring, they are usually character-
ized as "raw, cold, and disagreeable," especially when accompanied
by dampness, drizzle or rain.

140 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Northeast winds: Some of the lighter northeast winds, even
as late as October and November, are recorded as warm and pleas-
ant, and accompanied by bright, clear weather. These, however,
are exceptional cases, and generally speaking, are among the most
disagreeable winds at the lake. Northeast winds are usually raw,
cold and disagreeable, and are noteworthy for their persistency,
usually lasting from one to several days when well under way,
and during the colder season often accompanied by cutting sleet.
They often bring heavy snowstorms. In April and May they fre-
quently bring disagreeable and persistent drizzles.

East winds are relatively infrequent at the lake and are almost
always associated with cloudy skies, and during the winter are
often accompanied by a heavy fall of snow. Most of those occur-
ring during the summer are simply noted without any special char-
acterization; those mentioned during winter records are usually
noted as "cold, stormy, disagreeable." Winds from the southeast
are among the most common about the lake ; however, they rarely
attain to the dignity of winds, and are almost always referred to
in the notes as "breezes" light, brisk or stiff, as the case may be,
but very rarely winds. They are, indeed, the next thing to a calm,
and, in the fairest and best sorts of weather, if it is not actually
calm in the morning the calm is usually replaced by a light south-
east breeze. They are usually characteristic of fine mornings.
They are less frequent in the evening and not common at noon.
Rarely they persist through the day. The stronger breezes or
winds from the southeast may be accompanied by clouds or rains
in summer or by snow in winter, but this is rather exceptional.
Usually they are more pleasant than winds from any other direc-
tion. One noted December 18, 1900, is characterized as a "cold,
penetrating raw wind" and one of March 12Js mentioned as hav-
ing "become almost a gale, cold, raw and disagreeable" ; but these
are highly unusual cases.

South winds are much like southeast winds in character, but
are not so common. They are generally gentle breezes and when
they rise to the dignity of strong winds, are frequently accom-
panied by mild sprinkles or in extreme cases by thunder, lightning
and heavy showers of rain. It is doubtless on account of the gen-
tleness of the south and southeastern breezes that the great ma-
jority of the duckweeds of the lake find their harbor in that por-
tion of the lake, only a few, being the progeny of individuals driven
out at rare intervals by southern storms, finding harbor in other
portions of the shore behind sheltering rushes.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 141

Southwest winds: The southwest wind from our point of ob-
servation was always a land wind, and the fact that it always came
from stretches of solid earth, whispering through grasses, rustling
through leaves, or roaring through trees, made it impossible to
mete out to it the same measure of judgment as is given to the
other winds above mentioned which came across stretches of water.
It is frequently mentioned in the notes as noisy, or howling, and
was associated with the moaning or roaring winds which presage
the coming of winter. This, however, was merely accidental, and
from the opposite side of the lake would apply with still greater

Cutter Drill, Culver Summer Naval School. Lake Maxinkuckee covers an area of 1,854
acres, which is ample for Naval drills, and yet small enough for safe supervision.

force to northwest winds. Disregarding the point of observation,
however, southwest winds have certain pretty constant character-
istics. They are generally a good deal stronger than those from
the southeast or south, and in the notes taken at the time of obser-
vation are usually referred to as "winds" instead of breezes light,
brisk or strong, as the case may be. They are frequently asso-
ciated with clouds and rain, often with heavy storms. They are
not limited to any particular time of day but are liable to spring
up at any time. They do not have the persistency of the northeast
winds and usually do not last much more than a half day or day.

142 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

They are generally more prevalent during the colder seasons than
during the summer, but even in the winter are not often referred
to as being particularly raw, cold or disagreeable.

West winds: These are relatively infrequent at the lake and
are much more prevalent during the winter than in summer. They
are usually moderately strong winds. They are not generally of
great duration, though they occasionally last from 12 to 18 or 24
hours, and they are not especially associated with any particular
time of day. They are often associated with clouds and storms,
and in the winter, with snow. In cold weather they are often raw
and searching.

Northwest winds are rather frequent at the lake and vary
greatly in strength, sometimes being light breezes but more often
rather brisk to strong winds. They are rather infrequent in the
morning but usually spring up some time during the day. When
strong winds they are usually markedly disagreeable and are often
associated with clouds and rain or snow. In the winter they are
cold and chilling but not so persistent and depressing as winds
from the northeast.

Relative duration and frequency of winds: The direction of
the wind Curing the summer of 1899 was observed 223 times,
morning, noon and night, as follows: Easterly 90, southerly 47,
northerly 34, westerly 31, calm 21. During the summer of 1900
the result of 200 observations was as follows : Southerly 66, east-
erly 60, westerly 31, northerly 22, calm 21. During the summer
of 1903 the result of 172 observations was as follows: Easterly
59, westerly 45, northerly 32, southerly 21, calm 15.

Summary of 595 observations during three summers, 1899,
1900 and 1903 as follows:

Easterly winds 209

Southerly winds 134

Westerly winds 107

Northerly winds 88

Calm . 57

Total 595

Observations so far made show that the easterly winds prevail
during the s^vmmer at Lake Maxinkuckee.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 143

Winds for a year: In order to get data for the winds of an
entire year, the period extending from July 1, 1900, to June 30,
1901, was chosen, this being the period during which the fullest
records were kept. The tables will explain themselves :

CALMS

NOBTH

NORTHEAST

EAST

SOUTHEAST

MONTH

July, 1900

' 3

August, 1900

September, 1900.

October, 1900....

November, 1900.

December, 1900.

January, 1901 ....

. 1

* 8

February, 1901...

March, 1901

! 9

April, 1901

''0

o.)

May, 1901

ftl

June, 1901

Total

1S7

121

SOUTH

SOUTHWEST

WEST

NORTHWEST

MONTH

M
c
'

~
o

3
1

M
c

Tj
1

M
c

: -

-
$

u
B

'5
B

|
c

July, 1900

4
1
1
1
1
6
1
2
1

1
4

2
8
4
,1

2
1

1
8

4
8

n
10
6
5
12
2
12
1

8
2
8

8
8
4
ft
7

4
1
2

1
4
4
3
A
7
f
2
6

8
1
1
8
8
2
4

1
8

1
1

10
8

!)
2
14
13
15
18

a
i

2
1
2
1
5
8
2
1
1

2
1
ft
3
1
4
I

8
8
9
1
1

1
1
2
2
1

3
1
4

2
15
10
14
10
4

1
2

2
2
2
2
8
4
4
2
5
8
t

1
5

s
(i
4
1
5
1
5

2
1

4
4
7
ft
5
4
5

1
1
2
8
1
2

8
5
8
5
9
Hi
15

August, 1900

September, 1900

October, 1900

November, 1900

December, 1900

January, 1901

February, 1901

March, 1901

April, 1901

May, 1901

June, 1901

Total

122

4ii

124

1017618

144 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

TABLE OF WINDS FROM JULY 1, 1900, TO JUNE 30, 1901

Month

Calms

N.E.

S.E.

S.W.

N.W.

Total

July, 1900

August, 1900

September 1900

October, 1900

November, 1900 . . .

December, 1900 .

January, 1901 ....

February, 1901

Maroh, 1901

April, 1901

May 1901

June, 1901

Total

187

121

122

124

881

Per Cent

21 2

3 8

10 8

5 4

13 7

9 4

13 7

7 5

13 7

RAIN

The number of rains observed from July 1, 1899, to September
15, 1909, is 277. This number is of little significance, however, as
there are numerous gaps or periods during which the weather
at the lake was not under observation.

Taking the year from July 1, 1900, to June 30, 1901, the year
for which we have a complete set of observations, the following
is the record of rains at the lake : July, 7 ; August, 5 ; September,
9; October, 5; November, 8; December, 3; January, 3; February,
0; March, 10; April, 10; May, 11; June, 9; total, 80. From this
it appears that May is the most showery month, and February
the least.

Of these rains, 40 are marked as "rains", 31 as "sprinkles", and
5 as "drizzles", the character of the 4 others not being designated.

Twenty are reported as occurring during the forenoon, 25 in
the afternoon, and 25 during the night. The 10 others are continu-
ations of other showers, or parts interrupted by brief periods of
calm. None of the rains recorded for this year was continuous for
24 hours but each usually more or less fitful.

Among the especially heavy rains was one from the southwest
on July 24, from 10 a. m. till noon, and again from 4 to 9 p. m.,
very hard from 5 to 6 p.m. and from 7 to 8 p. m. This storm
raised the lake 2.5 inches. Outside of the particular year under
discussion there is a record (Oct. 27, 1899,) of a continuous rain
of "all day and all night, 36 hours, raised the lake 5 inches" ; and
another on Dec. 11, of the same year of a rain 24 hours.

There is another record of a severe thunder-storm on July 1,

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 145

1903, during which at least 3 inches of rain fell, raising the lake
8^ inches.

In July of the same year there was a severe rainstorm with a
total fall of fully 2 inches.

Again on August 27, 1903, there was a heavy fall of rain during
the night which caused the lake to rise about 2| inches. Rain was
abundant during this season so that the level of the lake was higher
than usual. On May 11, it rained 5 inches in 12 hours and on
January 22, 1906, it is recorded that it "has been raining for a
week but that the lake is 18 inches below high water mark, al-
though it has raised 3 inches."

We have few data in regard to the directions from which
storms come. Of 35 records one storm is recorded as having oc-
curred during calm weather, 5 storms came from the north, 1 from
the northeast, 3 from the east, 6 from the southeast, 3 from the
south, 10 from the southwest, 2 from the west, and 4 from the
northwest.

The following is a table of the rainfall in inches at Logansport
for the year 1902 :

January 1.00 July 4.84

February 1.10 August 2.55

March 2.64 September 5.02

April 2.13 October 2.37

May 4.27 November 3.92

June 10.54 December 3.48

This makes a total of 43.86 inches of rainfall for the year.
As Logansport is only 32 miles distant from Lake Maxinkuckee
the rainfall at the two places is probably approximately the same.

FROST

Economically considered, one of the most important questions
concerning any particular region is the average date of the last
killing frost of spring and the first of autumn. This question is
of importance not only to the farmer and gardener but also to the
lover of flower-beds and house-plants as well, and it has a direct
and important bearing upon the aquatic life of a region such as
Lake Maxinkuckee.

Taking the weather records for the whole period under observa-
tion, the number of frosts recorded is not many, there having- been
only 99 noted. This is largely due to the fact that it is only the
first and last killing frosts that are of especial importance or in-
terest to people in general, and also to the fact that a frost is not

146 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

an especially attention-arresting phenomenon like a rain or a
thunder shower, and is likely to be overlooked, especially in the
dead of winter in snowy weather.

In considering frosts, especially first and last frosts, it is nec-
essary to distinguish between local and general frosts, or to be
specific, as to locality ; for there is a remarkable difference between
closely neighboring areas in regard to susceptibility to frost. The
low, flat, extensive peaty or mucky plains, and various sphagnous
bogs, such as Hawk's marsh, usually have their early fall frosts
from three weeks to a month before the upland, and quite possibly
the tender, succulent herbage that they produce is much more sus-
ceptible to the effect of light frosts than the firmer growths of more
solid soil. Certain plants such as cucumber vines, touch-me-not,
fireweed, etc., often succumb and turn black at the touch of a frost
so light as to escape ordinary observation. The upland, just about
the lake, is especially favored by its freedom from killing frosts
in late spring and early autumn, and peaches and other delicate
orchard fruits, where planted and properly cared for, do exceed-
ingly well.

The first autumnal frost noted about the lake in 1900 was on
October 17 ; the first in 1901 was November 23, the first in 1902
was September 14. In 1904, the first record was October 23, but
the lake had not been under observation for some time and there
were quite certainly frosts much before this. In 1906, a frost
was reported on August 28, but this was in the flat lowlands back
from the lake. The lake was under constant observation at the
time, and no frost, nor sign of any, was observed at the lake until
Ocotber 29. In 1907, again when the lake was under constant ob-
servation, the first frost was reported for the" region on Septem-
ber 25, but none was actually seen at the lake until October 10.
The first frost in the fall of 1913 was noted on the morning of Sep-
tember 23, killing sweet potato vines and other delicate vegetation.

Of the late frosts of spring there are fewer records. In the
spring of 1901, for which we have complete records, the last frost
occurred April 20. In 1903 there is a record of a frost on May 2.

In the winter of 1900-1901, for which we have complete rec-
ords, 39 frosts were observed; 1 for -October; 7 for November; 11
for December; 7 for January; 3 for February; 3 for March, and
7 for April. Frosts were liable to occur any clear, calm night dur-
ing the winter. In addition to the ordinary frost known every-
where, several modifications were common about the lake. Vapors
arising from airholes in the ice were often congealed at the edge

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 147

of the airhole in the form of long plume-like or feathery objects.
Indeed, on one occasion after Lost Lake had entirely frozen over, a
dense steam arose from the surface of the ice and much of it
congealed in the shape of long, feathery crystals.

Hoar-frost, which is frequent in all locations where there are
large, exposed bodies of water such as near Lake Michigan and
the Mississippi River, is of rather frequent occurrence at Lake Max-
inkuckee and occasionally appears in great beauty, coating trees
thickly and entirely with long, needle-shaped crystals almost an
inch long. The rising sun melts the bases of the crystals first and
the awakening morning breezes stirring among the bejewelled
branches shake the frost crystals down in great multitudes, reduc-
ing the tree in a moment from one of the most magnificent spec-
tacles to one quite commonplace, but producing for the moment a
cataract of sparkling crystals as indescribably splendid as it is
evanescent.

Frosts affect the life of the lake in various ways and through
various channels. One of the first and very interesting effects is
that of a decided change in the methods of the anglers. During
late summer and early fall grasshoppers constitute the principal
and most popular bait used by the anglers. As the season ad-
vances grasshoppers gain in popularity so long as readily obtain-
able. It is only when the first frosts have come and chilled the
grasshoppers so that they can no longer be easily found that the
anglers abandon their use and turn to other lures.

Then, again, the early frosts kill down the patches of delicate
vegetation such as touch-me-nots, Eleocharis interstincta, etc., and
affect the Scirpus and other aquatic plants that extend above the
surface of the water thus killing or driving away the various in-
sects that live upon or frequent such plants. The same frosts act
in the same way on the marsh vegetation along the shore and the
trees and shrubs which overhang the banks. The quantity of in-
sect life living upon, in, or with this vegetation and which falls
into the lake with the falling leaves or on account of the chill, or
which is driven away every year, is enormous.

SNOW
INTRODUCTION

Our record of snowstorms, extending from March, 1899, to
February 1, 1914, with important omissions for some years, makes
mention of 194 snowstorms, varying in all degrees of intensity from

148 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

light flurries to blinding storms. The earliest snow recorded in
any year was that of October 10, 1906, and the latest, at the ending
of winter, was a light snow, sufficient, however, to whiten roofs,
of May 4, 1907. The last snow of the winter of 1898-1899 was
on March 31; the snowy period of the winter of 1899-1900 was
from November 2 to April 12 ; that of 1900-1901 from November
7 to April 21. Records for the fall of 1901 are incomplete, the first
snow recorded being on December 9, and the latest of the spring
of 1902 on April 12. The first snow of the winter of 1902-3 was
November 26, and the latest April 3. The record for the winter
of 1904-1905 is incomplete; the earliest snow in the fall was on
November 8, but there are no records for the following spring.
For the autumn of 1905 an especially heavy snow occurred Novem-
ber 25. In the fall of 1906 a very heavy snow began October 10,
and continued until 10 inches fell. This is the earliest and most
noteworthy snowfall shown by our records. The latest snow in
the spring of 1907, as already stated, was on May 4. The winter
of 1906-1907 is, therefore, noteworthy in that it had both the
earliest and the latest snowfall in the years covered by our records.

The first snow in the fall of 1913 came on the night of October
21 ; the next on the evening of October 29. It snowed again on
November 8 and 10, a total of 12 inches falling, and drifting con-
siderably, but all disappearing by the 18th. No more fell until
December 7 when it snowed all day. On the 20th about one inch
fell, and on the 22d there was snow and rain. On January 2,
1914, it snowed all day but melted as rapidly. Snow fell on the
3d and 4th and again all day on the 31st, when the first sleighing
was possible.

Depth of snow: Most of the snowstorms recorded were rather
light flurries, with less than \ inch of snowfall. Records of 1, 2,
and 3 inches of snowfall are fairly frequent. There are 2 rec-
ords of 4 inches each, one each of 5, 6, and 7 inches, 2 of 10
inches, and one of the maximum snowfall of 18 inches, which was
recorded for March 5 and 6, 1899.

Direction of snowstorms: Record of the direction from which
the* heavier snowstorms came was kept. Of such a record for
33 storms, 5 came from the north, 7 from the northeast, 3 from
the east, 2 from the southeast, 1 from the south, 5 from the south-
west,. 1 from the west and 9 from the northwest, thus showing
the northwest to be the prevailing direction from which snows
come, the northeast being a rather close second. The northeast
storms hang on longer, and the snows they bring are generally sup-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 149

posed to. stay on longer, most likely because the snowstorms from
that direction are more persistent and heavier.

Forms of snow: One of the most common forms of snow at
the lake is that of firm, white, little pellets like minute snowballs,
a sort of form somewhat intermediate between genuine snow and
sleet, and coming down with considerable force and directness;
this may harden at times into genuine icy cutting sleet. This
pellet snow contains more water and less enmeshed air than the
feathery flakes, and it packs more tightly, an inch of it being
equivalent to 2 or 3 inches of the lighter snow. The feathery
flakes are common, especially in little snow flurries. The loose
flakes, sometimes adhering in large masses, are the common forms
in the great snowstorms which result in the deeper snows.

The following is the record of the snows for the winter of
1900-1901, the year for which there is a complete set of observa-
tions. The first snow of the winter, as given above, was on the
night of November 7, when a rain, which began at 8 o'clock in the
evening, changed into snow. It snowed the next night nearly all
night giving a total snowfall of 3 inches. From this time on, snow-
storms were of frequent occurrence, there being 11 in November,
9 in December, 16 in January, 13 in February, 11 in March and
2 in April. The last well-marked storm, that of April, was un-
usually unseasonable; the hazel and many other plants were fully
in bloom, and the tender verdure of spring, just beginning to put
forth, was covered f of an inch with fluffy, sticky snow. No harm
to vegetation was caused, however, as the weather was fairly warm
and the snow soon melted off. The early snow of October 10, 1906,
was still more unseasonable and striking in its effects, though not
so much damage resulted as would have been the result of a single
light frost. It had snowed heavily during the night and continued
until 10 a. m., part of the time the snow coming down in remark-
ably large masses composed of adhering flakes. It took the birds
entirely by surprise. A flock of tree swallows twittered musically
from the snowclad telephone wires, and crickets were chirping
underneath the snow. The houseflies, which were still present
in considerable abundance out of doors, settled thickly on the
window screens of the hotel, and the yellow-rumped warblers, then
migrating, alighted on the screens and ate the flies. At one time
there were 3 of the warblers on a window screen at the same time.
About all the unoccupied cottages around the lake these warblers
took refuge on the porches underneath the roof as if semi-domesti-
cated. The golden-crowned kinglets, like the warblers, took refuge

150 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

in porches, and late dragon-flies flew about over the snow. The
evening of the day closed in dark and snowy, and it snowed pretty
hard all night, leaving 10 inches of snow on a level on undisturbed
places. The snow settled thickly on the leaves of poplar trees,
which were still green, and the weight in many instances broke
off the boughs.

Relation of snow to the lake: During the parts of early winter
before the ground is covered with snow, a considerable amount of
sand from the dry, barren sand hills about the lake is driven on
to the ice and subsequently finds its way to the lake bottom. A cov-
ering of snow over the surrounding country of course puts a stop
to this process.

A still more marked effect is that produced by a thick blanket
of snow upon the ice of the lake. Among the most striking of the
phenomena of the ice is its expanding and contracting on the clear,
warm days and cold nights of winter ; great cracks opening in cer-
tain places by the contracting of the ice, and the ice being heaved up
in others, because of the expansion, until it forms high rooflike
ridges. All these movements are accompanied by sharp cracking
and booming like the firing of distant cannon. These movements
are the cause of the shoving up of the ice-beach, and are said to
have been quite striking during the winter of 1899-1900. They
were well under way during the winter of 1900-1901 when a heavy
blanket of snow covered the ice, the great weight of the snow
weighing heavily on the ice, and by protecting it from alternate
contractions and expansions, put a stop to its movements.

FOG

General fogs are rather uncommon about the lake; they are
very local in their nature and are confined to certain localities for
the greater part. The dry, sandy soil, so common in the higher
ground, warms up readily during the day and is unfavorable to the
formation of fog. On the other hand, the extensive level, peaty
tracts lying in the country west of the lake are especially favorable
to the formation of fogs; so are Green's marsh and the marsh at
the north end of Lost Lake, Inlet marsh, and the region along the
outlet. Lost Lake, which warms up more readily on account of its
shallowness, and also cools more readily at night, is more favorable
to the formation of fogs than Lake Maxinkuckee, and when small,
local fogs are formed on the lake they are usually formed over
stretches of shallow water, such as Aubeenaubee or Outlet bay.
The fogs of the flat, peaty plains are generally very chilly and de-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 151

pressing. How many fogs one would record in any given length of
time would depend much upon the point of observation. Those
herein recorded were observed from Long Point, and of these many
were seen at a greater or less distance. Fogs are almost or entirely
absent during the summer, most common through the autumn and
spring months and in early winter. One of the conditions neces-
sary for their formation is a calm or very little movement of
air, as winds blow forming fogs away. During the year between
July 1, 1900, and June 30, 1901, twenty-nine fogs were observed,
distributed according to months as follows: July, 0; August, 1;
September, 2 ; October, 8 ; November, 3 ; December, 5 ; January, 1 ;
February, ; March, 4 ; April, 1 ; May, 4 ; June, 0. From October,
1899, to August, 1906, a period in which there are considerable
gaps in observation, there is a total record of 59 fogs.

The appearance and behavior of the fogs vary somewhat.
Usually they are low, heavy blankets of uniform density covering
limited areas, the form in which fogs are generally known, but
sometimes on the lake they assume the form of tall, vertical col-
umns which glide over the water in a peculiar, ghostly fashion.
Usually the fogs form in the evening or some time during the night,
and remain until morning, imperceptibly dissipating in the heat of
the morning sun. Sometimes they condense on sticks, grass and
other objects, or uniting to form drops, fall to the earth as a sort of
rain. On December 3, 1900, a fog was noted rising from the lake,
passing gradually into the far-off sky and assuming the form of
immense and imposing thunderheads, the passage from fog to cloud
being complete. This transition from fog to cloud was subse-
quently frequently seen on the upper Cumberland but never on so
magnificent a scale.

Among the most noteworthy fogs observed about the lake may
be mentioned the following:

Some time in December, 1896, when a thin ice extended out a
considerable distance from shore, there appeared an extremely
dense fog on the lake which, according to Mr. S. S. Chadwick, was
the heaviest fog he has ever seen here. A large flock of wild geese
was on the lake and were unable to leave on account of the fog. A
party went out after the geese and, becoming bewildered in the
fog, had great difficulty finding a place to land.

On October 18, 1900, a heavy fog set in about 8 o'clock and con-
tinued until about 10 the next day. A steamer got lost on the
lake and did not get in until 2 or 3 o'clock the next morning.

152 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

DEW

As might be expected dews are so frequent in the mornings of
the warmer portion of the year that their absence rather than their
presence is generally commented upon. Yet the dews of the up-
lands immediately about the lake are not drenching and quickly
dry up in the mornings so that one can walk about without getting
wet almost any morning after 8 or 9 o'clock. The dews of the
mucky or peaty lowlands are much heavier and more persistent.

It may be worth while to remark here that much that is gen-
erally taken for dew, such as the sparkling drops at the tips of
spears of grass, is not condensed vapor, but water of transpiration
which has passed through plants and has not evaporated from the
leaves as it exuded. This might be termed organic dew, and is
particularly noticeable on the leaves of strawberries, muskmelons,
etc., where it is found in prominent drops at the water-pores of the
leaves. This "dew" is always abundant at times when evapora-
tion is checked in the atmosphere surrounding rapidly growing
plants.

Dew proper is common on all calm nights during the summer.
The dews first become noticeable about the end of April and con-
tinue until freezing weather. When fogs appear on the land they
usually leave a good deal of moisture on the herbage.

WATER TEMPERATURES

Temperature of the surface of the lake: Considerable time and
attention were devoted to a study of the temperature of the lake
water. Regular observations regarding the temperature of the
water at the lake surface were begun July 5, 1899, and continued
daily, practically without interruption, to July 1, 1901. An
observation station was established at the pier in front of the cot-
tage now known as Shady Point, on the west side of the lake at the
base of Long Point, and at that time occupied by the Fish Commis-
sion party. A copper- jacketed Wilder protected thermometer was
used. Observations were made and temperatures recorded three
times daily at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. In getting tempera-
tures, the thermometer was placed in water to a depth of a foot
to 18 inches. When there was ice a hole was cut, through which
the thermometer was lowered into the water beneath.

From July 5 to October 19, the observations were made and
recorded by a member of the Fish Commission party. From Oc-
tober 19, 1899, to June 25, 1900, the readings were taken and

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 153

recorded by Mr. S. S. Chadwick. Up to April 5, 1900, the tempera-
tures were taken at the Chadwick houseboat on the east side of
Long Point; after April 5 they were taken on the north end of
Long Point in the south side of Outlet Bay, but sometimes at the
wagon bridge across the Outlet. From June 25, 1900, to June 30,
1901, the temperatures were again taken at the pier in front of
the Shady Point cottage, and usually by Mr. Clark.

Besides these regular observations, a large number of miscel-
laneous records were made; a few in November and December,
1898, and at various odd times since 1901, by Mr. Chadwick; and a
large number by the present writers during the various times when
one or both of them have been at the lake since 1901. And many
more were taken in various places in the lake during the regular
investigations of 1899-1901.

In addition to the surface temperature observations at the regu-
lar station, many other records were made in various parts of the
lake, particularly in connection with the seining and other collect-
ing operations, and in connection with the serial temperature work.
Surface temperatures were also taken as a part of the plankton
studies. Since July 1, 1901, surface temperatures have been re-
corded at intervals by Mr. Chadwick, also by Dr. Scovell, and by
the present writers when any of them happened to be at the lake.
The total number of water surface temperature readings taken
and recorded exceeds 10,000. Most of these are given in the tables
on pages 160 to 215.

It was felt that the large amount of attention given to tempera-
ture observations was justified because of the very intimate re-
lation which the temperature of the water bears to aquatic animal
and plant life.

It was desired to learn the relation between temperature and
the feeding, breeding, and other habits, and the distribution of
the different species of fishes, turtles and other animals in the lake,
also of the various species of aquatic plants. It is believed that
a number of interesting and important correlations have been es-
tablished.

The details of the records may now be considered.

For the month of January, there are 5 records for 1899, 93 for
1900, 93 for 1901, and 12 for 1905.

As might be expected, there is but slight variation in January
in the temperature of the water at the surface of the lake. The
temperature of the air is at, below, or near, freezing during most
of the days of the month, and, as the water-surface temperature,

154 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

until it reaches the freezing point, varies directly with that of
the air, the water temperature will usually be close to freezing.

In January, 1899, only 5 records were made (on the 1st, 8th,
29th, 30th, and 31st) , all of which were 32. These were all taken
through the ice. In 1900, the variation was from 32 to 38 at
6 a.m., from 32 to 40 at noon, and from 32 to 39 at 6 p.m.
The lowest daily average was 32, the highest was 39, and the
average for the month was 33.8, the average for the air for the
same period being 28.6.

In 1901, the variation was from 33 to 39.5 at 6 a.m., from
34 to 41 at noon, and from 33.5 to 40.6 at 6 p.m. The lowest
daily average was 33.7, the highest was 42, and the average for
the month was 36, the average for the air for the same period
being 27.9.

In 1905, records were made only on the first 4 days of January.
The variation was from 32 to 34 at 6 a.m., from 32 to 34.9
at noon, and from 32 to 34.8 at 6 p. m. The lowest daily average
was 32, the highest was 34.3, and the average for the 4 days
was 33.8.

Any discussion or interpretation of these January water tem-
peratures is difficult. Any consideration given them must be in
connection with the air temperatures. The observations in 1899
and 1900 were before the regular beginning of our work and were
made by a volunteer observer whose records must be regarded as
only approximately accurate. On all the days (9 in number) cov-
ered by records in January of those two years, the air was at or
below freezing, and on most of the days the water temperature
was taken through the ice. This will account for the large number
of records of 32 or slightly above. In January, 1901, the air was
at or below freezing on 24 days. The water temperatures were
taken perhaps with somewhat greater care. It is interesting and
significant to note, however, the close approximation of the aver-
ages for the Januarys of the 2 years, 33.8 in 1900 and 36 in
1901.

Notwithstanding the almost freezing temperature of the water
near shore in January and other winter months, it was interesting
to observe that various species of small fishes such as grayback
minnows, straw-colored minnows, and skipjacks, gathered up in
large schools under the ice in shallow water, particularly on bright
sunny days. This phenomenon is considered more fully elsewhere.

In February, 1899, only 7 records were made, on the 1st, 2d,
7th, 10th, 13th, 15th and 27th, on each of which dates the air was

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 155

below freezing. All these were 32 except that on the 27th when
it was 36. In 1900, the record is complete for the month. The
variation was from 32 to 35 at 6 a.m., 32 to 34 at noon, and
32 to 34.5 at 6 p.m., the lowest daily average for the air during
the same period being 22.6.

In 1901, the record is also complete for the month. The varia-
tion was from 32.5 to 35.5 at 6 a.m., from 32 to 34.5 at noon,
and from 32.9 to 34 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was
32.5, the highest 34.3, and the average for the month was 33.1,
that of the air for the same period being 19.3.

For March, 1899, the only record is for the llth when the water
was 33.5. In 1900, the record is complete. The variation was
from 33 to 37 at 6 a.m., from 33 to 37.5 at noon, and from
33 to 38.5 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 33.1 on the
17th, the highest 37.5 on the 31st, and the average for the month
was 35.4, that for the air in the same period being 30.1. The
record for March, 1901, is complete. The variation was from
32.3 to 39.8 at 6 a.m., from 33 to 49 at noon, and from 32.9
to 43.4 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 33 on the 1st
and 3d, the highest 42.4 on the 29th, and the average for the
month was 36.4, that for the air in the same period being exactly
the same, 36.4. The average for March of the 2 years was 35.9,
that of the air 33.25.

For the month of April, the record is complete for 1900 and
1901. In 1900, the variation was from 39 to 67 at 6 a.m., from
44 to 67 at noon, and from 45 to 67.5 at 6 p. m. The lowest
daily average was 42.6 on the 1st, the highest 67.1 on the 30th,
and the average for the month was 49.8, that for the air in the
same period being 52.3. In 1901, the variation was from 36
to 60.1 at 6 a.m., from 38.5 to 65.5 at noon, and from 39 to
69.8 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 38.6, the highest
64, and the average for the month was 47.9, that for the air
in the same period 48.9. The average for April of the 2 years
was 48.8, that for the air, 50.6.

For the month of May, the record is approximately complete
for 1900 and 1901. In 1900, the variation was from 56 to 72.5
at 6 a.m., from 57 to 74 at noon, and from 57 to 74 at 6 p.m.
The lowest daily average was 57 on the 10th, the highest 73.3
on the 30th, and the average for the month was 64.74, that for the
air being 66. In 1901, the variation was from 51.9 to 66 at 6
a.m., from 50.5 to 70.1 at noon, and from 51.1 to 68 at 6 p.
m. The lowest daily average was 52.8, on the 2d, the highest

156 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

68.4, on the 18th, and the average for the month was 60.93,
that for the air being 61.

For the month of June, the record is complete for 1900 and 1901.
In 1900 the variation was from 70 to 78 at 6 a.m., from 71
to 78 at noon, and from 71 to 78 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily
average was 71 on the 4th, the highest 77 on the 26th and 28th,
and the average for the month was 74.6, that for the air being
71. In 1901, the variation was from 58 to 79.2 at 6 a. m., from
64.5 to 86.2 at noon, and from 62.9 to 84.6 at 6 p. m. The low-
est daily average was 61.8, on the 1st, the highest 83.2 on the
28th, and the average for the month was 74.11, that for the air
being 75.7.

For the month of July, there are complete records for 1899,
1900, and 1903, and partial records for 1906.

In 1899, the variation was from 70 to 79 at 6 a. m., from 75
to 88.5 at noon, and from 73.5 to 85.5 at 6 p. m. The lowest
daily average was 74.1 on the 9th and 10th, the highest 84.2
on the 23d, and the average for the month was 78.2, that for
the air being 75.6.

In 1900, the variation was from 71 to 80 at 6 a.m., from
72 to 83 at noon, and from 75 to 82 at 6 p.m. The lowest
daily average was 74.6 on the 1st, the highest 80.3 on the 5th,
and the average for the month was 78.4, that for the air being
75.9.

In 1903, the variation was from 71 to 81.5 at 6 a.m., from
73 to 87 at noon, and from 71 to 87.5 at 6 p.m. The lowest
daily average was 73.1 on the 1st and 2d, the highest 83.3 on
the 9th and llth, and the average for the month was 77.86, that
for the air being 75.9.

The records for July, 1906, cover only the last 7 days of the
month. The variation was from 62.5 to 75 at 6 a. m., from 72.5
to 82 at noon, and from 73 to 83.3 at 6 p. m. The lowest daily
average was 67.5 on the 25th, the highest 74.5 on the 26th, and
the average for 6 days 74.3, that for the air being 76.9.

For the month of August, the records are nearly complete for
1899, 1900, 1903, and 1906.

In 1899, the variation was from 67 to 77.5 at 6 a.m., from
77 to 84.5 at noon, and from 75 to 84.5 at 6 p. m. The lowest
daily average was 74.5 on the 9th and 15th, the highest was 82
on the 27th, and the average for the month was 78.4, that for
the air being 75.1. In 1900, the variation was from 74 to 79.4
at 6 a.m., from 72.1 to 83.6 at noon, and from 78 to 83.6 at 6

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 157

p. m. The lowest daily average was 75.4 on the 15th, the highest
81.7 on the 22d, and the average for the month was 79.7, that
for the air being 77.5. In 1903, the variation was from 68 to
77.1 at 6 a.m., from 71 to 78.5 at noon, and from 70.5 to 78
at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 70 on the 15th, the
highest 76 on the 5th, and the average for the month was 73.8,
that for the air being 70.7. In 1906, the variation was from 67
to 76.4 at 6 a. m., from 71 to 85 at noon, and from 72 to
84.5 at 6 p. m. The lowest daily average was 72.5 on the 30th,
the highest was 81.3 on the 26th, and the average for the month
was 76.2, that for the air being 74.9.

There are 14 records for the last 5 days of August, 1908. The
variation was from 65 to 72.9 at 6 a.m., from 70.5 to 81 at
noon, and from 73.5 to 80 at 6 p. m. The lowest daily average
was 69 on the 27th, the highest was 77 on the 30th, and the aver-
age for the 5 days was 73.2, that for the air being 75.8.

For the month of September, the records are practically com-
plete for 1899 and 1900, and there are partial records for 1906,
1907, 1908, and 1913. In 1899, the variation was from 54.8 to
80 at 6 a.m., from 60 to 84.2 at noon, and from 56 to 81.2 at
6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 56.9 on the 30th, the high-
est was 81.3 on the 3d, and the average for the month was 68.1,
that for the air being 63.1. In 1900, the variation was from 59.3
to 77.5 at 6 a. m., from 65.5 to 83 at noon, and from 66.5 to
81 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 65.6 on the 28th,
the highest was 80.5 on the 1st, and the average for the month
was 72.4, that for the air being 68.1. For September, 1906,
the record is nearly complete for the first 18 days. The variation
was from 60 to 76 at 6 a.m., from 67 to 80 at noon, and from
67 to 80 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 65.1 on
the 14th, the highest was 75.4 on the llth, and the average for the
18 days was 71.2, that for the air being 69.3. For September,
1907, the record is partial for the 13th, 14th, 23d, and 30th, and
complete for the 19th to 29th both inclusive. The variation was
from 57 to 70 at 6 a.m., from 60 to 74 at noon, and from
59 to 73 at 6 p. m. The lowest daily average was 59.7 on the
29th, the highest was 72.2 on the 19th, and the average for all
the records was 64.5, that for the air being 62.9. For Septem-
ber, 1908, the record is practically complete for the first 17 days.
The variation was from 61.5 to 75 at 6 a. m., from 72 to 81
at noon, and from 70 to 78 at 6 p. m. The lowest daily average
was 67.8, on the 3d and 7th, the highest was 76 on the 12th, and

158 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

the average for the month was 72.2, that for the air being 71.5.
For 1913, there is only one record, which is 62 at 6 a. m. on the
13th.

For October, there are nearly complete records for 1899, 1900,
1907 and 1913, and partial records for 1904 and 1906. In 1899,
the variation was from 48.5 to 60.5 at 6 a.m., from 58 to 70.5
at noon, and from 55 to 65 at 6 p. m. The lowest daily average
was 53 on the 21st, the highest was 65.3 on the 15th, and the
average for the month was 59.5, that for the air being 58.1.

In 1900, the variation was from 54 to 69.8 at 6 a.m., from
62 to 73.5 at noon, and from 60 to 71 at 6 p.m. The lowest
daily average was 59.3 on the 20th, the highest was 71 on the
6th, and the average for the month was 64.4, that of the air being
61.5.

For 1904, there are records only for the last three days of the
month, when the morning range was from 47.9 to 50.2, the noon
range from 53 to 58, and the evening range from 52.8 to 53.5 ;
the lowest daily average was 50.5 on the 29th, the highest 53.6
on the 31st, and the average for the 3 days 52.5, the average for
the air being 48. For 1906, there is one record for the 5th (57
at 6 p.m.), one for the 10th (47 at 6 p.m.), and nearly complete
records for the llth to 24th both inclusive. The variation was
from 44.5 to 59 at 6 a.m., from 52 to 65 at noon, and from
49.5 to 62.5 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 43.3 on
the 28th, the highest was 62 on the 19th, and the average for the
14 days was 53, that of the air being 49.8. For 1907, the varia-
tion was from 43 to 63 at 6 a.m., from 45 to 65 at noon, and
from 46 to 65 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 49 on
the 27th and 30th, the highest was 64.3 on the 4th, and the average
for the month was 54.8, that of the air being 51.1. In 1913,
the variation was from 43 to 65 at 6 a.m., from 45 to 70 at
noon, and from 44 to 68 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average
was 44.7 on the 31st, the highest was 67.3 on the 9th. The aver-
age for the month was 54.9 at 6 a.m., 58.2 at noon, 57.6 at 6
p. m., or 56.7 daily average, that of the air being 53.2.

For November, there are 3 records for 1898 (40 on the 24th,
35 on the 26th, and 34 on the 27th, all at 6 a.m.), nearly com-
plete records for 1899, 1900, and 1904, and 3 for 1906 (43.5,
44.5, and 43.5 on the 16th) . In 1899, the variation was from 42
to 54 at 6 a.m., from 42 to 56 at noon, and from 43 to 52
at 6 p. m. The lowest daily average was 43 on the 29th, the high-
est was 55 on the 1st, and the average for the month was 47.6,

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 159

that for the air being 44.6. In 1900, the variation was from
32.9 to 59.8 at 6 a.m., from 39.6 to 63.8 at noon, and from
39.3 to 60.5 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 38.7 on
the 30th, the highest was 62.6 on the 3d, and the average for
the month was 47.6, that of the air being 40.7. In 1904, the
variation was from 37.5 to 51.5 at 6 a.m., from 38.5 to 53.9
at noon, and from 38 to 53 at 6 p. m. The lowest daily average
was 38.5 on the 27th, the highest was 53 on the 4th, and the
average for the month was 45.4, that of the air being 40.4.

In 1906, the variation was from 35.5 to 53.5 at 6 a.m., from
37 to 53.2 at noon, and from 37.2 to 50 at 6 p. m. The lowest
daily average was 36.2 on the 20th, the highest was 48.8 on
the 1st, and the average for the month was 44.6, that of the air
being 39.2.

For December, there are 3 records for 1898 (32 at 6 a.m. on
the 7th, 9th and 14th) and nearly complete records for 1899, 1900
and 1904. In 1899, the variation was from 32 to 46 at 6 a.m.,
from 32 to 48 at noon, and from 32 to 47 at 6 p. m. The lowest
daily average was 32 on the 16th, 29th, 30th, and 31st, the high-
est was 47 on the llth, and the average for the month was 37.2,
that of the air being 28.2. In 1900, the variation was from 32
to 40.9 at 6 a.m., from 32 to 42 at noon, and from 32 to 42.6
at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 32 on the 14th, the
highest was 41.5 on the 1st, and the average for the month was
36.8, that of the air being 31.7. In 1904, the variation was
from 32 to 37 at 6 a. m., from 32 to 37.8 at noon, and from 32
to 36.5 at 6 p.m. The lowest daily average was 32 on the 10th,
12th, 13th, 15th, and 16th, the highest was 36.1 on the 2d, and
the average for the month was 33.8, that of the air being 25.2.

In the following tables are given the detailed records of the
water temperature observations :

1117618

160 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURE TABLES

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

' 32

32.3

34.6

33.3

34.5

33.8

35.5

35.1

35.5

35 1

35.5

36.5

35.6

37.5

36.8

34.5

34.1

33.5

33.1

32.3

Average

33.7

33.8

33.9

33.8

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 161

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

33.6

34.1

33.5

33.7

33.2

33.7

33.5

34.5

33.9

34.7

34.3

33.5

35.1

34.8

34.4

34.8

34.6

34 1

34.8

34.6

34.5

34.9

34.2

34.5

34.3

34.5

35.2

35.8

35.5

35.1

35.9

35.5

36.9

36.6

38.9

38.5

38.1

37.9

40.1

38.2

38.7

36.8

38.5

37.1

38.1

37.9

38.7

38.2

38.5

37.3

37.6

37.3

39.5

38.6

37.1

37.9

37.3

38.1

39.7

39.5

40.6

39.1

38.8

38.1

38.6

37.6

38.2

37.9

37.2

37.3

36.1

36.8

36.5

36.7

36.9

37.5

36.8

35.5

35.9

36.1

35.8

34.9

35.2

35.7

35.2

34.5

34.6

Average

35.4

36.7

36.8

36.4

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR JANUARY, 1905

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6pm.

Average

33.5

34.9

34.5

34.3

34.5

33.5

34.8

34.4

Average . .

33 4

34 1

33 3

33 6

162 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR FEBRUARY,

Date

6 a. m.

32.7

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR FEBRUARY, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

32.5

32.1

32.5

33.5

33.1

33.5

33.8

32.5

32.8

32.5

. 32

32.6

33.5

34 5

34.5

34,5

34.3

32.6

Average

32.6

32.7

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 163

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR FEBRUARY, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

34.1

33.5

33.8

33.3

35.5

33.5

34.3

32.8

33.8

33.5

33.8

33.9

33.3

34.5

33.4

33.7

33.2

33.8

33.1

33.3

33.5

33.1

32.5

33.1

32.8

33.2

33.1

32.5

32.9

32.8

33.5

33.1

32.9

33.1

3.?. 9

32.9

33.5

33.3

33.2

33.5

33.2

33.1

33.2

33.1

33.2

33.1

33.7

33.3

33.4

32.9

33.1

32.8

33.5

33.2

33.1

33.2

32.9

33.2

32.9

33.1

32.9

32.5

32.9

32.7

32.5

33.1

32.9

32.7

32.9

32.9 .

Average

32.7

33 3

33.2

33.1

164 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR MARCH, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Averrge

34.5

33.8

34.5

34.1

34.5

34.1

34.5

34.8

35.5

35.3

35.5

35.8

36.5

36.1

36.5

36.1

34.6

33.5

33.1

33.5

33.8

35.3

36.5

36.1

36.5

36.6

37.5

37.1

36.5

36.1

36.5

36.1

36.5

36.1

36.5

36.1

37.5

36.5

38.5

37.5

Average

35.3

35.5

35.6

35.5

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 165

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR MARCH, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

32.8

33.3

33.1

32.6

33.1

33.5

33.8

33.5

38.6

33.1

33.6

33.4

33.9

33.6

33.9

33.1

33.3

32.9

33.4

32.9

33.2

33.8

33.4

32.3

33.8

33.3

33.9

34.8

33.9

35.1

34.3

34.5

34.6

34.3

35.3

34.5

34.7

34.9

33.8

34.9

34.6

34.1

35.4

34.5

35.3

35.2

36.7

36.9

37.1

37.8

37.2

34.8

38.5

39.5

37.6

37.9

37.5

37.8

40.9

38.9

37.9

44.9

43.4

38.1

45.6

41.5

41.7

36.3

39.5

39.6

38.4

39.6

41.4

40.1

40.7

38.9

41.2

40.3

40.1

37.4

40.5

37.6

39.8

44.7

42.7

42.4

37.5 -

38.3

37.7

37.8

37.1

40.1

39.4

Average

35.4

37.4

36.9

30. j

166 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR APRIL, 1900

Date

6 a. in.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

42.6

44.5

44.8

45.5

45.1

47.5

46.8

47.6

49.5

48.8

49.5

48.8

49^3

50.5

50.1

48.5

48.1

47.5

47.8

47.5 *

46.8

46.6

45.5

46 5

46.5

46.8

48.5

48.1

1!)

48.5

48.3

50.3

50.6

51.5

50.8

51.5

51 5

50.6

51.3

55.3

58.6

67.5

07.!

Average ....

49.1

49.9

50.5

49.8

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 167

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR APRIL, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

46.2

45.5

42.5

38.5

38.6

43.9

41.6

47.9

45.9

42.5

45.5

44.5

43.9

43.5

44.1

42.1

47.6

45.6

45.1

40.5

45.5

44.6

40.8

48.9

47.9

45.9

41.9

50.5

tt.9

47.4

42.5

53.5

50.9

49.9

43.9

46.7

48.7

48.4

45.3

46.3

47.5

46.7

43.4

49.3

47.2

46.6

44.5

48.6

48.5

47.2

44.5

51.1

49.6

48.4

52.3

47.5

46.5

48.8

42.5

46.5

48.1

44.7

41 5

48.3

46.9

45.6

42.4

45.5

43.7

43. 9

43.5

44.5

47.3

45.1

45.5

47.1

47.2

52.1

5L.7

49.9

46.8

55.5

51.5

51.3

47.5

54.5

51.5

57.1

61.8

56.8

64.9

58.6

56.8

65.5

69.8

60.1

55.5

56.7

57.4

Average

44.6

49.7

49.5

47.9

168 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR MAY, 1900

Dite

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

58.5

60.5

60.1

60.3

60.5

59.8

59.5

57.5

57.8

59.3

63.6

71.3

63.5

62.5

62.1

60.3

59.6

65.3

69.6

71.3

73.5

72.8

72.5

73.3

72.5

72.8

Average

63.71

65.41

65.08

64.74

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 169

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR MAY, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

57.5

58.3

54.5"

56.8

50.5

52.8

51.9

68.2

65.3

61.8

56.9

62.3

62.1

58.9

65.1

65.3

63.1

60.1

63.6

63.9

63.6

62.2

60.4

62.1

62.6

61.7

60.1

64.5

64.1

62.9

61.9

63.9

64 9

63.6

60.9

64.1

61.8

62.3

59.5

58.2

55.5

61.8

59.1

61.3

63.5

59.9

57.1

61.8

61.5

68.5

66.3

65.4

63.1

70.1

68.4

65.2

64.1

58.5

63.5

62.3

60.5

59.8

62.5

63.8

61.8

59.5

67.1

65.5

61.5

65.4

63.2

63.4

56.9

51.1

54.4

57.9

56.5

57.8

59.5

61.2

57.8

56.6

53.1

59.5

58.9

57.2

55.5

62.9

63.9

60.8

Average

58.23

62.92

61.98

60.93

170 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR JUNE, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

73.5

72.5

72.1

71.5

- 71

71.5

72.5

73.5

73.6

73.5

74.1

76.5

76.3

76.5

75.8

74.5

73.5

76.5

77.5

76.8

76.6

75.5

76.5

75.5

76.5

76.1

71.3

73.2

70.6

72.6

77.5

76.1

76.3

74.3

Average

73.21

75.32

74.9

74.6

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 171

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR JUNE, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

64.5

6K8

58.1

65.5

60.5

68.9

66.1

63.3

68.8

67.7

68.9

66.6

64.5

68.3

68.8

67.2

62.6

64. g

62.9

63.4

58.9

66.8

63.9

63.2

68.5

65.2 -

69.6

70.2

68.3

74.5

70.5

70.3

70.9

74.2

74.4

72.1

80.9

77.7

78.2 .

77.1

70.5

80.5

78.1

75.5

75.9

70.1

75.5

74.9

76.7

77.5

73.5

74.7

74.3

76.4

76.2

74.8

80.9

79.2

73.9

78.6

76.2

83.5

80.6

77.9

83.2

81.3

80.8

. 26

84.5

83.9

81.8

78.5

84.6

79.4

79.2

85.7

84.6

83.2

78.8

86.2

82.3

82.8

85.9

84.3

82.7

Average

73.07

74 . 13

75.13

74.11

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR JUNE, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

73.2

75.2

Average

69 5

75 4

74 3

172 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR JULY, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

73.5

75.1

73.5

76.8

72.5

75.5

73.5

74.1

74.6

'76.5

74.1

72.5

77.5

75.6

74.5

80.5

79.5

75.5

77.3

76.3

77.5

76.1

77.3

76.6

19 .

78.3

83.3

88.5

84.2

85.5

83.2

85.5

82.6

* 84

81.6

80.5

78.5

81.2

81.5

79.5

79.6

82.5

79.8

82.5

79.2

A verage

75.3

80.5

78.9

78.25

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 173

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR JULY, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

74.6

77.6

78.3

77.4

80.3

79.6

77.6

77.5

75.5

76.6

74.6

77.5

75.8

75.6

75.3

78.3

76.3

74.5

75.5

76.3

77.3

76.6

77.6

80.5

79.8

78.6

79.5

78.1

77.6

75.5

77.5

80.5

78.3

' 78

Average . . .

74.6

78.3

78.4

174 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR JULY, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

71.5

73.1

75.5

73.1

71.3

77.6

79.3

83.5

84.5

81.6

78.5

86.5

81.5

82.1

81.5

82.5

83.5

87.5

83.3

80.5

81.5

84.5

83.3

78.5

81.5

78.5

79.5

78.5

78.8

77.5

76.5

75.5

77.8

73.5

74.5

73.6

73.5

77.8

73.5

75.5

74.3

78.6

77.5

77.8

78.5

76.8

81.5

79.6

78.3

78.5

76.8

77.5

77.1

74.3

Average

75.6

79.4

78.5

77.8

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR JULY, 1906

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

62 5

72 5

67 5

75.5

74.5

68.5

76.8

77.9

74.4

77.9

68.1

63.5

82.5

83 5

Average

67.9

76.4

78.5

74.3

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 175

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

76.6

76.5

79.5

78.3

75.5

84.5

80.3

77.5

78.5

71.5

82.5

72.5

77.5

75.6'

77.5

.74.5

76.5

76.2

73.5

81.5

78.3

74.5

78.5

77.6

74.6

76.5

74.5

76.6

73.5

76.8

79.3

78.5

77.2

82.5

78.2

80.5

79.2

79.6

78.5

77.8

83.5

80.5

79.3

81.5

82.5

79.3

70.5

75.5

84.5

81.3

80.5

81.5

Average

73.7

81.1

79.4

78.4

12-17618

176 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

81.5

78.8

76.5

77.2

80.3

78.1

80.8

78.5

78.4

77.4

79.8

83.5

79.8

80.8

79.2

81.8

78.8

80.9

79.4

81.4

78.9

83.5

80.8

83.6

80.5

78.3

81.5

80.2

80.5

80.1

76.2 .

72.1

75.4

75.7

77.5

75.5

79.2

78.2

80.5

78.5

83.5

78.5

80.4

76.2

83.5

. 83.6

81.1

78.2

81.7

78.9

80.3

77.5

82.5

81.5

80.5

77.2

78.1

79.5

81.5

76.5

79.5

78.6

76.5

81.8

80.1

83.5

81.5

80.6

83.5

81.5

Average

77.2

81.3

80.6

79.7

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 177

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1903

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

70.6

'72

74.6

77.1

75.3

73.5

75.1

74.5

78.5

73.5

74.5

72.5

76.5

74.3

74.6

73.6

73.3

71.3

73.6

68.5

70.5

74.5

72.5

73.6

75.6

72.5

73.1

73.6

75.5

73.5

74.5

75.1

73.5

75.8

77.5

75.5

74.6

Average

71.7

75.2

74 6

73.8

178 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Surrey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1906

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

71.5

77.5

84.5

77.8

76.4

78.9

78.8

71.9

78.9

75.9

73.9

73.5

78 .'l

77.5

76.4

81.9

77.8

77.6

73.1

75.4 .

75.2

82.2

79.7

73.9

83.5

78.7

73.9

75.5

81.5

68.8

75.1

76.5 '

73.5

73.8

75.9

72.9

72.5

73.2

72.5

76.8

77.5

76.8

72.5

75.8

79.5

78.8

74.5

80 .-8

80.4

75.5

77.8

74.8

77.9

77.5

81.3

73.5

72.3

68.5

74.1

72.9

73.5

74.2

74.5

72.5

Average

72.5

77.7

78.5

76.2

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR AUGUST, 1908

Date'

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

69.0

74.0

74.1

70.5

73.5

72.9

78.5

. 79

76.8

Average

68.4

75.4

76.6

73.2

Records only for the last five days of the month.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 179

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

82.5

81.2

80.2

76.2

82.8

79.6

84.2

79.8

81.3

73.8

72.5

79.5

73.5

79.2

78.5

76.3

67.5

69.5 .

68.5

69.5

73.5

72.3

72.5

68.5

69.5

68.8

74.5

70.1

70.8

70.9

70.5

66.2

63.1

63.5

61.5

68.5

61.5

66.5

65.6

65.5

65.1

63.5

57.5

65.5

61.3

60.6

61.5

58.8

58.3

54.8

56.9

Average

65.6

71.6

68.9

68.1

180 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

77.5

80.5

81.2

77.2

78.1

80.5

78.5

80.5

77.5

77.3

79.5

77.5

77.6

75.5

80.3

77.6

76.5

81.2

78.6

78.7

75.1

77.3

75.8

76.3

72.9

72.5

76.1

73.8

76.3

72.1

72.7

74.6

68.8

74.9

73.5

70.1

71.1

71.8

67.5

59.3

71.9

67.7

65.5

69.9

66.8

67.6

63.5

67.5

63.5

69.5

70.2

67.8

67.3

62.8

68.5

66.7

75.2

71.8

71.3

69.9

66.9

67.3

66.5

66.6

61.9

65.6

67.5

63.5

69.5

Average . .

69.6

74.6

73.2

72.4

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1906

Date

6am.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

70.9

69.3

67.7

72.5

70.1

69.9

69.5

69.3

67.7

66.1

71.3

74.1

75.2

75.4

76.8

74.9

78.2

74.1

67.2

65.1

70.9

69.3

68.5

74.9

74.5

Average

67.8

72.6

72.4

71.2

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 181

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1907

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

72.5

72.2

72.5

69.8

67.3

65.5

63.3

60.7

61.7

59.7

59.5

Average

66.6

65.6

64.5

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1908

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

75"

2
3
4
5

71.3
61.5
65
67

73.5
72
72

70.5
70
70
75

71.8
67.8
69
71

71
64

70
71 5

73
67 8

9
10
11

66.5
69

73.5
76.5

75
75.4

71.7
73.6

13
14
15
16
17

73
71
68.5
66.5

76
74
72
73.8
74

78
73
73
76

75.7
72.7
71.2
72.1
74 5

Average

74 1

73 3

72 2

182 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

48.5

59.5

54.6

52.5

57.5

63.5

60.5

58.6

61.5

59.1

61.2

58.7

63.5

59.5

52.5

59.1

64.5

60.8

54.5

58.8

58.5

59.5

58.5

61.5

62.6

64.3

60.5

70.5

65.3

59.8

62.5

58.5

59.6

56.5

55.6

Average

62.8

59.9

59.3

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 183

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1900

Date

6 a. in.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

63.5

67.2

62.5

67.2

64.5

72.5

68.9

68.6

73.2

69.1

64.9

70.1

73.5

70.5

7 .

67.5

68.5

66.8

67.6

69.5

67.7

62.5

69.5

66.5

66.2

69.8

68.5

68.4

1.1

68.5

66.9

65.8

65.5

66.5

65.5

63.2

. 66.9

65.6

62.3

69.3

65.5

65.7

61.5

62.2

57.6

64.8

61.1

57.2

65.5

61.9

54.5

63.6

61.2

59.8

59.3

61.8

61.9

60.1

62.5

61.9

58.9

63.9

61.2

61.3

58.1

63.5

62.2

58 .

64.7

61.9

58.8

61.5

61.4

58.5

66.1

62.9

57.5

62.8

61.4

60.1

61.7

62.3

61.5

65.2

62.5

63.1

59.9

64.9

63.9 62.9

Average

61.4

66.9

64.8

64.4

184 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1901

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

52 8"

47.9

50 5

30
31

50.2
50

53.5
52.9

52.6
53.6

49 4

53 1

52 5

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1906

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

44.5-

53.5

49.5

49.2

47.2

50.4

55.8

55.5

54.1

51.6

55.5

56.7

54.6

51.8

54.8

51.5

55.8

58.3

58.5

62.5

51.9

63.3

56.1

58.3

56.3

57.6

56.6

59 -

60.5

59.2

57.5

53.8

49.5

45.5

47.3

42.8

43.3

41.1

44.5

45.2

47.5

46.1

48.5

47.5

Average

51.1

54.9

53.1

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 185

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1907

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6pm.

Average

60.3

64.3

61.7

61.3

60.3

'58

57.7

56.3

55.3

52.7

51.7

55.3

56.3

55.3

53.3

52.7

49.7

46.3

44.7

49.3

Average

53.3

55.6

54.8

186 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR OCTOBER, 1913

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

64.3

61.7

60-

63.3

62.7

65.3

67.3

61.7

59.7

60.3

50.3

45.7

48.7

52.3

50.3

48.7

48.3

44.7

Average

54.9

58.2

56.7

Lake Maxinkucfcee, Physical and Biological Survey 187

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1899

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average P

46.3

43.6

52.5

48.3

48.6

50.5

49.6

46.6

47.6

49.6

50.3

49.6

48.3

50.3

47.5

45.8

45.3

44.3

44.6

47.5

45.1

Average

46.2

48.9

47.6

47 6

188 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1900

Dite

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

59.8

58.3

63.8

60.5

60.4

56.3

63.5

58.1

62.6

51.1

59.5

57.5

55.3

57.5

57.9

53.5

49.5

53.2

51.2

55.1

51.3

52.5

51.3

45.5

45.8

- 47.8

46.4

48.9

51.5

49.9

50.1

46.5

49.7

50.5

48.9

41.5

49.8

45.9

46.7

45.8

45.5

57.8

42.8

44.9

3S.9

42.9

40.9

33. 5

42.1

40.2

44.9

47.5

46.5

48.2

49.5

46.2

48.9

45.8

47.2

45.6

46.2

43.1

47.5

46.5

45.7

43.5

45.1

44.5

44.4

39.6

39.3

49.3

35.9

40.5

38.8

41.8

42.8

40.9

40.3

41.5

41.1

41.8

41.7

41.5

3?.9

41.?

38.7

Average

45.8

49.2

47.7

47.6

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 189

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1904

Date

6 a. in.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

52.5

51.8

50.5

53.9

52.9

52.4

51.5

53.5

49.9

50.2

49.2

49.8

42.2

48.5

47.9

46.2

47.8

48.2

50.5

48.8

47.9

48.3

45.1

47.1

43.9

47.5

45.1

47.5

44.7

46.3

41 8

42.3

40.3

43.3

42.2

42.9

43.3

41.8

43.5

42.8

41.3

44.8

42.7

42.5

44.5

47.5

41.5

43.9

45.3

44.7

45.5

46.7

42.9

44.9

49.9

45.5

46.2

43.6

45.5

44.9

45.2

44.7

43.5

44.8

44.1

43.5

44.2

44.5

44.1

42.5

39.8

39.9

37.5

38.5

39.5

38.5

verage

44.3

45.6

45.9

45.4

190 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR NOVEMBER, 1906

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

45.5

50.5

48.8

46.6

45 2

45 6

52.5

46.5

48.6

53.5

48.6

47.5

47.1

41.5

53.2

44.5

46.4

45 2

48 9

42.5

45.1

44.2

41.8

42.2

46.6

44.5

43.5

44.5

43.5

43.8

43 5

41 1

45 5

45.2

42.5

37.5

37.2

35 5

36.2

39 5

39 2

43 5

Average

42.9

46.5

44.5

44.6-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 191

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1899

Date

6 a m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

44.3

43.6

42.3

37.3

39.3

38.5

42.6

'47

37.6

36*

35.6

34.6

34.5

36.5

37.6

34.6

33.6

32.6

34.6

Average

36.6

37.9

37.2

1317618

192 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1900

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

39.9

42.6

41.5

38.9

40.9

41.5

40.4

41.2

41.1

40.9

41.3

41.1

40.9

40.5

40.8

38.5

41.1

40.2

40.1

40.9

39.9

40.3

37.8

38.9

38.5

37.5

38.5

37.7

37.9

38.4

39.2

38.9

37.1

39.5

37.5

35.1

36.5

36.2

36.6

37.3

37.8

37.2

32.9

32.3

32.1

32.5

33.2

32.6

33.5

33.8

33.5

33.6

33.5

34.7

34.8

34.3

33.9

36.5

35.1

33.8

36.7

35.5

37.8

36.4

34.7

35.9

35.5

37.2

36.7

34.7

36.2

33.9

36.3

35.1

33.5

36.7

35.1

35.9

35.4

35.1

33.9

34.3

33.8

34.8

33.6

34.1

Average

37.3

37.1

36.8

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 193

WATER TEMPERATURES FOR DECEMBER, 1904

Date

6 a. m.

Noon

6 p. m.

Average

37.8

33.5

36.1

32.5

32.9

31.9

34.5

33.5

34.9

35.2

34.5

35.2

34.5

34.9

34.8

34.6

33.8

32 '

32.8

32.2

32.3

33.1

32.7

34.5

33.1

34.9

35.2

36.5

36.1

36.4

35.5

35.6

34.9

36.2

35.4

35.3

34.5

35.1

34.8

34.2

Average

33.8

34.1

33.8

194 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

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Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 197

Serial ivater temperatures: In addition to the observations on
the temperature of the surface of the lake, many serial tempera-
tures were taken. On July 18, 1899, a regular observation station
was established at the deepest place in the lake, known as the
Deep Hole, where the water is 89 feet deep at the ordinary stage
of water. A buoy was placed to mark the station. Readings
were taken daily from July 18 to September 30, 1899, and from
July 17, 1900, to June 28, 1901, not daily but usually two to three
times a week. Readings were taken at the surface and usually at
5-foot intervals from the surface to the bottom. Usually the
temperature of the air also was recorded, and the condition of the
sky and direction of the wind noted.

From July 18 to August 14, 1899, a self -register ing Negretti-
Zambra deep-sea thermometer was used. From August 15 to Sep-
tember 21, a Ritchie thermophone was used, with not wholly satis-
factory results, after which the deep-sea thermometer was again
used.

A similar serial-temperature observation station was estab-
lished July 30, 1899, at the Kettlehole, in the southwest corner of
the lake, in which the maximum depth is 40 feet. Seven sets of
records, at 5-foot intervals, were made there in July, August and
September, 1899, and 12 sets in July, August and September, 1900.
More than 150 water-temperatures were recorded at the Kettle-
hole, and over 4,200 at the Deep Hole. The total number of water-
temperatures taken and recorded is therefore about 10,000. Most
of the surface temperatures are given in the tables on the preceding
pages and the serial temperatures will be found in the following
tables.

Temperatures at the Deep Hole: Many serial temperature
records were made at the Deep Hole. These are set forth in the
tables on the following pages. An examination of these vari-
ous tables reveals some very interesting facts, particularly with
reference to the position of the thermocline, that is, the line or
depth of most rapid change in temperature.

During the winter months, when the lake is covered with ice,
the temperature of the water from top to bottom is quite uniform,
the variation sometimes being nil, and usually not more than 2 or
3 degrees. When the ice goes off in the spring, the sun's rays
begin to affect the upper strata of the water to gradually increasing
depths. From a mean surface temperature of 33.1 in February,
it rose in March to 34.8, in April to 45.8, in May to 62, and so
on, until in August it reached 80.1. By May the water had

198 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

warmed up perceptibly to a depth of 25 to 30 feet, and a well-de-
fined thermocline was established. This is shown by the marked
difference between the mean temperatures at 25 feet and 30 feet,
5.4, which is 3.4 greater than for any other 5-foot interval in
May. By the end of July, in 1899, it had moved down to 35 to
40 feet, the difference in temperature in that 5-foot interval being
6. In 1900, it moved down only to the 30 to 35-foot interval by
the end of July and showed a difference of 8.4. In August, 1899,
and again in 1900, it stood in the 30 to 35-foot interval. In Sep-
tember, it moved down to the 40 to 50-foot stratum in both 1899
and 1900. In October, it went down to the 50 to 60-foot level, and
in November to the 60 to 70-foot interval. The difference, how-
ever, was only 1.9. In this month it disappeared altogether in
1900 (the only year in which late fall observations were made),
and did not reappear until in May following.

Pictures cannot do full justice to the beautiful views of Lake Maxinkuckee from the
Academy buildings. One of the most attractive vistas shows a glimpse of the main lawn and
flag in the foreground.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 199

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200 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, AUGUST, 1899

DEPTH

DATE

64
74
74.2
74.3

74.3

74.3
73.8

69.3
66
62
57.2

52.7

51.3
51
50.7
50.7

Air

74.5
78.5
78.8
79.3

78.3

78.5
74

69.5

77.3
79.5
79.5
79.5

77.2
74

74
79
79.2
79.2

79.2

78
74

70.2

74.5
78.5
78.2
78.2

78.2

77.7
75.5

69.8

77.5
77.5

77.5

75.5

77.5
75.3

70.2

66.6

77
77
77

77
74.8

70.5

71
76.2
76.2
76.2

76.2

76.2
76.2

70.5

72
75.7
75.7
76.2

75.6

75.6
76

70.7

78.5
76.5
76.5
76.5

76.5

76
75.2

70.2

71.5

77
77
77

76.5
75.5

76.7
76.7
76.7

76.5
74.4

64.5
75
75.2
75.2

75.2

74.9
72.3

68.5

66.7
77.4
74.5

74.5
/75.1'
\74.5
74.3
73.6
f72.1'
\70.5

Surface

78
78.2
78

77.5

74
73

78.3
78.3
78.3

78.3

78
75

69.7

5ft

10ft

15 ft

20ft

25ft

30 ft

32 5 ft

35 ft

64.5
59.2

54.6

52
52
51.5
51.5

64.7
59.1

52
51.8
51.3
51

63.7
59.2

54.8

52.5
51.7
51.7
51.3

64
60.5

52
51
51
51

64.5

59.5

52.5
52
51.5
51.5

65.5
59.5

54.5

52.5
52
51.7
51.7

63.7
59.7

54-. 7

52.7
51.8
51.8
51.5

64.2

58.7

54.5

52.4
51.7
51.7

64.2
59.8

54.5

51.6
50.7
50.7

65.6
60.1

54.7

52.5
51.7
51.7
51.7

64.7
59.7

54.8

52.3

52
51.7
52

64.7

59.2

54.6

51.5
52
51.9
51.9

66
60

53
52.2
52.1
52.2

61
57.5

52.5

51.5
51
50.7
50.5

62.5
57.2
/55'
\52.5
51.3
50.8
50.7
50.2

40 ft
50 ft ...'....

60 ft

70 ft . .

80ft

85ft

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, AUGUST 1899

DATE

Air

71 5

76 5

72 5

72 3

71 7

74 2

Surface

75.4

76 7

77.3

77.7

76.5

76 3

75.5

76.5

77 2

75 7

5 ft

74 5

76 7

77 3

77.7

76.5

76.7

76 5

76.3

76.5

77 2

10 ft . ...

74 5

75 1

74 7

77 6

76 3

76 7

76 3

76 5

76 3

76 7

15 ft

74 5

74 4

76.5

76 5

76 3

76 5

74 7

20ft

74 7

73 4

74 7

75 5

75 1

76 5

73 5

25ft

73 5

73.5

72.2

71.7

73.3

73 2

73.7

73.3

73.5

30 ft

71 5

70.5

69.5

69.4

70.5

70.2

69.2

69.5

70.

70.7

67.3

32 5 ft

65 5

64 5

64.5

64.8

65 7

64 8

66 5

66.7

66.3

66.5

65 5

63.2

35ft

61 5

59 5

60.8

60 8

62 7

61 2

63 2

62 2

60 3

40ft

57 2

56 8

57 2

56 5

57 6

56 7

55 8

50ft

53 1

51 3

52 4

52 7

52 4

52 2

52 5

61 7

52 5

50 7

60 ft

51 5

51.5

50.3

50.5

50.4

50.7

50.4

50.8

50.7

51.5

49.5

70ft

51 3

49.5

50.4

50.5

50.4

50.5

50.7

80 ft

50 5

49.5

49.9

50.2

49.9

50 2

50.2

50.5

85ft

50 7

50 5

49.7

49.3

49.5

50 2

49 5

50.2

50. 5 2

48.7 s

1 Thermometer.

2 Deep sea thermometer gave surface 76 and bottom 52.

* Deep sea thermometer gave surface 78.5 and bottom 52

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 201

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202 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, JULY, 1900

DEPTH

DATE

Air

69 5

76 3

79 5

81 2

69 5

Surface ....

77 1

76 3

76 6

77 5

80 3

78 1

77 2

78 7

5 ft

76 3

77 5

79 5

80 5

78 1

77 5

78 8

10ft

77 1

76 3

78 5

78 1

80 1

78 1

78 5

15 ft

76 3

77 1

77 9

77 2

77 1

77 8

77 6

78 3

20 ft

77 1

76 3

77 1

76 9

76 8

76 6

76 3

77 5

76 8

76 1

76 4

25 ft

75 8

75 5

75 9

76 2

75 2

75 5

75 6

30ft . .

73 2

73 1

73 6

72 8

71 5

72 1

72 2

32.5ft

68 6

71 3

68 5

67 5

67 3

68 8

35ft

64 5

63 5

66 5

65 6

68 9

62 2

61 5

62 8

63 2

40ft

57 3

58 5

57 7

57 4

58 8

58 3

56 6

56 8

57 1

45 ft

55 5

55 8

54 6

54 5

53 9

53 8

54 3

54 6

50 ft

52 3

52 8

53 8

53 3

52 1

52 3

52 5

52 6

52 8

55 ft

51 8

51 5

51 6

52 3

60 ft

50 5

50 9

50 7

51 1

50 9

51 1

50 5

50 6

50 5

65 ft

50 9

50 8

50 9

50 1

50 5

50 7

50 5

50 6

50 5

50 3

70ft

50 3

50 2

50 5

50 4

75ft

49 9

50 2

50 1

80ft

49 9

49 7

49 9

49 8

50 2

49 8

85 ft

49.5

49 2

49 7

49 5

49.2

49 1

49 3

49 8

49 4

49 3

49 5

49 2

49 5

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, AUGUST, 1900

DATE

Air

73
78
78.1
78
78
76.5
75.6
73.2
67.6
64.1
58
54.6
52.6
51
51
50.1
50.2
50
49.9
49.5

73
78
78
78
78
77
76.4
73
68.6
63.2
57.2
55.5
52
51.2
51
50.8
50.5
50.2
50
49.5

78.1
78.1
78.1
78
77 6

83.5

81.8
81.8
79.8
78.2
77 5

84
82.4
82.4
82.2
79.2
77 5

82
82.8
82.8
82.8
79.5
77 5

85
83
83
82' 5
82
77.6

77
81
81
81
80.8
80.3

73.2
79.8
79.8
79.8
79.8
79.8

78.5
78.9
78.5
78.5
78.5
78 8

76.2
78.2
78.2
78.2
78.2
78 2

80
80
79.7
79.5
79.8
79 1

80
80.8
80.8
80.5
80.3
79 2

76.5
80.2
80
80
80
80
77.5
73
68
64
60.3
57
54.2
52.8
52
51.5
51.2
51.3
51
51

85
80.1
80.1
80.1
80
80
79.5
71.5
68.5
66.9
61
57
54.1
52.5
52.5
52
51.8
52
51.6
51

79.8
80
80
80
79.5
78.8
78
73
70
66
59.8
56
54.3
53
52.2
51
51.8
51.6
51
51

5 ft

10 ft

15ft

20 ft

25ft

76
72.5
68.5
64
57.9
55
53
51
51
50.1
50.1
50
50
49.8

76
72
68
63.9
57
54.5
52.5
51.3
50.8
50.3
50.1
50
50
49.8

76
70.5
68.5
62.5
58
54.5
52.1
51.1
50.6
50.5
50
50
50
49.8

76.2
70.1
69.2
64.2
58
54.5
52.2
51.2
50.7
50.4
50
50
50
49.9

75.7
70.5
69.5
63.5
58
55
52.8
51.2
50.6
50.5
50.5
50
50
49.9

75.7
72.3
68
64
59
55
52.6
51.5
51
50.8
50.3
50.3
50
49.8

76.8

77
72.1
67.1
64.6
58.3
55.5
53
52
51.5
51
51
50.5
50.3
49.8

76.6
72.1
68
63.3
60
56
54.2
51.5
51
50.7
50.6
50.3
50
49.9

77.2
71
68.3
65.7
59.8
56
53.5
52.5
52
51.5
51.2
51
51
50.1

76.9
71.5

64
59.9
56
54
52.8
52.3
51.8
51.7
51.3
50.8
50.2

30ft

32 5 ft

35ft

40 ft . .

45ft

50ft

55 ft

60 ft

65ft

70ft

75ft

80ft

85ft

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 203

SERIAL TEMPERVTURE3 TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, SEPTEMBER, 1900

DEPTH

DATE

Air

82.5
80.1
80
79.9
79.7
79.4
78
73
69
65.2
60.3
57
54.8

77.5
79.8
79.8
79.2
78.5
78.2
78.2
75.4
71
65.2
60
57
54.3

86.5
79
79.1
79
79
79
79
75.6
70.5
65
60.1
57
54.5

68
76
76
76
75.8
75.8
75.6
74.5
73.9
73.5
64.5

79
75
75
75
75
75
74.9
74.5
74
73
64.2

68
67.4
67.4
67.4
67.2
67.2
67
67
67
66.9
66.5

63 *
67.2
67.2
67.2
67.2
67.2
67
66.8
66.8
66.8
66.6

76
70.2
70
69
69
68.7
69
68

70.5
68.5
68.5
68.2
68.1
68
67.8
67.8

Surface
5 ft

10ft

15 ft

20 ft

25 ft

30ft

32 5 ft

35 ft

67.9
67.6
64.5
58.5
55
53.3
53.3

67
67
66
57.9
54.1
53.5
52.5
52.4
52
51.6
51.4
51.4

40 ft

45 ft

50ft

54.6

54.5

55.1

56 .5

52 5ft

55ft

53
52
51.5
51.5
51.8
51.6
51.5
50.8

53.2
52.5
52
52
51.7
51.7
51.5
50.9

53.5
52.5
52
51.5
51.3
51.1
51
50.8

53.6
52.9
52
52
52
51.5
51.5
Bottom ter

53.2

52.7

60ft

52.9

52.4

52
51.6

65ft

70ft

51.9

51.9
51.7
51.7
51.3
nperatures

75ft

80ft

51.4
51.1

51.5
J51.9

85 ft

89ft

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, OCTOBER, 1900

DATE

Air

72 5

75 9

54 1

54 5

59 5

47 6

62 9

56 6

64 5

Surface

67 5

68 8

67 6

65 2

64 9

61 5

61.2

61 5

61 8

62 5

5 ft

67 9

67 5

69 5

65 3

64 9

63 5

62 5

61 4

61 2

61 5

61 8

62 5

10ft

67 8

67 5

69 1

67 9

65 3

64 8

63 4

62 3

61 3

61 2

61 5

61 8

62 5

15 ft

67 5

67.5

67 8

67.9

65 3

64.8

63.3

62.3

61 3

61 2

61 4

61 8

62 5

20ft

67 5

67 3

67 2

67 9

65 3

64 8

63 3

62 3

61 2

61 4

61 7

62 5

25 ft

67 4

67 1

66 9

67 8

65 3

64 6

63.3

62 3

61 2

61.2

61 3

61 7

62 3

30ft

66 9

67 6

65 2

64 5

63 3

62 3

61 2

61 3

35 ft

66 7

66 8

65 2

64 5

63 3

62 3

61 2

61 3

61 9

40 ft

66 5

66 4

66.7

64 3

63 3

62 3

61.2

61.1

61 1

61 2

45 ft

66 1

65 5

66 6

63 1

61 2

61 1

50ft

57 6

60 6

61 7

62 7

61 5

61 2

60 7

52 5 ft

55 3

57 1

57 5

56 9

61 2

55ft. .

54 5

53 5

54 9

54 3

54 4

54 1

56 9

61 2

60 7

60 8

60 4

60 3

59 5 ft

58 3

54 2

59 4

60 1

59 9

60ft

52 5

52 3

52 9

52.8

53.2

52.3

57.4

56.8

65 ft ...

52 5

52 2

52 1

52 2

52 3

52.1

53 1

52 3

52 5

70ft

51 9

75 ft

51.5

51.6

52.2

51.9

51.8

51.9

80 ft

51 5

51 6

51 3

51 6

51 9

51 8

51.9

51.8

51.9

51.7

51.8

51.7

85 ft

51 5

51 9

51 6

51 8

51 5

51 1

51 6

51 5

51.2

51.6

51.5

51 5

204 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, NOVEMBER, 1900

DATE

Air

52 9

36 8

36 2

31 5

Surface

49.9

45.9

46.7

42.9

5 ft

61 3

59 3

45 9

46 7

42 9

10ft

61.3

59.3

45.9

46.7

15 ft

59.3

45 9

46 6

42.9

20 ft

61 3

59 3

45.9

46.5

42.9

25 ft

59 3

45.9

46 5

42.9

30 ft

59.2

45 8

46 5

42.9

35 ft

60 9

59 1

45 5

46 7

42.9

40 ft

60.5

59.1

45.8

46.4

42.9

45ft

60 5

59 1

53.9

46 3

42.9

50 ft

59.1

53.8

46.2

42.9

55 ft

53.7

45.8

46.2

42.9

60 ft

59.8

58.8

53.7

45.7

46.2

42.9

62 5 ft

58 5

65 ft

56.5

58.4

53.7

45.8

46.2

42.9

70 ft

52.4

53.3

45.8

46.2

42.5

75 ft

53.3

45 8

46 2

42.5

80 ft

51.9

53.1

45 8

46 2

42.5

85 ft

51 5

51 9

46 3

46 2

42.5

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, DECEMBER, 1900

DATE

Air

39 9

36 5

36 2

29 5

38 9

Surface

41.7

40.3

36.2

34.9

5 ft

41.8

40.3

36.1

10 ft

41 7

41 6

40.5

36.1

15 ft

41 7

41 6

40 1

36.5

20ft

41 7

41 6

40 3

36 1

34.1

25ft

41 9

41.7

40.3

36.1

34.4

30ft

41 7

41 3

40.3

37.2

36.1

35.5

34.4

35 ft

41 7

41 3

40.3

36.5

35.7

34.4

40ft

41 7

41 2

40.8

37.5

36.1

35.3

45ft

41 7

41 3

41 1

40.3

37.4

36.3

34.8

50ft

41.8

41.3

37.6

35.5

34.8

55ft

41 8

41.42

40.2

37.7

60ft

41 8

41.3

36.4

35.6

35.1

65 ft

41 8

41 3

41. 3 1

38.1

36.5

35.7

34.9

70ft. .

41 8

41 3

37.8

37.5

35.7

75 ft

41 8

41 2

38 8

80 ft

41 8

41 3

37 9

85ft

41 8

' Bottom at 62 feet.

2 Certain slight anomalies in the temperature readings occur in our records, but we believe the records
as here given cannot be far from correct.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 205

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, JANUARY, 1901

DEPTH

DATE

Air

23.1

32.1

16.5

23.9

24.9

Surface

34.5

33.7

33.1

34.2

33.4

5 ft

34.1

34.5

34.6

34.8

35.1

36.2

36.7

10ft

34.5

34.6

35.1

35.7

36.3

36.2

15 ft

34.2

34.5

35.3

36.2

36.5

20ft

34.2

35.4

35.5

36.3

36.5

25 ft

34.6

34.5

35.2

37.

35.4

36.3

30 ft

34.5

35.1

35.5

36.5

35 ft

34.6

34.7 '

35.2

35.8

36.7

37.4

40 ft

34.8

34.9

35.7

37.5

35.9

36.9

37.7

45 ft

34 9

34.6

37.2

37.8

50ft

34.9

35.2

37.3

55 ft

34 9

35.5

37.1

60 ft

35.4

36 1

36.2

37.2

37.8

65ft

35.5

36.2

36.4

37.2

37.9

70ft

35 3

35.8

35.3

36.2

36.5

37.3

75 ft

35.4

35.3

36.3

37.2

36.9

37.5

80ft

35 4

37 6

36 8

37 5

85*f t

37.2

37.5

38.1

38.8

38.3

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, FEBRUARY, 1901

DATE

Air

24 9

26 8

22 5

36 8

27 5

Surface

33 7

32 3

5ft .

36 9

36 3

10ft

37 9

36.5

36.9

36.4

15 ft

36 5

36.9

36 5

37.5

20ft

36 7

38 2

37 1

37 3

37 9

25 ft

37 1

37.4

30ft

37 1

37 2

35ft

37 2

37 3

37 2

37 7

40 ft

37.5

37 3

38.3

45 ft

37 8

37 9

50ft

37 5

38 1

37 8

38 5

55 ft

37 7

37.8

38 2

38.3

60 ft

37 5

37 9

38 6

65 ft

37 4

38 1

37 9

70 ft

37.5

37 9

38.1

75 ft .

37 7

38 4

38 1

38.1

80ft

38 2

38 5

38 8

38 9

85 ft

38 2

38.9

41.3

206 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, MARCH, 1901

DATE

Air

31.9

36.5

34.5

42.3

31 5

Surface

32.9

32.3

33.1

32.8

40.1

39 8

5ft

36.9

37.3

37.9

38 5

40.1

10ft

36 8

37.5

37.8

38 9

40 5

40 2

15 ft

37 3

37.6

37 5

37 9

40 5

39 9

20 ft

37 9

37.3

37 7

37 9

40 5

25 ft

37.3

37.6

38.1

40.5

39.9

30ft

37 6

37 7

38 3

35ft

37.7

38.3

40.3

40ft

37.9

38.1

38 7

40 4

41 8

45 ft

38 7

38 9

50 ft

38.5

40 3

40.1

55 ft

38.2

38 1

40 1

42.3

60 ft

38 1

39 9

65ft

38.5

38.1

38.3

40.4

70ft

38.4

38.8

39.9

75ft

38.2

38.1

39.3

80 ft

38 4

40 4

85 ft

40.1

40.4

40.1

40.2

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, APRIL, 1901

DATE

Air

39.2

49.5

57.7

63.8

77.5

Surface
5 ft

39.3
39.3

39.5
39.5

42.9
42.8

45
45

46
46

49.8
49

59
55.1

10 ft

39.3

39.6

42.2

42.8

45.9

45.1

47.6

52.8

15 ft

39.9

42.2

46.5

44.9

45.8

46.9

50.1

20 ft

39.9

39.5

42.5

44.8

46.8

47. 5J

25 ft

39.5

42.2

42.6

44.3

44.8

45.6

46.8

30 ft

39 5

39.5

42.6

46.2

46.1

46.5

35ft

41.2

39.5

42.9

45.9

45.1

45.6

40 ft

41.7

39.4

42.2

44.2

44.8

45.7

45ft

41.7

39.6

42.9

44.3

45.1

45.6

45.8

45.9

50 ft

39 4

39.5

42.5

44.8

45.9

45.5

55 ft

39 3

39 5

44.7

45.1

45.5

45.3

60ft

39 4

42.9

44.7

45.1

45.4

45.2

65ft

39 4

42.4

43.3

44.6

45.5

45.3

45.2

70ft

39 4

39 5

42.4

43.5

45.8

45.6

75ft

39 2

42.3

43 1

44.7

45.1

45.7

80 ft

41 5

42 7

43 4

45.5

45.1

45.2

85 ft

39 6

44.8

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 207

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, MAY, 1901

DATES

Air

76 9

77 6

58"

56 5

57*

Surface
5ft

61
61

63
63 1

60
60 1

66
61

68.5
63 9

61
61

62.5
62 5

58.2
58 g

58
58 3

10 ft

60 9

63 4

61 4

58 2

15 ft

60 4

59 5

59 4

61 4

58 8

57 8

20 ft

56 1

56 5

60 6

59 4

61 3

58 8

57 9

25 ft

50 5

56 4

56 8

58 1

57 2

61 2

57 4

30 ft

47 5

48 6

49 9

50 1

51 3

52 3

35ft

47 1

47 3

50 2

49 2

50 6

54 5

56 5

40ft

47 4

49 7

48 2

48 9

49 9

50 3

50 9

45 ft

46 6

46 5

47 9

47 3

47 9

48 9

50 ft

46 1

46 8

47 5

47 9

47 5

48 5

55ft

46 2

46 4

46 8

47 i

47 5

47 9

60ft

45 5

46 3

46 5

47 1

65ft

45 5

46 5

46 9

46 8

46 9

70ft........

45 3

45 9

46 5

46 1

46 9

46 5

75 ft

45.9

45 4

46 5

46 6

46 8

46 5

80 ft

45 3

46 3

46 5

47 6

46 7

46 5

46 9

85ft ..

45 1

45 6

45 9

46 3

46 2

46 5

46 6

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN IN THE DEEP HOLE, JUNE, 1901

DATES

Air

65 3

54 5

66 2

89 5

77 9

83 5

88 2

Surface

59 5

60 9

65 5

63 5

79 6

76 9

78 8

5 ft

59 5

65 5

63 5

64 8

72 5

76 1

75 5

78 3

82 5

10ft

61 1

65 7

65 1

74 9

78 2

80 8

15 ft

59 7

64 2

63 4

64 9

66 5

68 6

71 5

75 9

77 4

82 9

20ft

60 2

63 2

64 5

66 1

66 5

67 1

67 2

25 ft

58 3

58 8

61 9

62 8

62 3

61 6

30ft

57 9

57 3

57 6

59 4

58 7

58 1

58 9

35 ft . .

55 9

56 2

54 8

54 i

54 8

54 9

54 5

55 g

55 5

55 6

40 ft

49 9

52 3

53 5

53 2

53 5

45 ft

52 1

50 9

50 2

50 9

51 9

50 ft

48 4

48 1

51 6

49 3

49 8

50 2

50 1

55ft

47 9

52 8

48 6

49 5

49 3

49 9

50 5

50 4

60ft

47 8

48 2

48 3

49 9

49 2

49 5

49 7

65ft

47 1

47 8

48 2

48 5

48 8

48 6

* 49

49 i

49 2

70ft

47 5

48 2

48 4

48 8

48 9

75ft

47 5

47 9

48 3

48 2

48 8

49 i

80ft ..

47 5

47 8

47 9

48 1

48 5

85ft

46 9

47 3

48 1

48 5

48 4

48 8

1417618

208 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

SERIAL TEMPERATURES AT THE DEEP HOLE, LAKE MAXINKUCKEE,
JULY SEPTEMBER, 1899

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

Max.

Min.

Mean.

Max.

Min.

Mean.

Max.

Min.

Mean.

Surface
5 ft

80.5
80 8

77.0
77

79.2
79.3

79.5
79.5

74.0
74.2

76.7
76.8

77.0
77.0

66.0
66.0

72.1
72.0

10 ft
IS ft

81.0
80 2

77.0
76 5

79.2
78 3

79.5
79.2

74.3
74.0

76.7
76.3

76.5
75.5

66.0
66.0

71.9
71.3

20ft

74 7

75 7

78.2

73.0

75.6

74.5

66.0

71.0

25ft

72 8

76.2

71.0

73.8

73.5

66.0

70.5

30 ft

69.0

69.7

72.0

67.3

70.0

71.0

64.8

68.2

32 5 ft

66.7

63.2

65.4

69.0

63.0

65.7

35 ft

69 5

63.0

64.7

66.0

60.3

62.9

67.0

58.7

63.1

40 ft

57.3

58.7

60.5

55.8

58.1

63.5

54.8

57.9

50ft

57 5

52 5

53.2

55.5

50.7

53.3

54.5

50.0

52.1

60 ft
70 ft

52.5
51.8

50.5
50.5

51.7
51.2

53.0
52.2

49.5
49.0

51.5
51.0

53.0
52.0

48.8
48.5

50.8
50.3

80 ft

51.7

50.3

50.9

52.1

49.0

50.8

52.0

49.5

50.2

85 ft

51.3

50.5

50.8

52.2

48.7

50.6

52.0

48.4

50.1

Moonlight on Lake Maxinkuckee.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 209

U5 ^ ^ 5 ^ 00 00

?s?sg?sg ?sssss??sggg

~ . *. 00 00 - 0.

8
J

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^oor-r^ot.

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SggggSS SSSSSS9$S!5!S

a
"

ffiosooososa o>o>eo<io5usu5

-H

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t^ ^ CS^ N 00 U5 t- - 00 tN t~

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eeee M eo O o o o u, o a. -

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- d 0> 00 t^ t- N <M d

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S S S S S S R g S fe S S? S S S S S S

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fc fc K fc g R S g S 5 S 3 S g g g g S 5

weocow-ooowco^oo^ooot-o

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^l-lIIISilllSlSg|'il

210 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

O3<OO*OOiOW5^*^*^Tt<^^^<^Tt<
OOOOiOOOOO'-tcOOOOiWO'-fOO

^OOGGOOOOOOGOOOOSOOOSCOOOOOQOOiOlO

cocococococceococococoeocoeoccccco 1 ^

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I" '

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 211

The Kettlehole: Similar observations were made at the Kettle-
hole in July, August, and September, 1899, and again in the same
months in 1900. The records are shown in the tables on the fol-
lowing pages. The highest surface temperatures recorded at the
Kettlehole was 83.2 on August 7 and 22, 1900, the lowest tempera-
tur 48.5 at 40 feet on September 8, 1899. The maximum differ-
ence between surface and bottom was 31.9.

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN AT THE KETTLEHOLE, LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

DEPTH

July 28,
1899

July 30,
1899

Aug. 3,
1899

Aug. 7,
1899

Sept. 4,
1899

Sept. 8,
1899

Sept.l9 :
1899

July 16,
7:15-
9:30 a.m.
1900

July 17,
10:40-
11:30 a.m.
1900

July 21,
3 p. m.
1SOO

Air

70 5

57 5

Surface
5ft

80.7"
80 5

79
78 5

79.2
79 5

78
77 5

76.5
76 5

74
74

68
68

78.9

10ft

80 5

78 5

78 4

77 5

74 5

. 74

76 5

76 8

15 ft

78 3

77 3

77 2

76 8

73 5

20ft ....

71 5

72 5

73 6

70 5

72 5

67 5

25ft

64 3

64 2

60 5

30 ft

57 3

56 5

56 7

57 1

53 5

56 3

56 5

35 ft

52 5

51 2

[52 5i

/51 5'

/54'

40 ft

50 6

50 5

50 7

(
\50

50 5

\50.5
49

\51.7
48 5

50 5

44ft

49 6

49 7

Light

Wind

rain and

North

from

S. E.

breeze

North;

wind,

lake

strong

very

at times.

rough.

1 At 32.5 feet.

212 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

SERIAL TEMPERATURES TAKEN AT THE KETTLEHOLE, LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

DATE

Depth

July 23,
4:10-

July 27,
1900

July 30,
1900

July 31,
1900

Aug. 7,
1900

Aug. 16,
1900

Aug. 22,
1900

Sept. 14,
1900

Sept. 22,
1900

5 p. m.
1900

4:00-
4:45 p.

10:00-
10:50 a.

10:10-
10:50 a.

3:05-
3:40 p.

7:30-
8:40 a.

3:55-
4.30 p.

1:30 p.

4-5:30 p.

Air

Surface

83.0

79.5

83.2

76.5

69.3

5 ft

67.5

10 ft

77 9

78.5

79.2

77.9

80.8

75.4

15ft

66.6

20 ft .....

74 2

73 3

74.5

76.5

77.6

74.3

66.6

25 ft

66 7

67 4

68 4

67 1

65.2

30 ft

58.8

58.2

59.2

63.3

35 ft

50.5

\54

40ft

51 1

50 9

50 7

50 4

50 8

51 3

52 8

Sky

Scattered

Cloudy

Scattered

Hazy;

Very

hazy;

Clouds;

N. E.

clouds;

threat-

light

wind

S. W.

wind;

S. E.

ening rain;

S. W.

S. E.

wind;

slight

wind;

S. E.

breeze.

slight

waves.

moderate

breeze.

waves.

1 At 32.5 feet.

MISCELLANEOUS TEMPERATURES TAKEN AT THE KETTLEHOLE, JULY 25, 1899

Depth

Temperatures

79.5

1 ft ,.

79.5

2 ft

79.6

3 ft

79 7

4 ft . .

5ft .

79.9

6 ft

7 ft

23 ft

62'

35 ft

50.5 s

52.0'

42 ft

50.5*

1 20 oar strokes northwest of Kettlehole. :
1 10 oar strokes northwest of the Kettlehole.
10 oar strokes north of the Kettlehole.
' 10 oar strokes west of the Kettlehole.

Temperatures taken at the Sugarloaf: A few temperatures
were taken at the Sugarloaf. On Algust 26, 1899, the surface
was 76.5, and the bottom 76.3 at 10 feet. On August 9, 1900
(9:55 to 10:15 a. m.), the water on the Sugarloaf was 9.75 feet
deep. The temperature at the surface was 82.8, and at the hot-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 213

torn 82.2. On August 13, at 10:45 a. m., when the air was 79.8,
the surface was 81.2, and the bottom 80.8 at 10 feet. On August
20, at 10 :30 a. m., the surface was 80.7 and the bottom 80 at 10
feet.

Miscellaneous temperature records: On July 18, 1899, the fol-
lowing records were made at a plankton station by Messrs. Scovell
and Juday, at certain places having the depths indicated :

TEMPERATURES

Surface

Bottom

52.5

51.5

On July 18, 1899, a series of surface and bottom temperatures
was taken on a line from near the end of Long Point toward the
Maxinkuckee road, the last being in the Deep Hole where a regular
observation station was then established:

TEMPERATURES

Dspth in Fe a t

Surface

Bottom

75.2

75.7

75.2

35.5

75.5

69.5

75.2

52.7

75.1

75.2

51.1

51.5

89.5

On August 26, 1899, the following temperatures were obtained
with the thermophone on a line between Long Point and the ice
houses: surface, 76.8; at 10 feet, 76.3; at 20 feet, 75.2; at
30 feet, 69.5; at 38 feet (bottom), 59.8.

On August 19, 1899 (from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), the fol-
lowing thermophone readings were obtained on a line starting op-
posite the Gravelpit and running east, making a station every
15 oar strokes:

214 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Depth in Feet

TEMPEBATUBE

Notes

Surface

Bottom

0.5

77.5

Began at 8:30 a. m.; air in sun 82.

4.5

76.5

7.5

21.0

72.5

9.0

4.5

76.5

6.0

76.5

6.0

76.5

6.0

77.5

76.5

6.0

77.5

76.5

6.0

77.5

76.5

6.0

77.5

7.5

77.5

6.0

77.5

76.75

6.75

77.5

75.5

7.5

77.5

78.5

52.5

10:40 a. m.

78.5

54.5

56.5

53.5

77.5

53.2

11:30 a. m.

52.75

3:15 p. m.

52.5

54.5

10.5

74.5

10.5

78.5

10.5

78.3

9.0

78.5

74.5

9.0

6.0

5.0

79.5

2.75

.50

83.5

4:00 p. m. East shore, 570 strokes.

TEMPERATURES TAKEN AT PLANKTON STATION No. 3

Depth in Feet

Temperature
July 30, 1900,
11-11:45 a. m.

Temperature
August 16, 1900,
8:20-9:30 a. m.

Air

82 8

Surface

79 8

78 5

10ft

78 9

20ft

76 5

78 1

30ft

32.5ft '

69 5

35ft

61 1

63.8

40ft

58 6

59 1

42.5ft

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 215

THE FOLLOWING TEMPERATURES WERE RECORDED SEPTEMBER 28. 1899

Station

Depth in Feet

Temperature

Notes

Air at 8:15 a. m. 63.

Surface temperature at noon,

62.

59.5

28 -

59.5

60.5

On August 14, 1900, the following temperatures were taken in
Aubeenaubee Creek, between 2 :30 and 4 p. m. : Near head of
creek, 63 ; 10 rods lower down, 66.2 ; 50 rods lower down, 68.

On August 21, 1900, between 8:10 and 11 a.m., the following
temperatures were taken in Culver Creek: At bend of creek just
east of the Academy grounds, 69 ; at bridge at east edge of Acad-
emy grounds, 70.2 ; just below the bridge, 70.5, at bridge in Acad-
emy grounds, 71.5 ; at mouth of creek, 76.5.

Turning over of the lake:- -Perhaps the most interesting phe-
nomenon connected with such bodies of water as Lake Maxin-
kuckee is the "turning over" which may occur each fall. This can
be understood from a consideration of a selected few of the daily
serial temperatures. The greatest density of fresh water is
reached when the water has attained a temperature of 39.2.
When the temperature goes below 39.2 it begins to expand, and
freezes at 32. When the temperature rises above 39.2 it also
begins to expand and continues to do so, however warm the water
may become. As water expands its weight decreases. In other
words, above the point of greatest density, the weight of water
varies inversely with its temperature, the higher the temperature
the lighter the water. A cubic foot of water at a temperature of
80 weighs less than a cubic foot of water at 50.* On July 24,
1900, the surface temperature was 80.3. From the surface down-
ward the temperature was successively lower until, at the bottom,
it was 49.3, or 31 colder than the surface. A column of water in
that part of the lake on that date, one inch square and equal in
length to the depth of the lake, 89 feet, may be likened to a column
of metal which increases slightly and uniformly in size and weight

* A cubic foot of fresh water at 50 Fahr. weighs 62.331893 pounds : at 80 it weighs
62.186012 pounds, a difference of 2.334096 ounces.

216 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

from surface to bottom. So long as the upper end is lighter than
the lower, the column will remain upright. But if the metal column
should be reversed, bringing the heavy end up and the light end
down, any slight disturbance would cause it to reverse itself and
again assume the more stable position with the heavier end down.
The same is true of the column of water. So long as the colder,
heavier water is at the bottom, it will so remain ; but let the upper
end of the column become the colder and, consequently, the heavier,
it will go down, and the lighter bottom water will come up. That
is precisely what does happen. If the series of temperatures from
July 24 onward be examined it will be observed that the difference
between the surface and bottom temperatures becomes successively
less. By the 23d of November, 1900, the difference was only .5
of a degree, the surface being 46.7 and the bottom 46.2. Some-
time between the 23d and the 26th, probably on the night of the
24th, the temperature throughout the upper half of the column
fell below 46, or lower than that of the lower end of the column.
The upper half of the column then being the heavier, it of necessity
went to the bottom, the bottom half came up, and the temperature
of the lake became uniform throughout. This is shown by the
serial temperature readings of November 26, which show that the
temperature at all depths from top to bottom was 44, a condition
which practically continued until the ice went off. It can there-
fore be safely assumed that, in 1900, Lake Maxinkuckee "turned
over" some time between the evening of November 23 and the
morning of the 26th; and what occurred then, in all probability,
occurs every November or December.

The highest surface temperature recorded at the Deep Hole was
83 on August 11, 1900, the bottom temperature at the same time
being 49.9, the difference between surface and bottom being 33.1.
The lowest summer bottom temperature obtained in the Deep Hole
was 48.7 on August 31, 1899 ; the lowest recorded at the Kettle-
hole was 48.5 on September 8, 1899.

CONDITION OF THE WATER

Clearness: The water of Lake Maxinkuckee is generally com-
mented upon by visitors, and boasted about by the natives, on ac-
count of its clearness and purity.

After a long sojourn at Winona Lake, Indiana, paying particu-
lar attention to the lake, a visit to Lake Maxinkuckee excited a
marked sensation of surprise at the clearness of the water; in
Winona Lake it was somewhat tea-color; at Lake Maxinkuckee,

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 217

at considerable depths, it exhibited an indescribable play of trans-
parent green, something like that of an opal in some lights.

Unfortunately, we have not a long series of records taken under
different conditions the year round which would give an absolute
test, and if there were such records, it would be difficult to find a
large number of other lakes with records with which it might be
compared. On September 20, 1907, when the sky was well clouded
over, a secchi disk was visible at 9 feet. The same disk at Holem
Lake, of the Twin Lakes, Indiana, on September 23, 1907, when
the sky was bright and clear, was visible at 13 feet, and at Cook
Lake, another of the Twin Lakes, under the same conditions, at the
same depth. At Lake Mendota, Minn., September 18, 1907, with
a cloudy sky, the same disk was visible at a depth of 6 feet.

One might, indeed, take as a measure of the clearness of the
water, the depth at which green plants grow in the lake, the chief
limiting factor in this case being the depth to which light pene-
trates. The lower limit of plant life in the lake is about 25 feet.

A remarkable feature of the water is its freedom from mud.
Even after heavy rains the inlets bring in but little water, and be-
cause of the general absence of clay, they bring in but little mud
even when they have the swiftest current. Strong winds may
make the water turbid near shore, and on one occasion, in the
autumn of 1900, the whole lake was rendered slightly turbid by a
long continued wind and rough lake, but in all cases the lake soon
settles clear. During the winter of 1900-1901, the Chara and
Potamogeton robbinsii showed up so clearly through several feet
of water and clear ice that they impressed a very excellent image
on a photographic plate, and the experience of traveling over this
clear ice and seeing the fine meadows in the bottom, with the
turtles and gars and dogfish resting quietly or moving slowly
about, impresses one with the great opportunity offered along the
lines of a new field of photography, that of subaqueous landscapes.

Any one looking down in the water on a calm, bright day and
studying it attentively will note small flecks or motes, the number
of these differing in different seasons of the year and in different
lakes. These motes usually represent low algal forms which make
up the phyto-plankton of the lake. In Winona Lake this suspended
matter was so abundant that the sun's rays lighted up the particles
in long lines, as in the familiar phenomenon of the light entering
a slit in a dark, dusty room, or the "sun drawing water." In some
cases the algaB forming these motes have colonies of sufficiently
characteristic shape to be recognizable, but generally not. Lyngbya
has the appearance of short hair clippings; Clathrocystis has the

218 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

appearance of minute smoke rings ; Aphanizomenon, which is rare
in our Indiana lakes but is common in some northern Minnesota
lakes and in the Mississippi River, is easily recognizable, as rather
large, green colonies, acute at each end, much like the little duck-
weed, Wolffiella. Anabaena, the most common alga of Lake Max-
inkuckee, has no definite form. In Lake Maxinkuckee it is rare
that great areas are covered with algal scum, though there are
sometimes rather long stretches in sheltered bays. The plankton
scum usually makes its first appearance about the end of July and
continues on calm days until freezing.

The entire lake surface is not frequently calm for longer in-
tervals than a day ; June, July and August are generally the calmer
months. The surface is generally rippled, usually pretty rough,
during the spring and later autumn. Periods of calm during the
morning and evening are frequent the year round during fine
weather.

Chemical condition: An important feature of the water is its
chemical condition. A chemical examination of the water was
made by Prof. Chancey Juday of the University of Wisconsin. The
test for hardness used was Siler's method, in which a coal tar prod-
uct, methyl orange, is used to color the water. The amount of
hydrochloric acid necessary to turn it faintly pink indicates the
hardness.

The test used for oxygen was Winkler's method given in
Sutton's Volumetric Analysis, and is as follows :

1. Add manganous chloride.

2. Add KOH + KI = a precipitate with brown, if oxygen is present.

3. Add Cone. HC1. dissolves precipitate. If oxygen is not present the

liquid is clear. If oxygen is present it is yellowish or brownish.
It may now be left several days.

4. To determine amount of oxygen, titrate with hypo, 1/80 normal,

using (cooked) starch as an indicator. The amount of hypo re-
quired to clear up the blue caused by addition of starch is an index
to the amount of oxygen. In the following tables, prepared by
Prof. Juday, is shown the character of the water.

Both the C0 2 and the oxygen are expressed in cubic centi-
meters per liter of water. The full face figures indicate the
amount of the alkalinity, i. e., it would require that number of cubic
centimeters of free C0 2 to make the water neutral. The light face
figures in the column marked free C0 2 indicate the acidity. Cal-
cium and magnesium are found in water almost entirely as bicar-
bonates, and chemists regard the CO 2 as half-bound or bicarbonate
C0 2 , and bound or carbonate C0 2 , so we have indicated them in this
way on the tables. In neutral or acid water they are regarded as

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 219

equal in amount, but in alkaline water the bound or carbonate C0 2
is in excess of the half-bound. The results of the investigation
showed that the water of the lake was softer than that of the well
(Chad wick's) with which it was compared; also that the difference
between the Kettlehole and the main lake is a curious and inter-
esting thing. They differ as widely as if they were separate lakes
and not connected in any way. A further study of them would
prove very interesting. In the main lake the excess of alkalinity
extends to a depth of 8 meters (26^ feet). At 9 meters (29| feet)
the water is neutral, below which point it is increasingly acid. The
Kettlehole shows less alkalinity at the surface and a much more
rapidly increasing acidity at the bottom. In the lake the oxygen
decreases rapidly from the surface down to the 13 (43 feet)
meter depth below which there is no free oxygen. In the Kettle-
hole the free oxygen disappears at 10 meters (32* feet). The
free oxygen is more abundant in the surface water of Lake Maxin-
kuckee than in any of the Indiana lakes with which it was com-
pared, and extends to a considerably greater depth, being found
down to 12 (39J feet) meters in Lake Maxinkuckee, 9 meters (29|
feet) at the Kettlehole, 8 meters (261 feet) at Cook Lake, 6
meters (19^ feet) at Holem Lake, and disappearing at the 13
meters (43| feet) in Lake Mendota, Minn.

CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF THE WATER OF LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

Station I, in the Deep Hole, Sept. 20, 1907, 2:30 to 4:40 p. m.

Sky chiefly cloudy.

Wind, rather strong southwest, falling toward evening; a few whitecaps.

Secchi disk visible at depth of 9 feet.

Meters

Depth in Feet

Temperature

CARBON DIOXIDE

Oxygen

Free

Bicarb.

Carb.

3
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
17X
20
22X
25
25^

10
17
23
26.25
30
33
36
39
42.5
46
49
57.4
67.6
74
82
84

3.8

20.7

24.5
24.5
24.5
24.5
24.8
25.8
25.8
25.9
26.8
28.0
30.9
31.3
31.3
31.4

6.3
6.3
6.1
5.5
4.0
2.7
2.2
1.3
0.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

72
71
67.5

36
3.0
1.1
Neutral
0.4
1.4
2.5
2.9

20.9
21.5
23.7
25.8
25.8
25.9
26.8
28.0
30.9
31.3
31.3
31.4

64
59.5

3.2
3.7
3.9
4.7
5.3

31.6

220 Luke Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF THE WATER OF LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

Station, Kettlehole, September 24, 1907, a. m.

Sky, cloudy in west.

Wind, fresh, south; moderate waves.

CARBON DIOXIDE

Meters

Depth, feet

Temperature

Oxygen

Free

Bicarb.

Carb.

2.3

24.5

26.8

4.9

17.4

64 6

2.1

24.7

26.8

4.9

23.0

29.5

61.7

3.7

32.2

32 2

o:oe

32.8

58.6

7.8

38.2

0.0

36.0

57.5

8.6

40.0

0.0

37.7

56.6

For purposes of comparison we give the results of similar oxygen tests made by Professor Juday, at certain
other lakes.

CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF THE WATER IN COOK LAKE, INDIANA

September 23, 1907, 10:3011:30 a. m.

Sky, clear.

Wind, brisk, wout breeze.

Secchi disk visible at depth of 13 feet.

Meters

Depth in feet

Temp3rature

CARBON DIOXIDE

Oxygen

Free

Bicarb.

Carb.

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
14

13
16.4
19.7
23
26.25
29.5
33
39.4
46
47

68.5
68.7
67.3
64.7
62
57
55.6
49.5

0.5
0.7
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.8
5.3

34.6

5.07
5.1
4.4
3.8
1.8
0.13
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

34.9

35.2
35.9
35.9
37.6
40.7
41.0

7.5
7.5

47.5

CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF THE WATER IN HOLEM LAKE, INDIANA

September 23, 1907, 1:452:30 p. m.

Sky, clear.

Wind, strong, west breeze.

Secchi disk visible at depth of 13 feet.

CARBON DIOXIDE

D^nth in iWt

TVmrwvraturp

Free

Bicarb.

Carb.

1.2

35.5

4.7

16.40

2.0

35.6

4.75

19.68

65.5

6.0

40.6

0.04

10.0

41.0

0.0

18 7

58 8

0.0

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 221

CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF THE WATER IN LAKE MENDOTA, WISCONSIN

Station II, September 18, 1907, 9-11 a. m.
Sky, cloudy; rain.
Winil, light breeze from the south.
Secchi disk visible at depth of 6.5 feet.

CARBON DIOXIDE

TVm nprat nr<

I~W

Free

Bicarb.

Carb.

5.0

28.1

33.1

6.0

16.40

67.6

4.3

5 8

26.25

3.7

29.6

33.3

5.5

32.80

36 00

31 6

33 6

39.36

65.3

32.1

33.6

3.5

45.64

63.5

0.75

33.6

1.8

49.0

3.00

34.9

0.0

52.00

3.50

35.7

0.0

56.00

4.30

35.7

0.0

65.60

5 80

36 4

21Ji

70.5

7 00

37 9

72.2

DEFICIENT IN OXYGEN ONLY FOR A BRIEF PERIOD EACH YEAR

Investigations have shown that Lake Maxinkuckee is deficient
in oxygen only during a period of perhaps two months in the fall.
The reason for this deficiency is a very interesting one and not dif-
ficult to understand. It may be briefly stated as follows: Lake
Maxinkuckee furnishes an environment exceptionally favorable to
the rapid growth and development of a multitude of species of
minute animal and plant life which together constitute the plank-
ton of the lake. These animals and plants, entomostracans and
other minute animals (zoo-plankton), and algaB of many species
(phyto-plankton), literally swarm in the lake, reproducing with
such marvelous rapidity that they would soon fill the lake, convert-
ing it into a thick soup, were it not for the fact that millions upon
millions of individuals die every day, their dead bodies slowly sink-
ing to the bottom of the lake where they slowly oxidize and dis-
integrate. This accumulation of dead plankton goes on during the
spring and summer ; oxidation is doubtless most rapid in later sum-
mer and early fall ; the oxygen required in the process must neces-
sarily come from the supply contained in the water nearest at hand.
This drain upon the absorbed oxygen of the waters in the deeper
parts of the lake must inevitably, sooner or later, exhaust the sup-
ply, and this condition of exhausted or reduced oxygen content
will remain until the winds and storms of late fall and early winter
and temperature changes result in thoroughly mixing the waters

222 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

^f the lake and carrying of oxygen to the deepest parts. In
this manner the entire lake will become fully supplied with oxygen
early in the winter and so remain until the next fall when the
accumulation on the lake bottom of dead animals and plants which
have been showering from the upper layers all spring and summer
again exhausts the supply and the lower strata again become de-
void of oxygen.

This matter has been quite thoroughly worked out on several
lakes by Messrs. Birge and Juday of the University of Wisconsin,
and the importance of the knowledge thus obtained can scarcely be
overestimated.

The important fact disclosed is that the waters of some lakes
at certain periods in the year are practically without oxygen below
certain depths.

As fishes are dependent for the oxygen they require upon the
absorbed oxygen contained in the water it is evident that water
containing no absorbed oxygen cannot support fish life. In order
that a lake may be suitable for the deeper freshwater fishes it is
necessary that the water in the depths shall contain an adequate
supply of absorbed oxygen at all times. A lake may have an
abundant supply of oxygen at all depths for ten or eleven months
of the year, but if the supply is inadequate for one month or even
a briefer period, the deepwater fishes will perish unless, perchance,
they are of species that can adapt themselves to shallower depths.
But few, if any, of our important freshwater fishes possess that
ability. Keeping that fact in mind it is now easily understood why
certain lakes, otherwise suitable, do not contain any deepwater
species such as lake trout, whitefish or lake herring.

During the past 30 years the Federal Government and various
States have spent thousands of dollars in making plants of white-
fish, lake herring and lake trout in lakes many of which we now
know to be deficient in oxygen during at least a portion of the
year. Lake Maxinkuckee is included in this list, four large con-
signments of lake trout having been placed in it in 1890 to 1894.
We now understand why nothing was ever seen of the fish after
they were liberated in the lake.

In the past millions upon millions of fish have been planted in
the lakes and streams of the United States and usually without any
scientific investigation whatever for the purpose of determining
whether the waters were suitable for the fish which it was proposed
to plant in them. The result is that hundreds of thousands of dol-
lars have been spent and millions of fish wasted without any results
of value being obtained.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 223

No stream or lake should be stocked with fish until it has been
carefully studied by a competent biologist and found to possess
the conditions or factors of a favorable environment for the fish
which it is proposed to introduce. Fish culturists should adopt
this principle and adhere to it as an invariable policy. The rule-
of-thumb, cut-and-try method so uniformly followed has brought
no credit to fish culture in America.

ICE

INTRODUCTION

It is not until one has watched the coming of the ice over the
lake several times and during several winters, that he realizes how
much variety there can be in that apparently simple process, and
how far from correct it would be to judge the behavior of the ice
one winter from having seen it during another.

The freezing over of Lost Lake is always about the same. That
body of water, being of comparatively small size and shallow depth,
readily freezes over the first severe night after the whole mass of
water has become chilled down to near the freezing point, and
we usually have a smooth clear sheet of ice spread over its surface
rather early in the winter. This sheet being transparent, does
not greatly alter the appearance of the lake ; indeed, on one occasion
we saw a duck in the middle of this lake on the slippery ice one
evening after it had frozen over, it probably having mistaken the
clear ice for open water.

Lake Maxinkuckee, with its greater area and volume of water,
cools down much more slowly, and usually has ice simply skirting
its edges by the time Lost Lake is completely frozen over. If the
weather continues steadily calm and cold, the lake freezes over
rather quickly, although it usually takes several days even of the
most favorable weather for the lake to freeze entirely over, as its
surface is always more or less disturbed by winds, some pools in
various places toward the center usually persisting open for a few
days. If, on the other hand, the weather in early winter is rough
and windy, the freezing of the lake is much delayed and is a slow
and long continued process full of interesting details, resembling
in many respects the freezing of large lakes, such as Lake Michi-
gan. The winter of 1900-1901 was just such a blustery winter and
gave opportunity to study the ice formation in great detail.

The ice first forms in sheltered calm places and any object that
breaks the wind or tends to calm the water tends to the formation
of a sheet of ice. Thus ice appears early not only along the shore

1517618

224 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

in sheltered bays, but also around any projecting body in the water
a stake, or a patch of bulrushes or pondweeds. Usually the for-
mation of ice proceeds from day to day in a more or less orderly
manner from these nuclei to the middle of th'e lake until the whole
is frozen, but in the above-mentioned winter, the ice sheets formed
in sheltered places during moments of calm.

Our first regular observation of the ice phenomena at Lake
Maxinkuckee began in the fall of 1899. Previous to that time,
however, occasional observations, made and recorded by Mr. S. S.
Chadwick and by Mr. Samuel B. Medbourn of the Medbourn Ice
Company, have been kindly communicated to us by those gentle-
men.

The remarkable clearness and purity of the water of Lake Max-
inkuckee and the thickness to which the ice freezes, give a very
high quality to the ice made from it, and Lake Maxinkuckee ice
has always had an enviable reputation for purity and enduring
qualities.

The operations required in taking out the vast quantities of ice
each winter keep a changing portion of the lake on the west side
more or less open for brief intervals in different places, and this
has its effect on the plant and animal life of the lake.

Our original plans contemplated a careful study of the ice in all
its* more important relations to the various species of animals and
plants inhabiting the lake, but lack of time prevented such study
of many of the phenomena as the importance of the subject justi-
fied.

The grounds of the Culver Military Academy skirt the northern shore of Lake Maxinkuckee, covering
a tract of 500 acres.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 225

The ice phenomena of the lake, including the formation, thaw-
ing, expansion and contraction, forming of ice-beaches and so on,
present more or less variety from year to year. In the two years
the phenomena were studied there was a wide difference in them,
so that different details confidently looked for from previous ex-
perience were surprisingly discounted.

Every year, the small body, Lost Lake, freezes over much sooner
than the larger lake, and usually freezes over as a smooth sheet of
ice, in a single night.

During the winter of 1900-1901, cold weather came on rather
suddenly and the weather was rough and windy, so that, though
the surface water became quite cold, the wind kept it from freez-
ing except in the form of ice-needles which drifted up at first on
the shore in high, conical snow-white masses, which at a distance
looked like frozen foam, but which revealed on closer examination
an entirely different structure from foam. The surface of the
water near shore on the windward side of the lake, was covered
with slush ice, composed of long needle-shaped crystals, which, as
they were jostled together by the choppy waves, made a cheerful
musical sound, like the rustling of dried hay. At other times during
momentary bits of calm, or in protected bays, a thin sheet of clear
solid ice would be put out from shore, soon to be broken into bits
by the wind. These, constantly moved among each other by the
waves, produced a musical continuous clinking, like glasses struck
together, or at other times larger masses in more violent motion
produced a far-heard rumbling like a heavy farm wagon rattling
along a road. The bits of ice blown up against the shore gouged
the shore considerably and shoved considerable sand before them
in places, although finally the result of such gouging was neither
conspicuous nor permanent.

As to the final freezing over of the lake, in 1900-1901, the first
stage from shore was formed by the needle-shaped crystals already
mentioned, these forming concretions around centers, making cir-
cular patches from about the size of a dinner plate to several feet
across, and these finally drifted together and the becalmed water
of the interstices froze, thus cementing the whole together into a
solid mass.

From this time on, during moments of comparative calm,
stretches of rather smooth clear ice would form out toward the
center of the lake, the inner margin of which would soon be more
or less chopped up and broken by waves during more windy pe-
riods, and then would occur another advantage of calm and cold,
another concentric ring of ice would be formed, another attack of

226 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

storm and wind on the weak-edged with a line of chopped ice, so
that finally the limit of each freezing period was marked by a ring
of choppy ice, and the stages of freezing could be counted, like
the growth-rings of a tree as seen on a stump. Apparently a sud-
den coming on of cold reduces the surface temperature greatly
without allowing much chance for convection and the water under
the ice continues tolerably warm all winter. The large lake was
very slow in freezing over, and a few holes remained open quite
late, being kept open by winds and by the flocks of ducks which
congregated there in great numbers.

Ice on Lake Maxinkuckee: The earliest appearance of ice as
noted in our records was on October 12, 1907, when ice was ob-
served on boards in low places. This was evidently merely frozen
dew. On the 22d, ice was seen on Green's marsh and on the boat
slip at Outlet Bay. This was observed again on the 23d, 27th, 28th
and 29th. In 1906, on October 31, ice was seen in a leaky boat and
along the south shore in shallow quiet water. These are our only
October records.

For November, in 1899, the first ice was noted on the 12th,
when it remained all day in favorable places. In November, 1900,
there was a thin fringe along the shore on the 14th, and on the
16th it was frozen out from shore about 4 feet. On the 30th there
was a fringe along the south shore, i to ^ inch thick and extending
out usually 10 to 30 feet. Just west of Norris Inlet two broad
points ran out about 200 feet. From this and subsequent obser-
vations it is believed that it is on that part of the lake that perma-
nent ice first forms. In 1902, the first freeze was on November
25. In 1904, ice was first noted on November 6, and on the llth
and 21st there was some along the south shore of Outlet Bay, re-
maining in the boat slip all day. On the 13th, 14th and 16th it
was on the boat slip all day; on the 17th there was a thin skirt
along the shore, and a little appeared each morning thereafter until
the 27th when there was a good deal off the ice houses and in simi-
lar situations. On the 28th ice skirted the shore pretty generally,
but not far out. In 1898, in December, the ice was one inch thick
all over the lake except at the Deep Hole ; on the 8th and 9th it was
all over the lake and 3 inches thick, and on the 14th it was frozen
solid and 7.5 inches thick.

In 1899, in December, it was 1.25 inches thick on the 26th along
shore. In December, 1900, on the 10th ice extended out about 50
feet from the end of the Chadwick pier, and about 200 feet out
on east side of Long Point. At many places there was only a
narrow irregular fringe, with occasional air holes. In places the

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 227

ice was choppy. On the llth snow covered the ice which was
grinding and tolerably loud at the south end. On the 12th there
was considerable ice, particularly in Outlet Bay and off the ice-
houses where it extended out in long sharp points, an unusually
long sharp blade extended off Long Point to the northeast. There
was a broad fringe along the east side of Long Point and large ice
islands around stakes in Outlet Bay and southeast of Shady Point
cottage. A brisk wind ground up all the ice except that near the
shore north of Long Point, the breaking up being accompanied by
considerable rattling and clinking. Ice-chips, small and clear, were
thrown up on the north shore near the railroad station with a great
roar. By noon all the ice in front of Shady Point cottage had dis-
appeared. Before breaking up the ice was I inch thick at the shore
and inch thick at end of pier at Shady Point.

The next day a peculiar slush ice formed in front of Shady
Point, consisting of circular or oval discs of needle-shaped crystals
drifting together and freezing. On the 15th this ice, very rough
but weak, extended out more than 100 feet. By the 19th the lake
was frozen entirely over except a considerable area in the center
and extending well toward the south end.

On the 20th the lake was frozen nearly all over only a con-
siderable pond in the middle. The ice all around the lake, espe-
cially on the west side, was very rough, and would hold one up
only 60 to 70 feet out. There was a great deal of clear drift ice,
the thickness of window glass, piled up along the east shore. It
plowed and heaped up the sand a good deal, making a small ice-
ridge. This was not caused by expansion but by the ice being
blown up against the sand.

On the 21st the ice was pretty solid out for some distance. The
only open water was in parallel north and south strips near the
center. In Outlet Bay one could walk out about 400 to 500 feet,
but the ice was weak on the east side of Long Point.

On the 22d there was a good deal of water on the ice, and the
open spaces enlarged appreciably. On the 23d a strong wind
began breaking the ice and piling it up on shore at Culver Bay on
the 24th.

On the 28th the lake was again frozen irregularly, with open
spaces toward the center. One could walk out in front of the
Gravelpit about 600 feet. At one place one could walk within a
foot of the open water, so strong was the ice. On the 29th the ice
was moving and jamming up some against the shore. At night it
was somewhat noisy. In 1901, the first record in December re-
garding the condition of the ice was made on the 15th, to the effect

228 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

that the lake was frozen nearly over. On the 16th the ice was 3
inches thick ; on the 18th, 4.5 inches ; the 19th, 5.5 to 6 inches, and
entirely frozen over; the 20th, 6 inches; the 21st, 7 inches; the
22d, 8.5 inches ; and the 23d, 9 inches. On the 24th it began melt-
ing and by the 31st was only 8 inches thick. In 1902, the only
December records are for the 10th, the lake freezing, and the 14th,
when the air at 6 p.m. was 20, Lost Lake frozen over, but Lake
Maxinkuckee still open. In 1904 there are several December rec-
ords. On the 1st to 3d, the lake was rough and ice cakes were
forming. On the 4th and 5th considerable stretches along the
shore were frozen, but none along the north shore. On the 6th it
was drifting up on the east side and on the 8th it softened and
melted some, though it was strong enough to bear up in Outlet Bay.
On the 9th it was torn up by waves at the south end. On the 10th
Outlet Bay was firm enough to walk over, and by the 13th the lake
was all frozen over except several scattered pools filled with ducks
and coots. On the 14th, only three or four long open pools left,
and these were filled mostly with coots, only a few ducks being left.
The ice was clear, only one-half inch thick some distance from
shore. On the 15th all the lake except two small pools was frozen
over. These pools were full of coots which no doubt helped to keep
them open. There were many cracks in Outlet Bay. On the 16th
only one pool was left open. The next day the ice company had
teams on the lake, scraping the snow off the ice, which was 5 inches
thick. On the 18th the last open pool closed. The heavy snow on
the ice weighed it down and forced a good deal of water to come
up through a large crack that ran from Long Point southeast. On
the 21st the ice was cracking and pushing up the shore at Long
Point. On the 23d the ice was rotten and melted a good deal;
there were many small air holes, and on the 25th there were many
open places north and east of Long Point.

We have one record for January, 1893. On the 5th the lake
was frozen over 9 inches thick except in a few air holes and cracks
caused by expanding ice. In January, 1899, the ice was 8 inches
thick on the 1st, 9 on the 8th, 10 on the 29th, 10.5 on the 30th
and 11 on the 31st. In January, 1900, it was 7 inches thick on
the 1st, 8 on the 2d, 9 on the 3d, 9.25 on the 4th, 7 on the 12th, 6
on the 16th and 17th, 7J near the ice-houses, 8 at the Norris pier
and 4.5 in front of Shady Point on the 21st and very rotten, 6 on
the 30th, and 8 on the 31st. On the first there were several cracks,
one running off from Murray's, one off mouth of Aubeenaubee
Creek, one from ice-houses to Lakeview hotel, one from the ice-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 229

houses to Long Point, and one from Long Point northeast, this last
being cooped up like the roof on a house.

There was a large crack from the south end of the lake near
the Farrar cottage northward to the shore near the Academy along
which the ice buckled up and then fell back by overlapping, a phe-
nomenon which old residents had never observed before. On the
22d the lake was open in deep water and on the 24th the ice was
breaking up.

In 1901, on January 1, it was cold and the ice grew very fast;
on the 2d the lake was frozen over except one pool near the Deep
Hole. Teams were cleaning snow off the ice near the ice-houses. On
the 3d the pool was still open; this was between Long Point and
the McOuat cottage and was only 18 or 20 feet in diameter. The
ice was "cracking" a good deal all day and shoving up on shore and
booming and rumbling at night. On the 6th there were 3 or 4
inches of water on the ice and again on the 8th when the ice was
full of holes; on the 9th it was dry and clear; on the 10th it was
getting rotten and breaking into cakes and by the 12th it was
unsafe, but was firmer on the 13th ; rotted again on the 14th, but on
the 15th again became firm and showed beautiful mosaics. It sang
much and loudly nearly all morning, but rotted in the afternoon.
On the 18th it was 4| inches thick, solid and singing much. On
the 19th it was 7.5 inches thick at the ice-houses. There was
much noise, a sort of groaning, at night, and many new cracks were
noted the next morning. On the 21st the ice was very rotten, and
at night a good deal of noise, ringing sharp cracks as if the ice
were giving and falling. On the 23d it melted a good deal on top,
and was about 5 inches thick. On the 27th the big hole was still
open ; on the 28th it was 5.5 to 7 inches thick on the east side, but
weak. On the 29th, 7.75 to 8 inches thick and covered with water
in some places.

The January record for 1902 is brief. The ice was 8.5 inches
thick on the 1st, 9 on the 3d, 10 on the 6th, 11.5 on the 16th, 12 on
the 17th and 18th, 12.5 on the 20th, 13 on the 21st, 14 on the 27th
and 28th, and 15 on the 31st. The lake was very low. On the
27th the ice was shoving up some on the north and east shores but
not much on the west side.

In January, 1903, the ice was 5 inches thick on the 7th, 10 on
the 12th, 12 on the 19th, and 13 on the 23d. The ice company
began to put up ice on the 13th.

In January, 1905, the records are few. On the first, the ice
was rotten and rapidly disappearing, and there was a large hole

230 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

near the center of the lake. On the 2d, it was nearly all gone east
of Long Point and south to Murray's, but Outlet Bay was still cov-
ered. On the 4th the lake was again pretty well frozen over, it
having grown cold on the 2d and 3d.

In January, 1906, the lake was not frozen over on the first.
Later it froze over but ice was all gone by the 22d, following a
week of rain.

Our first February records are for 1899, when the ice was 11.5
inches thick on the 1st, 12 on the 2d to 7th, 13 on the 8th, 16 on
the 10th, 18 on the 13th, and 15 on the 27th. The next are for
1901. On the 1st the ice was groaning some; on the 4th and 5th
it was much sunken by 8.5 inches of snow on it ; on the 8th it was
groaning again; on the 9th it was still sagging and covered with
water in many places ; on the 20th it was somewhat noisy and much
flooded in the middle ; covered with slush on the 23d and still sink-
ing on the 24th; on the 25th much slush and ice groaning a good
deal, continuing for the next two days. There was much noise
again on the 28th, continuing all day.

In 1902, on February 4th the ice was about 18 inches thick;
17 inches on the 6th and 18 on the 21st. On the 25th the ice began
to get dark where the snow had blown off, and in some places slush
snow covered it.

In 1903, the ice was 8 to 10 inches thick on February 15, but it
had been about 14 inches thick.

In 1906, on February 14, the lake was frozen over, the ice 4 to
6 inches thick, and the ice cutting beginning.

Our March records begin with 1899, when the ice was 10 inches
thick on the llth. On the 12th there was a high west wind driving
the ice out from the west shore and piling it up 10 feet high on
the east side. On the 22d the ice was rotten; by the 25th it had
become so honeycombed that it practically all went off the lake,
piling up high on shore in various places; on Long Point it was
about 10 feet high, but did no damage.

In 1900, on March 1, the ice was 12 inches thick and 16 inches
on the 19th. On the 22d it was open near the center of the lake.
On the 25th the ice began to break up, drifting to west and north-
west shores, and by 6 p. m. it was all gone.

In 1901, on March 3, the ice was free from snow and there was
some water on the surface. On the 4th the air holes that were
present on the 3d froze up. On the 6th there was a long crack
along the west shore and on the 7th the ice was heaving and push-
ing on the shore on the east side. On the 8th and 9th it was
quite soft and flooded; on the llth very rotten around the edges,

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 231

tightening up again at night, and alternating weak and firm until
the 25th when it all disappeared, simply breaking up and melting
without piling on shore.

In 1902, the only records for March are: On the night of the
12th the ice moved southeast and piled up 10 feet high on the north-
west side of Long Point, and about as high on the east shore at th'e
Edwards cottage. All the west side was open on the 13th. On the
13th the ice left the lake with a southeast wind which piled it on
shore at the depot grounds and east to the Palmer House. On
the 18th some ice had frozen and piled up some on shore.

In 1903, in March, the 13th was the first warm, calm day of
spring, and the ice went off very fast ; all gone from Outlet Bay by
6 p.m., and all gone from shore from there to depot. The next
day the wind shifted to the south and piled the ice 6 feet high at the
tip of Long Point. On the 15th the wind shifted to the northeast
and drove the ice into Outlet Bay and along the west shore, but
doing no harm. That portion of the lake north of a line from the
tip of Long Point to the Edwards cottage and east of a line from
the tip of Long Point to the Assembly grounds was free of ice.
Then the wind shifted again to the south and drove all the ice to the
north end of the lake. By 6 p. m. the ice was all gone. As the ice
was very thin no harm was done. Air at 3 p.m. 70. On March
29 there was some ice again.

In 1905, in March, on the 25th, ice covered about three-fourths
of the lake. The surface was very much decayed and broken. It
went off rapidly all day and by the evening of the 26th there was
only a little left in Culver Bay.

In 1907, the ice left the lake on March 17. Several days of
warm rain had rotted it thoroughly and a strong southwest wind
on the 16th set it in motion, broke it up, and drove it toward the
northeast part of the lake, where it melted.

In 1908, the ice left the lake March 13, the day being very warm
and the frogs singing.

In 1910, on March 1, it turned warm, and there was no snow
or rain thereafter. On March 22 the ice left the lake. It was
20 inches thick and just rotted out. It did not drift much and no
harm was done. It opened as usual on the west side from the
Outlet to the depot. Air about 60.

There are only a few ice records for April. The senior author
spent April 6 and 7, 1885, at the lake, and recorded the fact that
the ice was still on the lake, with a narrow strip open around the
edges, especially along the south shore and at the inlet mouths.

In 1900, on April 1, the ice moved north; on the 3d it moved

232 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

southeast and piled high on shore ; on the 5th it moved south ; and
it was all gone by the 6th. The 7th was the first pleasant day
of the season, although it snowed some; it had been cold, with an
east wind for a week.

In 1901, on April 1, there was some old ice and new ice had
formed on the pools the previous night. On the 4th overflow water
was frozen, and there was ice on the pools on the 9th. Even on
the 19th and 20th there was ice on the pools.

In 1913, the ground was frozen on April 23, and on May 2 the
ground and pools were frozen.

Ice on Lost Lake: Considerable attention was paid to ice con-
ditions on the small lake and the results are here given, in the
thought that comparisons between the two lakes may prove in-
structive.

Ice was observed on Lost Lake in each month from October to
April, both inclusive. In October, 1904, a little ice was noted on
the 23d and 28th.

In November, 1899, a narrow fringe was seen about the edge
of the lake. In 1900, ice froze about 4 to 7 feet out from shore
just above the Bardsley cottage on the 14th, and on the 16th the
lake was frozen over but not strong enough to bear one up. In
front of the Bardsley cottage it was to 2^ inches thick, but was
thinner elsewhere. On the night of the 17th the ice went off, but
the lake was nearly frozen over again by the 27th. In November,
1904, there was a narrow fringe of ice around the lake, most of
which had disappeared by the 13th. On the 28th the lake was more
than half frozen over with ice strong enough to permit one to walk
out a short distance. On November 14, 1906, the lake was frozen
nearly over.

In December, 1899, Lost Lake was frozen over on December 6,
but the ice left the lake on the llth after 24 hours of rain. It
froze again on the 15th. In 1900, it was frozen entirely over on
the 10th when the ice was 1 inch thick and would bear up some dis-
tance out. Near shore the ice was choppy in places. On the llth
it was strong enough for skating. On the 12th it was 2 13/16
inches thick 30 feet from shore, and did not crack when walked
across. The next day it was 3 inches thick, and loud noises were
caused by the expansion in the forenoon. On the 17th the ice was
about 5 inches thick and beautifully stratified. On the 19th thin
ice had frozen on top of the other, from flooded water. On the
23d the wind tore up the ice at the south end. There were many
large bubbles under the ice nearly everywhere, evidently blown
under by the wind. The ice was dry on top and apparently solid.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 233

On the 28th the ice was frozen irregularly, with numerous air
holes.

In December, 1901, the lake was frozen over on the llth, and
solid on the 19th, the ice being 6 inches thick. In December, 1902,
Lost Lake was frozen entirely over on the 14th.

In December, 1904, Lost Lake was frozen over on the first, the
ice being quite opaque. On the 2d it was 1 inches thick and would
bear up, but cracked some on the west side where it was not so
thick. On the 3d the Outlet was partly frozen below the railroad
bridge. On the 9th the stream below the lake was pretty well
open.

In January, 1901, Lost Lake was solid on the first and 2d; on
the 3d the ice was 10 inches thick and contained 9 planes of bub-
bles, one of which, 5.5 from the bottom, seemed to divide the whit-
ish upper ice from the lower clearer layer. On the 10th the ice
was 8 inches thick and men were cutting it; on the 18th it was
9 inches and showed a hexagonal structure. On the 19th Lost Lake
was open at the north end and remained so for several days. On
the 20th all the stream below the lake was open.

We have no February records.

In March, 1901, Lost Lake was all open on the 25th, but it was
almost frozen over again by the 29th.

In March, 1902, the lake was nearly open on the 13th but frozen
over again on the 18th.

THICKNESS OF ICE ON LAKE MAXINKUCKEE AT VARIOUS DATES

Date

Thickness in
inches

Remarks

1893

Jan. 5

1QQQ

Entirely covering lake except a few air holes and cracks.

lovo

Dec. 8

Over entire lake except the Deep Hole.

Over entire lake.

7.5

1899

Jan. 1

10.5

Feb. 1

11.5

Mar 11

121

High west wind drove ice out from west shore and piled it up 10 feet high or

22/

east side. Ice dangerous.

234 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

THICKNESS OF ICE ON LAKE MAXINKUCKEE AT VARIOUS DATES Continued

Date

1,99
Mar. 25

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

6
11
15
26
27
28
29
30
31
1900

4
10
12
16
17
21
22
24
30
31

3
15
16
17
18
19

Mar.

19
22

April 1

Nov. 14

16
18
27
30

Dec. 10
10
12

14
17
17
19

20
21

Thickness in
inches

1.25

4.5

5.5

7
8
9
9.25

5.8

4.5

Remarks

Ice left lake, it having become honeycombed, piling up in various places 10

feet high on Long Point, but doing no damage.
Little Maxinkuckee frozen over.
Ice went off of Litt'? Maxinkuckee.
Little Maxinkuckee frozen over again.
On Little Maxinkuckee near shore.

Deep water still open.

4 inches on Lake Maxinkuckee and 8 inches on Little Maxinkuckee.

Very rotten.

Ice rotten.

Ice open in deep water.

Ice breaking up.

6
8
9
11
11
6
6
7
8

8.5
12
16

Ice open near the Split Rock.
Ice moving north.

Ice moves southeast and piles up high on shore.
Ice all gone except where piled up on south shore.
Ice all gone.

Coldest day of season, so far, 16. Ice 1.5 in shallow water; Little Maxin-
kuckee frozen 4 to 7 feet from shore.

Little Maxinkuckee frozen over; frozen out on Maxinkuckee 4 feet from shore.
Ice went off Little Maxinkuckee.
Little Maxinkuckee again frozen over.
Thin ice started around shore.

Little Maxinkuckee frozen entirely over, 1 inch thick.
Ice extending out 200 feet from shore on Maxinkuckee.
2 13-16 Most of the ice broken up. Ice on Little Maxinkuckee strong enough to bear

one.

3 On Little Maxinkuckee.

Outlet nearly frozen over.
A broad fringe of ice around shore.

About '/g inch of water on top of ice on Little Maxinkuckee.
Lake frozen over except a large area in center and extending toward south

end. Outlet Bay all frozen over.
Open area still present.
Lake frozen nearly all over.
Water covering ice, and open area increasing.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 235

THICKNESS OF ICE ON LAKE MAXINKUCKEE AT VARIOUS DATES Continued

Date

Thickness in
inches

Remarks

1900

Dec. 23

Much of the ice disappeared.

Ice cracking.

1901

Jan. 1

Ice extending over lake very fast.

1902

Jan. 27

Ice company has filled all its houses.

Feb. 4

Dec. 26

Lake frozen over.

Patrolman made first trip over ice

1903

Jan. 7

Ice-men began to put up ice.

1901

Dec. 28

Ice heaved up some.

1905

Feb. 20

Best ice ever harvested; has been good in all places,

and 10 to 18 to 24 inches

thick.

1909

Feb. 17

2 1 A

Snow 12 inches deep; ice all over trees and bushes, many trees broken down.

Thickest ice this winter about 9 inches and the ice-men got about half a

crop; lake frozen over four different times.

1911

Nov. 18

Lake open from Long Point to Palmer House, wind in the north. i> vrv

thin and rotten. Air 38. Rained all night and

wind shifted from south-

east to north at 6 p. m.

1914

Feb. 15

Air at zero in morning.

CONDITIONS OF ICE ON LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

Year

When first
noted

When lake
practically
froze over.

Thickness

MAXIMUM THICKNESS

When went
off.

Date

Thickness

1883
1893
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1901
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914

22
9
7.5
18
16

January 5
December 9

9
3

January 5
December 14
February 13
March 19

November 12
November 14

March 25
March 25
March 25
March 15
March 15

December 20
December 16

November 25

February 4

November 6

December 15

February 20

March 26

October 31
October 12

March 17
March 13
March 3
March 22
March 12
April 6
March 14
March 27

13
14

February 23

236 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

BIOLOGY
INTRODUCTION

More attention was naturally given to the biology of the lake
than to the physical features. The scope of the investigations as
originally planned contemplated as careful study of the vertebrate
animals of the lake as time and facilities at command would per-
mit. It soon became evident however, that no very satisfactory
progress could be made with those groups without consideration
of the plants and the various groups of invertebrate animals of
the lake. It also became increasingly evident as the work pro-
gressed that no hard and fast line could be drawn between the
species directly related to the lake and those only indirectly so
related. This fact was strongly impressed upon us when we came
to study the habits of the mammals, reptiles, batrachians, and birds
of the lake and vicinity, and the distribution of the trees and
shrubs and other shore vegetation in their relation to the various
species of insects upon which fishes and other aquatic animals
feed. Many illustrations could be given of the ways in which
various species of purely land animals and plants are related eco-
logically to purely aquatic species inhabiting the lake. A few
examples may be mentioned. One might think that the common
house mouse and field mouse bear no relation to the life of the lake ;
but we have found both in the stomachs of large-mouth black bass.
We have found the raccoon feeding on the mussels of the lake. The
larvaB of certain species of dipterous insects of the genus
Ghironomus, are exceedingly abundant in the lake and constitute
a very important part of the food of the fishes, also of several
species of birds such as the various snipes, plovers, phalaropes, and
even of rusty blackbirds, red-winged blackbirds, and crow black-
birds. And in September and October, when these larvae com-
plete their metamorphoses and the air and the trees along the
shore about the lake become filled in the evening and on quiet days
with vast swarms of the large mosquito-like insects, making the
evening vocal with the constant humming of the millions on the
wing, they then are fed upon by various species of birds, among
which have been observed nighthawks, swallows, yellow-billed
cuckoos, yellow-rumped warblers, and even red-headed woodpeck-
ers and song sparrows. But the story does not end here. After
the nuptial flight has been made, these insects, myriads upon
myriads in number, and all about the lake, return to the surface
of the water upon which they lay their eggs, and there fall a prey
to various species of fishes from the tiny top minnow to the blue-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 237

gill, yellow perch, and large-mouth black bass. And the eggs laid
by those which succeed in escaping all their enemies furnish enor-
mous quantities of food to the multitude of little fishes hatched
during the previous summer, while the eggs that escape, hatch
sooner or later, and in their new form as Chironomus larvae, sup-
ply even greater quantities of delicious food to the fishes of a some-
what larger growth, and also to the turtles and young water-dogs
in the water and to various species of birds which feed along the
beach. But even this is not all the story. The millions of
Chironomi, after having accomplished their only purpose in life by
laying billions upon billions of eggs, die, and their dead bodies,
falling upon the surface of the lake or upon the land, are eaten by
the fishes, birds, and small insectivores.

One more illustration must suffice. When we came to study
the shore vegetation we were struck by the number of trees, shrubs
and other plants growing on the immediate lake shore, so close to
the lake that their branches overhang the water more or less. The
total number of species was not fewer than 50. Insects and in-
sect eggs and larvae were observed on a great many of these trees,
shrubs and herbaceous plants; doubtless every species is fed upon
or is the home of one or more species of insects. These insects
fall upon or are blown out upon the water now and then. Many
of them lay their eggs upon the leaves and these may fall off and
into the water, carrying the eggs with them.

The eggs that hatch produce caterpillars and other larvae
which feed upon the leaves of the plant, and many, while feeding,
drop into the water where, along with the adults and eggs that had
fallen in, they become a prey of the fishes. This is one reason
why many fishes come in near shore in the evening and at night;
they are attracted there by the abundant and varied fish-food con-
tributed to the lake by the plants along the shore.

With interesting and important inter-relations such as these
constantly forcing themselves upon our attention, the evidently
proper thing to do was to make our study of the lake sufficiently
comprehensive to include all such problems as fully as possible;
and this we have done. We therefore endeavored to make such
observations as time would permit, not only of the physical features
of the lake and immediately surrounding country, but also of most
of the groups of animals and plants in and about the lake of which
any of us possessed any knowledge. Unfortunately, and very
naturally, our acquaintance with some groups was very limited
indeed, and concerning those we are able to contribute little or
nothing.

238 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

While considerable time has been devoted to the study of this
lake, and while the amount of knowledge and information now pos-
sessed and made available regarding it is probably greater than
that possessed regarding any other lake in the world, there are
many gaps in the record, many of them large and important. No
one can realize this more fully or regret it more keenly than the
writers. Nor can any one realize more fully than they the in-
completeness and inadequacy of many of the observations, and how
desirable it would be to have them repeatedly verified.

A word of explanation regarding the arrangement of subjects
in the following pages is perhaps necessary. As the investigations
upon which this report has been based were made primarily in
the interest of fish-culture, more attention was necessarily paid
to the fishes than to any other group; in fact, such studies as
were made of other animals and of the plants were made only
because it was believed such investigations would contribute some
knowledge of value to the main purpose in view.

In view of this fact we thought it best not to adhere too closely
to a strictly systematic zoological and botanical arrangement of
the various subjects. We have treated the fishes first, and the
other groups have been presented in the order which we believe
best for the objects in view.

The various species considered have been presented from the
natural history point of view rather than from that of the sys-
tematist. We have even emphasized this thought by giving un-
usual prominence to the common or vernacular names by making
the scientific or binomial names subordinate to them, and by
making the text as non-technical as seemed necessary. It is hoped
and believed this treatment will contribute materially to the use
and value of the publication.

THE FISHES

INTRODUCTION

During the investigations at Lake Maxinkuckee, very naturally
more attention was given to the fishes than to anything else. It
was desired to Jmow not only what species are represented in the
local fauna but an effort was made to study each species from
many points of view. Observations were therefore made regard-
ing the abundance, distribution, breeding and feeding habits, pe-
riod and rate of growth, age, and size at different ages, parasites,
diseases, enemies, relation to other species, food value, commercial
importance, importance to the angler, seasons and methods of cap-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 239

ture and places where found, and many other problems the study
of which was necessary to a full understanding of the life history
of the species. Field observations and collecting were carried on
in all available and possible places, in all sorts of weather, at all
times of day and night, and at all seasons of the year, chiefly, how-
ever, in the summer and fall months.

METHODS OF COLLECTING

Seining: Seine collecting was, of course, the method most fre-
quently used and the one yielding the largest collections and re-
sults. The seines used were Baird collecting seines. When the
physical conditions permitted a 45-foot seine was used; where the
character of the bottom or any other factor prevented the success-
ful use of so long a seine, a shorter one was used sometimes one
15 feet long, at other times one 25 feet in length, and occasionally
seines 20, 35, and 150 feet were used. Seining operations were
begun July 5, 1899, the initial point being in front of the Duen-
weg cottage (now known as "Shady Point"), which is on the
lake shore just in front of the Arlington station. This cottage was
rented by the Fish Commission and used as headquarters by the
field party from July, 1899, to July, 1901. (See p. 34.)

From the Duenweg cottage as the starting point the seining pro-
ceeded southward along the west shore, eastward across the south
part of the lake, then northward along the east side, and on around
to the place of beginning. Each succeeding haul began where
the preceding one ended, thus every yard of seinable water near
shore was covered. Each haul of the seine was called a station and
the hauls or stations were numbered consecutively beginning with
No. 1. The following data were recorded for each station : Num-
ber of station, location, length of seine, date (including hour), con-
dition of sky, direction and strength of wind, temperature of air,
temperature of water, maximum depth of water, character of bot-
tom, vegetation as to character and extent, species of fishes caught
and number of each, species of other animals caught (as turtles,
batrachians, crustaceans, mollusks, etc.), and the number of each.
Only a sufficient number of specimens of each species were pre-
served for future study ; all others were returned to the water after
being counted and their sizes and other readily observable char-
acters determined. After some little experience in measuring the
fishes we were able to estimate their lengths quite accurately.
During the first part of July the entire circuit of the lake was
made; and. this was repeated during the corresponding part of

! (> ' i (>' G

240 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

August and again in September. The principal objects in repeat-
ing the work were to secure data on rate of growth, change in dis-
tribution, abundance, habits, spawning condition, food, etc. A
brief summary of the seining operations and results follows:

July 5, 1:45 to 3:18 p. m. Stations 1 to 11, from Duenweg
cottage southward to Murray's; seine, 45 feet. Sky cloudy; no
breeze; air 74; water 76 to 78.5. All these hauls were made
over a sandy bottom, thinly coated with marl in places, covered
more or less with mussels (mostly dead), dead Vivipara con-
tectoides, and two species of live gastropods which fasten to rocks
and other objects. The bottom nearly everywhere was covered
with a good growth of Chara, not tall but enough to cause the
seine to roll a good deal. There was also a considerable growth of
algee, and except in the first four or five hauls, there was a fringe
of tall Scirpus (S. americanus near shore and S. validus further
out), 20 to 40 feet wide and in water up to 18 inches in depth.
Catch: Log perch, many; yellow perch, 69; bluegill, about 50;
grayback minnow, 10 ; rock bass, 8 ; straw bass, 9, mostly young ;
small-mouth black bass, 7, young ; straw-colored minnow, 4 ; pump-
kinseed, 2; skipjack, 1; and blunt-nosed minnow, 1.

The majority of the bass were young-of-the-year, each about
one inch long. The sunfish and perch were also small, and mostly
one year old.

July 6, 2 : 48 to 5 p. m. Stations 12 to 29, from Murray's to 15
yards west of Farrar's pier; seine, 45 feet. Air 76; water 77
to 79.5. Bottom of sand and fine gravel with thin coating of
marl in some places, covered with a good growth of Scirpus to the
westward, but rare near Farrar's. This of course interfered with
hauling the seine. Catch : Bluegill, 1,227 ; small-mouth black
bass, 23; yellow perch, 30; log perch, many; skipjack, 27; blunt-
nosed minnow, 11; grayback minnow, 2; pumpkinseed, 2; Iowa
darter, 1; straw-colored minnow, 1. The bluegill was by far the
most abundant species, the Scirpus patches literally swarming with
them. They were nearly all young-of-the-year or of the preceding
year. Crawfishes, mussels, gastropods and algse were fairly com-
mon.

July 7, 1:40 to 4:03 p.m. Stations 30 to 52, from Farrar's
pier eastward to the high wooded shore on southeast part of lake on
Easterday's place; 45- and 15-foot seines used. Air 74 ; water
76. Bottom sandy with slight admixture of gravel to the west-
ward with more or less mud or marl overgrown with Potamogeton,
Scirpus and Chara in the last eight or ten hauls. A considerable
bed of mussels off the McDonald cottage, and many gastropods.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 241

Catch: Yellow perch, about 150; straw bass, 95; bluegill,
about 200; small-mouth black bass, 36; grayback minnow, 113;
skipjack, 13; straw-colored minnow, 12; log perch, 9; blunt-nosed
minnow, 29 ; Notropis heterodon, 1 ; rock bass, 8 ; Johnny darter,
10 ; Iowa darter, 6 ; pumpkinseed, several ; long-nosed gar, 6 ; creek
chub, 2.

July 8, 1 :40 to 3 :00 p. m. Stations 53 to 71, beginning at sta-
tion 11 and working north to Arlington station ; 15-foot seine. Air
about 73 ; water 76 to 78. Hauls all in shallow water, near
shore, and most productive where bottom was free from Scirpus.

Catch: Yellow perch, 185; straw bass, 121; skipjack about
500 ; grayback minnow, 209 ; Johnny darter, 61 ; small-mouth black
bass, 36; Notropis heterodon, 21; log perch, 33; Iowa darter, 13;
rock bass, 2 ; bluegill, 24 ; straw-colored minnow, 1 ; in the last
five or six hauls the skipjack was quite abundant, most of the indi-
viduals being young-of-the year.

July 10, 1 :05 to 4 :05 p. m. Stations 72 to 90, in southeast part
of lake at station 52 and proceeding east and north to Norris's
pier, omitting about 200 yards at mouth of Norris Inlet where the
softness of the bottom made seining impossible. The bottom at
the first stations was sandy with some slight growth of Potamog-
eton in places. Nearing the Inlet the bottom becomes more and
more composed of decaying vegetable matter and very soft, until
finally for a few rods adjacent to the Norris Inlet on either side
it is too soft for seining operations. Near the Norris Inlet the
bottom was full of deeper mud holes 3 to 10 feet in diameter.
Here also occur small patches of lily-pads mostly Nympha3a, but a
few Castalia. The 15-foot seine was at first used, then a 45-foot
seine was utilized. At station 82 near the little green boathouse
40 gar-pike (Lepisosteus osseus) were secured. Depth 6 feet or
less; air temperature 80 ; water temperature 78 to 82.

Catch : Bluegill, about 400 ; yellow perch, 269 ; grayback min-
now, 101 ; straw bass, 102 ; long-nose gar, 41 ; blunt-nose minnow,
40 ; log perch, 14 ; skipjack, many young ; pumpkinseed, 14 ; small-
mouth black bass, 9; straw-colored minnow, 23; rock-bass, 5; yel-
low cat, 1 ; Johnny darter, 9; brook stickleback, 1 ; mad torn, 1.

Young skipjacks were taken in great numbers at stations 76,
77 and 78, but only a few in any other hauls. Yellow perch were
usually abundant at every station, especially at No. 80. Bluegills
were common in nearly every haul, especially at No. 79.

There were added to the list in this series of hauls three species
which had not been previously taken, namely, the yellow cat (sta-
tion 77) ; mad torn (station 81), and the stickleback (station 89).

242 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

July 11, 2:00 to 4:45 p.m. Stations 91 to 110. Air 84;
water 81 to 84; sky cloudy, showery late in evening; depth 3
feet and under; 45-foot seine. Began at Norris's pier and pro-
ceeded up the east side to the McOuat cottage. For most of this
distance the bottom is of sand and fine gravel, usually covered with
a matting of Chara. In many places, stones, old tin cans, broken
bottles and the like made seining difficult.

Catch: Bluegill, 925; log perch, 190; skipjack, very many;
small-mouth bass, 40 ; straw bass, 17 ; yellow perch, 101 ; rock bass,
45; grayback minnow, 17; pumpkinseed, 4; yellow cat, 1; silver-
side, 1; and blunt-nose minnow, 1.

The bluegill was by far the most abundant fish taken, 419 being
in haul 109. Young skipjacks were very common, especially in
hauls, 93, 104 and 106. The log perch was remarkably abundant,
58, 51, 40 and 64 being taken in hauls 101, 105, 107 and 110, re-
spectively.

In the last few hauls the water appeared roily, caused chiefly
by the presence of much plankton, crustaceans and algse.

July 12, 2:15 to 4:10 p.m. Stations 111 to 120. Air 87;
water 79 to 89. These stations were in Norris Inlet. Begin-
ning at the bridge where the road crosses, stations 111 to 117 fol-
lowed up the creek to the heavy woods about its head, while sta-
tions 118 to 120 were from the bridge down stream until the creek
became lost in boggy ground. Seine, 15-foot.

Catch: Straw bass, 79; bluegill, 22; mud minnow, 17; grass
pike, 35 ; creek chub, 8 ; pumpkinseed, 4 ; and dogfish, 3. The straw
bass were all young, as were also most of the grass pike. The
bottom was usually black soil, sand or decaying peaty matter. In
shallow stagnant places the water was very warm.

July 13, 1:45 to 2:55 p.m. Stations 121 to 131. Air 86;
water 76 to 80 ; depth 5 feet and under. Same ground seined
over July 5, stations 1 to 11, but under different atmospheric con-
ditions. A storm came from the northwest and swept across the
north end of the lake while the work was in progress. Some rain
fell and strong waves came in from the north.

Catch : Bluegill, 331 ; yellow perch, about 325 ; rock bass, 52 ;
grayback minnow, 35 ; log perch, 28 ; small-mouth bass, 13 ; straw
bass, 7 ; pumpkinseed, 6 ; Johnny darter, 3 ; hog sucker, 1 ; yellow
cat, 1 ; blunt-nose minnow, 3. In haul 129, which was through a
thick patch of Scirpus americanus, young rock bass were very
abundant, 28 being caught. Young yellow perch and bluegills also
were abundant.

July 17, 1 :30 to 3 :40 p. m. Stations 132 to 147, from the end

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 243

of Long Point to Arlington, connecting with station No. 1. Air
73 ; water 80 to 82 ; depth 2 feet and under; seine, 45-foot. Bot-
tom sand, covered in most places with a more or less thick mat of
Chara contraria, with a good deal of Vallisneria spiralis, Naias
flexilis and Potamogeton pectina.tus. Just off the end of Long
Point is a large bed of mussels. Catch: Bluegill, 1,224; yellow
perch, 432 ; pumpkinseed, 244 ; skipjack, 101 ; blunt-nose minnow,
21 ; rock bass, 10 ; yellow cat, 2 ; silverfin minnow, 6 ; log perch,
13; Notropis heterodon, 1. As may be seen from the above, blue-
gills, skipjacks, pumpkinseeds, and yellow perch were very abund-
ant. The vast majority of each of these species were young fish,
either of-the-year or one year old.

July 18, 1 :35 to 4 :25 p. m. Stations 148 to 168, beginning at
the McOuat cottage (where station No. 110 ended) and proceeding
northward to the Shirk cottage just north of the Maxinkuckee road.
Air 80 ; water 80 to 84 ; depth 3 feet and under; seine, 45-foot.
Rocky shore and gravelly bottom, then sand and gravel bottom
with some mud in places, with areas of Chara here and there.

Catch: Bluegill, 1,430; log perch, 366; yellow perch, 202;
skipjack, several hundred; small-mouth black bass, 114; silver-fin
minnow, 29; silverside, 19; grayback minnow, 16; rock bass, 13;
hog sucker, 6 ; straw bass, 11 ; blunt-nose minnow, 7. Young blue-
gills were remarkably abundant, as many as 300 being taken in
one haul. Log perch also were very abundant, 151 being taken in
a single haul. Young skipjacks were exceedingly numerous.

July 19, 2 :30 to 4 :30 p. m. Stations 169 to 184, beginning at
the Shirk cottage and proceeding northward to near the Indiana
boathouse. Air 84; water 82 to 84; depth 3 feet and under;
seine 15-foot. Sky clear, wind from northwest, lake choppy.

Catch : Yellow perch, 430 ; bluegill, about 250 ; grayback min-
now, 124; skipjack, many young; small-mouth black bass, 38;
straw bass, 45; log perch, 54; rock bass, 87; blunt-nose minnow,
10 ; pumpkinseed, 139 ; Johnny darter, 2 ; rot-gut minnow, 1 ; straw-
colored minnow, 3.

July 20, 1:42 to 4:05 p.m. Stations 185 to 202, northward
from just south of Indiana boathouse to Aubeenaubee Bay. Air
87; water 81 to 84; depth 4 feet and under; seine, 15-foot at
stations 185 to 187 and 202, 45-foot at all others. Sky broken
cloudy, moderate breeze south by east. Catch : Bluegill, 669 ; log
perch, 275; yellow perch, 160; skipjack, many young; small-mouth
black bass, 69; straw bass, 19; pumpkinseed, 24; rock bass, 54;
grayback minnow, 17; blunt-nose minnow, 4; long-nose gar, 1.

July 21, afternoon. Stations 203 to 228, from northeast corner

244 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

of lake westward to The Roost. Air 89 ; water 79 to 88 ; depth,

2 feet and under; seine, 45-foot. Bottom at first mud then sand
and some gravel. Much Chara, Pontederia, Scirpus and Potamog-
eton.

Catch: Skipjack, young, very abundant; bluegill, 267; straw
bass, 203; yellow perch, 211; blunt-nose minnow, 84; log perch,
15 ; grayback minnow, 190 ; pumpkinseed, 50 ; rock bass, 43 ; yellow
cat, 4 ; long-nose gar, 3 ; green sunfish, 1 ; small-mouth black bass,
26 ; Notropis umbratilis, 12.

July 22, 2 :00 to 5 :00 p. m. Stations 229 to 247, from The Roost
westward to Kreutzberger's pier. Air 87 ; water 81 to 87 ; depth,

3 feet and under ; seine, 45-foot. Bottom unusually varied, ranging
from mud and sand through gravel to boulders; much Chara and
some Potamogeton.

Catch : Bluegill, 1,187 ; log perch, 371 ; skipjack, numerous
young ; small-mouth black bass, 66 ; yellow perch, 158 ; straw bass,
17 ; rock bass, 27 ; pumpkinseed, 13 ; grayback minnow, 14 ; blunt-
nose minnow, 5; silverside, 2.

July 24, 2:15 to 4:30 p.m. Stations 248 to 263, from end of
Long Point west and north to ice-houses. Air 87 ; water 83
to 86; depth 3 feet and under; seine, 45-foot. Bottom mud or
marl, very little sand and no gravel. Usually a heavy growth of
vegetation consisting chiefly of Vallisneria spiralis, Philotria
canadensis, Pctamogeton pectinatus, P. amplifolius, Megalodonta
beckii, Heteranthera dubia, Naias flexilis, Chara contraria, and
Potamogeton lucens. Right at the Outlet is a small patch of
Nymphaea advena and a few plants of Castalia odorata. Just off
the ice-houses diatoms are more abundant than at any other place
in the lake.

Catch: Yellow perch, 280; bluegill, 211; skipjack, numerous;
pumpkinseed, 81 ; rock bass, 41 ; log perch, 38 ; warmouth, 6 ; straw
bass, 21 ; small-mouth black bass, 9 ; bullhead, 4 ; Johnny darter,
2; grayback minnow, 2; short-nose gar, 1; grass pike, 1. In the
series of hauls were secured the first specimens of short-nose gar
and warmouth. Most of the fish taken were young, as usual ; how-
ever, some large fish were caught, among them a straw bass weigh-
ing 4 pounds and another of 2 pounds.

July 25, 2 :20 to 5 :00 p. m. Stations 264 to 280, from Kreut-
berger's pier southward to the Assembly grounds. Air 86 ;
water 81 to 86 ; depth 4 feet and under; seine, 45-foot. Bottom
usually of sand, sometimes mud or marl in the deeper places.
Vegetation, Eleocharis interstincta (the only patch in the lake),
Scirpus validus and S. americanus, V-'^llianeria spiralis, Potamog-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 245

eton amplifolius and pectinatus, Myriophyllum verticillatum, Cera-
tophyllum demersum, Philotria canadensis, Hydrodyction, etc.

Catch: Bluegill, 673 plus many young; yellow perch 369 plus
many young; rock bass, 147; pumpkinseed, 118; straw bass, 29;
blunt-nose minnow, 18; skipjack, many young; grayback minnow,
13; small-mouth black bass, 6; silverside, 4; Notropis heterodon,
3; bullhead, 1; dogfish, 1; Johnny darter, 2; rotgut minnow, 2;
warmouth, 1 ; chub sucker, 1 (first one caught of this species) .

July 26, 2 :30 to 4 :45 p. m. Stations 281 to 293, from Assembly
grounds pier south to ice-houses connecting with station 263, and
completing the circuit of the lake. Air 83 ; water 84 and 86 ;
depth 5 feet and under; seine, 45-foot. Bottom sandy, with some
mud, covered with considerable Potamogeton, Chara and Scirpus.

Catch : Yellow perch, 250 ; bluegill, 120 ; rock bass, 82 ; pump-
kinseed, 81; skipjack, numerous young; straw bass, 20; grayback
minnow, 11 ; log perch, 10 ; blunt-nose minnow, 4 ; grass pike, 4 ;
Notropis heterodon, 13 ; small-mouth black bass, 2 ; warmouth, 2 ;
Johnny darter, 1 ; yellow cat, 1.

July 27, 1 :05 to 3 :30 p. m. Stations 294 to 312, all- but the last
eight in lagoons in the Military Academy grounds the remaining
eight in Culver Inlet from the upper lagoon into the woods about
three-fourths of a mile above. Air 80 ; water 65 to 84 ; depth
5 feet and under ; seine, 15-foot. Bottom of soft mud near shore,
gravelly nearer center in the lagoon; creek mostly muddy bottom
and marshy shores.

Catch: Straw bass, 186; creek chub, 69; bluegill, 52; chub
sucker, 29 ; rotgut minnow, 14 ; Notropis heterodon, 10 ; grass pike,
8; yellow perch, 5; mud minnow, 3; warmouth, 3; small-mouth
black bass, 4; pumpkjnseed, 5; yellow cat, 7; rock bass, 2; mad
torn, 1.

July 28, 2 :25 to 3 :55 p. m. Stations 313 to 327, in the Outlet
from Lake Maxinkuckee to Lost Lake. Air 81 ; water 82.5 to
83; depth 3 feet and under; seine, 15-foot. Bottom gravelly for
a few feet in upper portion, then sandy, then of soft muck.

Catch : Bluegill, 514 ; straw bass, 43 ; warmouth, 16 ; pumpkin-
seed, 16; skipjack, several; rock bass, 4; grass pike, 4; big-eared
sunfish, 2 ; yellow cat, 1 ; Fundulus dispar, 1 ; calico bass, 1 ; chub
sucker, 1.

July 29, 3 :05 to 3 :50 p. m. Stations 328 to 341, east side of
Lost Lake from Sunset cottage south to muck bottom at southwest
end. Air 77 ; water 82 to 83.5 ; depth 2 feet and under; seine,
45-foot. Bottom sandy or muddy, with much Chara, some Scirpus
and some lily-pads.

246 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Catch: Bluegill, many, mostly young; Notropis heterodon, 78;
pumpkinseed, 7; skipjack, several; straw bass, 11; small-mouth
black bass, 3 ; grass pike, 3 ; blunt-nose minnow, 2 ; grayback min-
now, 1 ; red-eared sunfish, 1.

July 31, 1 :40 to 3 :45 p. m. Stations 342 to 363, north and west
shores of Lost Lake. Air 76 ; water, 81 to 86 ; depth 4 feet and
under; seines, 15-foot and 45-foot. Bottom sand or mud with
much vegetation, such as lily-pads (Nymphsea and Castalia),
Scirpus, Myriophyilum, Chara, etc. Afternoon pleasant, growing
hazy toward evening ; very little breeze.

Catch: Bluegill, abundant, mostly young; Notropis heterodon,
many; skipjack, many; red-eared sunfish, 22; straw bass, 32;
pumpkinseed, 24 ; Fundulus dispar, 6 ; small-mouth black bass, 2 ;
blunt-nose minnow, 4 ; mud minnow, 1 ; grass pike, 1 ; warmouth,
3; chub sucker, 2.

August 1, 1:37 to 3:30 p.m. Stations 364 to 379, west side
of Lost Lake from Hawk's barn south to where the lake narrows,
then a few hauls in the outlet and two hauls (Nos. 378 and 379)
on east side of outlet. This entire stretch of shore was not seined,
as patches of Castalia, etc., made it impossible in some places. The
water was very clear and the sunfish could be seen swimming about
in large numbers. Air 82 ; water 78 to 79 ; depth 3.5 feet
and under; seines, 15- and 45-foot. Bottom mostly of mud and
muck. Rank vegetation.

Catch: Bluegill, about 200; red-eared sunfish, about 50;
Fundulus dispar, 66 ; Notropis heterodon, about 30 ; straw bass,. 16 ;
warmouth, 19 ; chub sucker, 4 ; grass pike, 2 ; yellow perch, 2 ; small-
mouth black bass, 6; least darter, 3; skipjack, 1; Johnny darter, 1.

August 2, afternoon. Stations 380 to 390, in the Outlet be-
tween the two lakes, over the same grounds as Nos. 313 to 327.
Air, 82 ; water, 83.5 to 84 ; depth 2 feet or less; seine, 15-foot.

Catch : Bluegill, 307 and many young ; straw bass, 152 ; small-
mouth black bass, 17; warmouth, 15; red-eared sunfish, 12; rock
bass, 8 ; grass pike, 4 ; mud minnow, 2 ; calico bass, 1 ; least darter,
1 ; Fundulus dispar, 1 ; green sunfish, 2.

August 3, afternoon. Stations 391 to 395, beginning in front
of Arlington thence southward. Air 84 ; water 80 ; depth 4 feet
and under ; seine, 120-foot.

Catch : Yellow perch, 243 ; bluegill, 85 ; log perch, 125 ; small-
mouth black bass, 49 ; reck bass, 36 ; grayback minnow, 41 ; straw
bass, 46 ; blunt-nose minnow, 2.

August 4, afternoon. Stations 396 to 422. First 6 hauls
southward from Green's pier, the next in the marsh about Norris

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 247

Inlet, and the remaining ones (Nos. 411 to 422) in Aubeenaubee
Creek. Air 83 ; water, 84.5 to 85.5 in the lake, 72 to 73 in
the creek ; depth, 2 feet and under ; seine, 25-foot in lake, 15-foot in
creek.

Catch in the lake : Yellow perch, 52 ; log perch, 30 ; bluegill, 25 ;
straw bass, 21 ; small-mouth black bass, 12 ; grayback minnow, 46 ;
blunt-nose minnow, 8; skipjack, 1; pumpkinseed, 1; Johnny darter,
1 ; yellow cat, 2. In marsh : Mud minnow, 11 ; grass pike, 2. In
creek: Creek chub, 57; mud minnow, 10; grass pike, 9; chub
sucker, 1 ; silverside, 1 ; straw bass, 2 ; Maxinkuckee darter, 1 ;
Aubeenaubee darter, 11; rotgut minnow, 7. Crawfish and frogs
abundant.

August 7, 2 : 15 to 3 :00 p. m. Stations 423 to 426, the first two
hauls between Norris pier and Norris Inlet, the other two near
Fulton's pier. Air 76 ; water 80 ; depth 6 feet and under; seine,
125-foot.

Catch : Bluegill, 401 ; log perch, 576 ; yellow perch, 111 ; small-
mouth black bass, 147; straw bass, 48; skipjack, 73; grayback min-
now, 50 ; calico bass, 7 ; rock bass, 10 ; pumpkinseed, 3 ; Johnny
darter, 1.

August 10, 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. Stations 427 to 433, on east
side of Long Point from the Armstrong to the Scovell cottage. Air
83 ; water 79 ; morning foggy following heavy rain the day be-
fore ; depth, 2 feet and under ; seine, 15-foot.

Catch : Grayback minnow, 74 ; skipjack, about 100 ; rock bass,
23; bluegill, 16; yellow perch, 40; Notropis heterodon, 11; Iowa
darter, 12; Johnny darter, 12; straw bass, 8; log perch, 8; straw-
colored minnow, 6 ; blunt-nose minnow, 1 ; small-mouth bass, 1.

August 11, morning. Stations 434 to 439, on east side of Long
Point from the Meyer to the Armstrong cottage. Air 87 ; water
81 ; depth 2 feet and under; seine, 15-foot. Catch: Skipjack, about
1,000; bluegill, 135; yellow perch, 108; grayback minnow, 58;
straw bass, 30 ; Iowa darter, 38 ; rock bass, 29 ; Johnny darter, 4 ;
small-mouth black bass, 4; log perch, 1.

September 6, afternoon. Stations 440 to 447, in Outlet between
the two lakes. Air, 70 ; water, 74 ; seine, 15-foot. Catch: Blue-
gill, about 250; least darter, 26; straw bass, 22; warmouth, 24;
Fundulus dispar, 25 ; skipjack, 6 ; green sunfish, 3 ; yellow cat, 2 ;
pumpkinseed, 1 ; Notropis heterodon, 2 ; grass pike, 1.

July 17, 1900. 1:00 to 2:30 p. m. Stations 448 to 451, also
460, from Fish Commission pier south to below the first Scirpus
patch, 452 to 459, from Arlington pier north to the linden tree.
Air, 77 ; water, 77 ; depth 3 feet and under; seine, 25-foot.

248 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Catch : Yellow perch, 196 ; bluegill, 141 ; grayback minnow,
96; skipjack, 81; Notropis heterodon, 64; small-mouth black bass,
34 ; straw bass, 34 ; pumpkinseed, 25 ; Johnny darter, 7 ; log perch,
5 ; rock bass, 3 ; mad torn, 1.

The 'oass ^ small- and large-mouth) were each about 2 inches
long (some only 13/16 inch) and were doubtless present year
brood : The yellow perch, bluegills, rock bass, log perch and skip-
jacks were nearly all of the present year's brood.

July 18, 2 :30 to 3 :30 p. m. Stations 461 to 467, at south end
from Overmyer's spring west to small brook coming out of Over-
myer's woods. Air, 74 ; water, 79. Seine, 30-foot.

Catch: Bluegill, 58; small-mouth black bass, 39; straw bass,
25 ; yellow perch, many ; grayback minnow, many ; Notropis heter-
odon, several ; rock bass, 4 ; Johnny darter, 2 ; Iowa darter, 1 ; skip-
jack, 1; blunt-nose minnow, 6; common bullhead, 1.

The small-mouth bass were all approximately of the same size
and averaged 1 inches long. The one straw bass saved measured
1 inches long. The two rock bass measured were 1| and 1.06
inches long, and the yellow perch averaged 1 inches. All of these
were evidently of the 1900 brood. The graybacks averaged
2.34 inches and 6 examples of Notropis heterodon, 2.34 inches. The
examples of these two species were probably 2 or 3 years old.

July 19, 2 :30 to 4 :30 p. m. Stations 468 to 481, from Murray's
to Farrar's. Air, 80 ; water, 79 ; seine, 30-foot.

Catch: Small-mouth black bass, 175; log perch, 25; straw
bass, 18; grayback minnow, 13; yellow perch, 12; rock bass, 3;
skipjack, 2 large schools of young (hauls 473 and 474) ; straw-col-
ored minnow, 46; Iowa darter, 2.

August 7, 11:30 to 12:00 m. Stations 482 and 483, at Fish
Commission pier. Air, 89 ; water, 82 ; seine, 45-foot.

Catch: Bluegill, 50; yellow perch, several; log perch, many;
straw bass, few; small-mouth black bass, few. Some of the blue-
gills were large.

August 9, 9:00 p.m. Stations 484 and 485, at Fish Commis-
sion pier, with 45-foot seine. Air, 85 ; water, 82. Catch: Blue-
gill, many ; rock bass, common ; yellow perch, common ; straw bass,
small-mouth black bass, log perch, straw-colored minnow, blunt-
nose minnow, skipjack and grayback minnow, few; walleyed pike,
one 10-inch example.

August 10, 9:00 p. m. Station 486, at Fish Commission sta-
tion, with 120-foot seine. Air, 85; water, 80. Catch: Bluegill,
abundant ; rock bass and yellow perch, few large and many young ;
straw bass, small-mouth black bass, log perch, straw-colored min-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 249

now, blunt-nose minnow, skipjack and grayback minnow, few; and
one 10-inch walleyed pike.

August 14, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Stations 487 to 506, in
Aubeenaubee Creek from near source to mouth, with 15-foot seine.
Air, 70; water, 63 to 66.

Catch: Creek chub, a few in nearly every haul; mud min-
now, from 1 to many in each of 6 hauls; yellow perch, from 2 to
a few in each of 5 hauls ; rotgut minnow, a few in each of 9 hauls ;
Aubeenaubee darter, a few in each of 2 hauls ; straw bass, 4 young ;
small-mouth black bass, 2 ; bluegill, 1 young ; silverside, 1 ; blunt-
nose minnow, 1 ; grass pike, 1 ; black-nose dace, 2.

August 16, 2 :30 to 4 :30 p. m. Stations 507 to 528, in Norris
Inlet beginning near its source and proceeding down stream, with
15-foot seine. Air, 72.

Catch: No record was kept of the number of specimens
taken; the record shows only the species taken at each haul. In
the following summary the figure following each species name in-
dicates the number of hauls at which one or more specimens of that
species were taken: Bluegill, 6; silverside, 11; mud minnow, 8;
straw bass, 7 ; creek chub, 4 ; yellow perch, 4 ; yellow cat, 6 ; pump-
kinseed, 2; small-mouth black bass, 1; grass pike, 3; crawfish, 6;
frogs, 5; shells, 2.

August 17, 3 :30 to 4 :30 p. m. Stations 529 to 539, in Culver
Inlet from near its source to first lagoon. Air, 91.

The following species were taken in the number of hauls indi-
cated: Bluegill, 2; straw bass, 3; silverside, 8; yellow cat, 3;
yellow perch, 1 ; long-nosed gar, 2 ; black-nosed dace, 1 ; white
sucker, 1 ; mud minnow, 2 ; hornyhead chub, 1 ; chub sucker, 1 ;
rotgut minnow, 1.

At 8 p. m. on August 18, two hauls were made at the Fish Com-
mission pier with the 15-foot seine, catching many skipjacks, sev-
eral straw bass, black bass, bluegills, log perch, Iowa darters,
Johnny darters, grayback minnows, rock bass, and yellow perch.

August 21, 3:10 to 5:00 p.m. Stations 540 to 563. Air, 65
to 81 ; water 76 to 84. Nos. 540 to 554 were in Culver Inlet
from the bend east of the Academy grounds to the mouth at the
Academy pier. Mud bottom everywhere with much marsh gas.
Vegetation abundant; Potamogeton natans, Ceratophyllum, Phil-
otria, and water-cress.

The species gotten in this part of the creek were, in order of
abundance, bluegill, straw-colored minnow, roach, yellow perch,
straw bass, pumpkinseed, chub sucker, warmouth, rock bass, yel-
low cat, grass pike, white sucker, small-mouth black bass, silver-

250 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

side, creek chub, blunt-nose minnow, skipjack, stone-roller, com-
mon bullhead, and Johnny darter. There were also crawfish,
painted turtles, snapping turtles, map turtles, and water-dogs.
Nos. 555 to 559 were in the Outlet between the railroad bridge and
Lost Lake; Nos. 560 and 561 in northwest corner of Lost Lake at
the boat landing; Nos. 562 and 563 on west side of Lost Lake just
south of Hawk's barn.

The following is the list of fishes obtained, in order of abund-
ance : Bluegill, skipjack, rock bass, pumpkinseed, warmouth, chub
sucker, straw bass, small-mouth black bass, yellow perch, grass
pike, common bullhead, least darter, red-eared sunfish, Fundulus
dispar, and several painted turtles.

August 23, 7 : 00 to 8 : 45 a. m. Stations 564 to 575, from Fish
Commission station southward, with 35- and 20-foot seines. Air,
70 to 78; water, 80. Cloudy, calm and threatening in morn-
ing, strong puffy wind at 10 a. m. and lake rough.

The species obtained, in order of abundance, were: Bluegill,
straw-colored minnow, blunt-nose minnow, satinfin, log perch, Iowa
darter, Johnny darter, yellow perch, small-mouth black bass, straw
bass, grayback minnow, rock bass, skipjack, and pumpkinseed.
The Iowa darters and Johnny darters were near shore, the log
perch a little farther out, quite abundant and very fine.

August 25, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Stations 576 to 585, in the outlet
below Lost Lake at the old millsite. Air, 84 ; water, 77.

Catch: Bluegill, 80; pumpkinseed, 29; Fundulus disbar, 20;
Iowa darter, 11; chub sucker, 9; straw bass, 4; skipjack, 4; com-
mon bullhead, 3 ; roach, 3 ; small-mouth black bass, 2.

September 20, 8 :30 to 9 :30 p. m. Stations 586 to 595, in front
of Fish Commission station with 25- and 45-foot seines. Air,
71; water, 67.

Fish very abundant, the following species taken: Bluegill,
numerous small ones; yellow perch, many small and a few large;
skipjack, many small; rock bass, a few large and many small;
calico bass, 5 ; straw-colored minnow, few ; grayback minnow, few ;
mad torn, few; walleyed pike, one very large and 2 smaller ones;
white sucker, 2 large ones; dogfish, one large male; a few small
crawfish ; one large bullfrog ; one large map turtle.

September 22, 6 : 45 to 7 : 35 a. m. Stations 596 to 600, between
Fish Commission station and first Scirpus patch south. Air, 52 ;
water, 65. Sky with light clouds; slight northwest breeze; lake
smooth. Seines, 15- and 25-foot.

Catch: Log perch, many; small-mouth black bass, several;
skipjack, straw bass, rock bass, yellow perch, bluegill and Iowa

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 251

darter, a few young of each ; Johnny darter, 1 ; map turtle, 1 young ;
crawfish, 5.

October 23, forenoon. Stations, 601 to 607, in upper half of
Outlet, in open water with 25-foot seine. Air, 65 ; water, 64.

Catch: Straw bass, a great many (75 in first haul), each 4 to
6 inches long, a few larger; bluegill, many small ones; warmouth,
several; red-eared sunfish, many, medium size; pumpkinseed, 3
small ones; rock bass, 5 young; grass pike, 2 young; mud min-
now, 1 ; Fundulus dispar, 3 ; Johnny darter, Iowa darter, and least
darter, several of each; yellow cat, several young. Also a few
larval salamanders and cricket frogs.

November 28, morning. Stations 608 and 609, with 15-foot
seine, in front of Barnes cottage just north of Arlington pier, for
skipjacks of which about 2 gallons were caught. With them were
a few small straw-colored minnows and blunt-nose minnows.

Besides the more or less regular seining operations detailed in
the preceding paragraphs, considerable miscellaneous seining was
done at odd times for diverse specific purposes, among which may
be mentioned getting material for studies of structure, fish-food,
parasites, growth, spawning, enemies, coloration, variation, asso-
ciation and distribution. In these cases the seine hauls were not
recorded in the regular series and, usually, only those matters
especially under consideration were noted.

This miscellaneous seining, however, yielded much valuable
data on many of these questions.

Late in the summer and early fall many hauls were made at
night, chiefly with a short seine and in shallow water along the east
side of Long Point. These operations demonstrated that there is
a general inshore movement at night, not only of the carnivorous
species but of other kinds as well; and many of the fishes caught
were of large size. Among those that were frequent in these night
catches were large-mouth bass, small-mouth black bass, dogfish,
walleyed pike, white sucker and water-dogs. All of these except
the sucker evidently come in shore at night to feed on the smaller
fry abundant in shallow water, as was demonstrated by an exam-
ination of many stomachs.

Late in the fall and early winter considerable seining was done
with a small seine in shallow water both in the day time and at
night for the purpose of securing study material of the small min-
nows which it was discovered congregate in vast schools at that
season. Some of these great schools, consisting of thousands of
fish, were found to be made up chiefly of straw-colored minnows
with fewer of the variable-toothed minnow, a few of the Cayuga

252 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

minnow and a few grayback minnows ; other schools would be com-
posed of grayback minnows almost entirely, and still others of
skipjacks.

Gill-nets: Several gill-nets were used in July, 1899, but, as the
results were chiefly negative, their use was discontinued at the end
of that month.

Nets of 2, 2 and 3} inch (bar) mesh were used. The nets
were tried in various places, in water of different depths, at dif-
ferent depths (sometimes at the surface, and again at intermediate
depths), and under diverse conditions. The conclusion reached
after a month's trial was that the results obtained did not justify
the time and labor involved. Only 4 different species of fishes were
taken in the gill-nets ; these, in order of numbers taken, were straw
bass, yellow perch, walleyed pike and long-nosed gar. The bass
were of moderate size (from to H Ibs.), the perch were all of
good size, the single walleyed pike weighed 2 pounds, and the single
gar was 27 inches long.

The coarse-mesh net caught nothing ; the 2-inch mesh was most
effective.

The majority of the fish caught were in nets set in shallow
water; none was caught as deep as 25 feet. The nets set at the
edge of bars or deep holes were the ones in which fish were most
often taken. Those set near the surface yielded more than when
set deeper in the same water. More fish were caught at night than
during the day.

One of the principal objects in using gill-nets was to determine
whether the Tippecanoe Cisco (Leucichthys sisco) inhabits this
lake. The tests seemed to demonstrate that it does not.

Set-lines: A number of tests were made with set-lines, chiefly
in the south part of the lake and in Lost Lake. It was desired to
know what species could be taken in this manner, the most suitable
places for each, the best kinds of bait, the best season, etc.

Only negative results were obtained in deep water, and usually
in all other places except on muddy bottom. The only species
caught were yellow cat, common bullhead cat, dogfish, rock bass,
water-dog, snapping turtle, soft-shell turtle, map turtle and musk
turtle. The catfish could generally be taken in considerable num-
bers on mud or marl bottom, especially in Lost Lake. Many water-
dogs and turtles also were taken in the same and similar places.
Only a few dogfish were caught.

Various kinds of bait were used, the principal ones being beef,
liver, mussel, crawfish, and cut fish. Liver seemed best, though all
were effective.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 253

The interesting fact is that none of the basses (except rock
bass) or perches was taken by this means.

Traps: Various sorts of minnow traps were used to some ex-
tent. The results were unimportant. Necessarily only small
fishes could be caught in this way, and, as the traps were set at
some pier, only those shallow water species frequenting such places
entered the traps. These, approximately in order of abundance,
were the straw-colored minnow, blunt-nosed minnow, grayback,
young yellow perch, skipjack, Johnny darter, young bluegills and
young rock bass.

Dredging: One of the most important parts of the investiga-
tion of the lake was the dredging. It is to the work of the dredge
that we owe much of our knowledge of the character of the bot-
tom; indeed, all our knowledge of the deeper parts except what
could be inferred from such portions of mud as adhered to the
sounding-lead. It is also to the dredge that we owe all our knowl-
edge of the character and distribution of the flora of the lake ex-
cept in the very shallow portions about shore, and all we know
about many animals mollusks, insect larvae and crustaceans
which escape other means of capture, such as the seines near
shore and the plankton nets at the different plankton stations
and at the surface. The dredge covered a greater amount of
territory and yielded a larger assemblage of objects and data than
was furnished by any other implement except the seine. It is not
only material, but also conditions that are revealed by the opera-
tions of the dredge; and what was learned of the winter behavior
of the plants and animals of the lake was obtained chiefly by the
use of this valuable instrument.

Indeed, so multifarious are the lines of investigation in which
the dredge is used, that the instrument is to a considerable extent
concealed behind its work, and, unlike those instruments used but
for a single end, such as the thermometer to take temperatures, the
seine to capture fishes, the plankton nets to collect minute organ-
isms, etc., it is not always recognized at its full value or associated
in mind with all the results it accomplished or helps accomplish.
It is, therefore, well to call attention to the fact that not only this
brief chapter on dredging, but also the greater part of what has
been written concerning the lake bottom, nearly all relating to lake
botany, and much concerning food of fishes, and of the ecology of
the lake, are due to the operations of this useful instrument.

Of the immense number of dredge hauls made, many need not
be specifically considered in this discussion, either because the re-
sults obtained have been fully treated elsewhere in connection with

254 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

the consideration of the lake bottom or of aquatic botany or the
various other subjects mentioned above, or because they are so
similar to others given as general types that their repetition would
be monotonous without giving any additional information; they
serve the important but not spectacular function of confirming
and witnessing to the facts presented in the typical hauls.

A good deal of the dredging in shallow water in such places as
Outlet Bay, the Norris Inlet region, the Weedpatch, etc., was ac-
complished by means of a common garden rake, which was used
principally during the winter through holes cut in the ice. The
rake is not well adapted for use from a boat during the summer,
as the manipulation of it requires the use of both hands, and the
boat answers too readily to any pull to enable one to get much pur-
chase on objects in the bottom. Two men in a boat, one at the oars
and one with the rake can, however, accomplish a good deal in
shallow water. When operated either through holes in the ice or
from a boat, the rake is useful only in rather shallow water. By
fastening a splice to the handle one can work 10 to 12-foot depths
fairly well, but beyond this the rake becomes too unwieldy; the
handle is too buoyant to allow one to force the rake-head down to
the bottom, and too flexible to work the rake satisfactorily when
down.

The rake was used extensively during the winter of 1900-1901
and again in 1904. By its means the condition and behavior of
the lake plants during the winter were observed, the kinds of soil
adhering to their roots noted, and, by washing the plants out in
water and straining the resulting liquid, numerous important
forms, amphipods, isopods, crawfishes, small mollusks, caddis cases
with the enclosed larvae, damsel- and dragon-fly larvae, leeches,
worms, and protozoa were obtained. Various species of darters
(Etheostoma iowse; Boleosoma nigrum) mad toms (Schilbeodes
gyrinus) , Sticklebacks (Eucalia inconstans), and the young of
many of the game and food-fishes (bluegill, rock bass, etc.) which
were among the weeds feeding upon the insect larvae and amphipods
were also captured in the entangled masses of weeds.

For deep water and for summer work various forms of dredges
were used, one of the most effective consisting of a sort of double-
toothed comb made by fastening together a series of parallel pieces
of moderately heavy strap-iron (like that used for tires of light
wagons). The pieces of strap-iron, about 18 inches long, with a
hole drilled through the center of each, and 2 crosspieces of simi-
lar strap-iron, one on each side, were riveted to these parallel

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 255

pieces, which became the teeth. The teeth were sharpened and
bent in the form of a half circle. A ring was fastened to each
end of the crosspieces and to these the dredge-rope was fastened.
The resulting dredge, let down to the bottom, was certain to land
on one side or the other, and, like the cant hook of the logger's
camp, was sure to take hold of whatever it touched, and almost al-
ways brought up something.

Below is given, in tabulated form, a record of various dredge
hauls and their results. In the first table, an attempt is made, by
selecting from a large series of records and arranging in sequence
of depth, to give the results obtained by hauls at different depths,
proceeding from 1 to 3 feet deep to water 85 feet, close to the
greatest depth to be found in the lake.

These tables serve to show in detail what, of course, was well
known in a general way, that the greater number of forms, both
plant and animal, are most abundant in the shallow water, the first
few feet near the surface containing the great majority of organ-
isms in the lake, the deeper waters being comparatively tenantless.
Only 2 living forms descend to the greatest depths; one a "red-
worm" or Chironomus larva, which comes up to near the surface
during the night to obtain air. This is one of the most attractive
and highly prized tidbits of the various fishes of the lake, and can
retire into the depths beyond the pursuit of the most adventurous.
The other organism is a species of Sphserium. How it can live
in these depths where the water is devoid of oxygen is a mystery.
In this connection attention may be called to the habits of a species
of Sphserium found in the woodland ponds near the lake. These
ponds are dry during the greater portion of the year, and at this
time the Sphserium remains among the moist leaves of the bottom,
apparently in the condition of suspended animation. The two hab-
its, one manifested above the lake surface and the other far below,
are apparently quite similar.

The following is a brief resume of the life at different depths,
as shown by the dredging and tables:

From 1 to 14 feet, the great mass of life, both plant and animal,
of the lake; 24-25 feet, lower limit of plant growth, Nitella being
the only plant found in any abundance at 25 feet ; 30-35 feet, lower
limit of nearly all animal life except the 2 organisms mentioned
above ; lower limit of Vivipara contectoides, one of the most abund-
ant and widely distributed organisms of the lake.

17-17618

256 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

TABLE OF DREDGING AND RESULTS

Depth
in feet

No. of
haul

Date

Locality

Apparatus

Results

1-3

Oct. 22, 1904

Off from ice-

houses

Rake

Bottom; dark, soft, marl.
Plants; winter buds of ditch moss (Philotria),
hornwort (Ceratophyllum), and stolons of
wild celery. (Vallisneria), much green
algae, and Chara, the Chara mostly brown
but with bright green bits here and there.
Animals; isopods abundant; leeches common;
amphipods numerous; large dragon-fly larvae
common; various mollusks, such as Ancylus,
Vivipara contectoides, old and young,(^ Plan-
orbis exacuttis; there were a few crawfishes,
(Cambarus propinquus).

1-3

Oct. 31, 1904

Off from ice-

1-3

Jan. 12, 1901

houses
Outlet Bay .

Rake
Rake

Bottom; dark, soft, marly.
Vegetation; much as above; chiefly C/.ora k and
leaves of wild celery.
Animals; Pisidium, Sphcerium, Planorbis, and
Isopods in abundance; some Hydrachnids;
Ancylus found attached to the leaves of wild
celery.
Bottom; dark, soft, marly.

Plants; Stout Naias (Naias flexilin robusta),
hornwort, milfoil, shining pondweed (Pot-
amogeton lucens), large-leaved pondweed (P.
amplifolius), all green; Chara, mostly brown
and dead-looking but with bright ; green
shoots.
Animals; Iowa darters, various gastropods,
several crawfishes and numerous leathery
caddis-cases, the latter elongate and attached
to weeds.

3-4

Many
hauls

Various

Near Norris
Inlet

Rake

Bottom; black, peaty.

(November
and
December.)
Winter of 1904.

Plants; principally Chara.
Animals; gastropods of vaiious sorts Gonio-
basis, Planorbis, etc.; fishes Iowa darteis,
mad toms (Schilbeodfs gyrinus), young cat-
fishes (Ameiurus nebulcsus), a few stickle-
backs (Eucalia inconstans) , and numerous
young bluegills (Lepcmis pallidus), about \Yi
to 2 inches long, and crawfishes, the animals
being all tangled up in the weeds.

Aug. 14, 1899

Near
Murray's . .

Dredge

Plants; Chara.
Animals; 2 crawfishes, 1 banded snail (Vivi-
para contectoides), Bryozoan (Plumatella
polymorpha), 2 gastropods.

Nov 18 1904

Off Depot

Pier

Rake

Plants; water marigold (Mcialodonta beckii),

green; Philotria with dense winter buds, Cer-
atophyllum loose (not compacted into winter
buds), Small Potamogeton amplifolius.
Animals; Plumatella polymorpha attached to
the Potamogeton.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 257

TABLE OF DREDGING AND RESULTS Continued

Depth
in feet

No. ol

haul

Date

Locality

Apparatus

Results

Aug. 14, 1899

Buliushes

from off

Murray's. .

Dredge ....

Animals; 14 living, 6 dead, Vnipara contectoides,

4 living Sphcerium, 4 Physa, 2 P!anorbis, 5

long gastropods (Goniobasis?), 2 crawfishes,

2 unios.

Aug. 14, 1899

Near

Murray's . .

Dredge

Animals; 4 crawfishes; 11 V. contectoides; 6 liv-

ing gastropods, 2 living Spharium; 1 young

living Physa; 1 Iowa darter.

Aug. 24, 1899

Top of Sugar-

loaf Bar . . .

Dredge

Plants; much vegetation, weeds, etc.

Animals; many living Vivipara and other gas-

tropods.

12-18

Aug. 16, 1899

End of Bar

Buoy

Dredge

Plants; Chara; much weed.

JO-20

Aug. 23, 1899

South side

of Sugar-

loaf

Dredge

Bottom; some fine marl.

Animals; 11 large mussels, 5 of them alive.

Haul chiefly of broken shells, representing

all the common species, V. contectoides, long

black gastropods, and Planorbis being very

common.

16-14

Aug. 6, 1900

South end of

lake east

side of

Kettlehole.

Dredge . ...

Plants; Potomogeton and Naias.

Animals; mud minnow (Umbra limi). Two

other Umbra were obtained a few days

earlier in a similar place.

Aug. 15, 1899

"25-ft. hole".

Dredge

Plants; much weed (Myriophyllum).

Animals; a few decayed shells of Planorbis and

Sphcerium,

Aug. 14, 1899

Hole off

Gravelpit. .

Dredge

Bottom; mud.

Plants; weeds.

Animals; nothing living; a few dead shells.

Aug. 14, 1899

Bar north of

85-ft. hole..

Dredge

Animals; The following shells, all dead and

more or less decayed: Vivipara contectoides;

many Sphcerium; Planorbis, Phyna; 1 Anodonta.

Living animals 6 red worms (Chironomus

lance) and 15 living Sphcerium.

26-24

Aug. 16, 1899

Flatiron

bar buoy . .

Dredge

Bottom; marl.

Animals; 1 Unio, empty and, broken shells

representing all varieties; numerous red

worms; some living Sphcerium.

258 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

TABLE OF DREDGING AND RESULTS Continued

Depth
in feet

No. of
haul

Date

Locality

Apparatus

Results

27-26

Aug. 16, 1899

Station

where Far

rar line

crosses bar

Dredge

Chiefly broken shells.

20-30

Aug. 24, 1899

North side

of Sugar-

loaf bar

Dredge

Bottom; chiefly gravel (rough, not rounded),

ranging from stones the size of hen's eggs

down to very small sand.

Animals; 1 red worm, some broken V. contec-

toides, several Spharium.

Aug. 14, 1899

Near Kettle-

hole

Dredge

Animals; dead V. contectoides, Sphcerium and

black sharp gastropods; 1 living Spharium,

Aug. 14, 1899

Kettlehole. . .

Dredge

Bottom; much mud.

Plants; none living; a few leaves.

Animals; a white worm ; 3 dead V. contectoides.

33-38

Aug. 16, 1899

Along bar

from buoy

Dredge

Animals; chiefly dead and broken shells; dead

and empty V. contectoides, Planorbis, Physa,

Sphcerium, and black sharp gastropods. Some

living Sphcerium; 7 red worms. No plants

but a few bits of leaf.

Aug. 14, 1899

Kettlehole..

Dredge

Animals; dead shells, V. contectoides, Planorbis,

and Physa.

40-50

Aug. 14, 1899

W. of 85-ft.

buoy, off

Long Point

Dredge

Plants; none; several dead leaves.

Animals; dead Sphcerium; 1 dead V. conteit-

oides; 28 living Sphnrium; 2 red worms.

Aug. 15, 1899

Channel in

front of

Arlington . .

Dredge

Plants; none, some dead oak leaves.

Animals; numerous Sphcerium, some dead V.

contectoides; 4 red worms.

Aug. 14, 1899

W. of 85-ft.

buoy

Dredge

Plants; none; a few dead leaves.

Animals; 1 dead gastropod; 1 red worm; 25

living Spharium.

70-85

Aug. 14, 1899

Near Deep

Hole

Dredge

Plants; none; some black, dead leaves.

Animals; living Sphcerium several; 6 red worms.

80-85

Aug. 14, 1899

Near Deep

Hole

Dredge

Animals; Sphcerium, many dead; a few dead

V. contectoides and Planorbis; 1 red worm.

80-85

Aug. 14, 1899

Near Deep

Hole

Dredge

Animals; many dead Sphcerium, 2 living ones;

1 red worm.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 259

Series of correlated hauls: In addition to the above tabulated
hauls, the records of which were selected out of a large list and so
arranged as to show as far as possible gradually increasing depths,
the following table is given of certain sets of hauls made in series,
beginning in deeper water and gradually working toward shal-
lower places. On account of irregularities of the lake bottom there
are, of course, certain numbers in the series which appear out of
place.

SERIES I

The hauls of Series I were made by using drag-hooks between
bars on a line 40 rods north of the center of Section 22, August
22, 1900.

Haul

Depth in feet

Results

25-22

Nothing.

25-24

A little Nitella.

24-20

Nitella and several

Vivipara contectoides.

22-18

Nitella abundant; Vivipara, especially young ones, abundant.

18-16

Some Nitella; some Potamogeton robbinsii; a few Vitipara.

16-12

Potamogeton robbinsii; P. compressus; Philotria; Vallisntria and a good
Vivipara.

deal of

10-8

Chara.

10-8

Potamogeton robbint

ii; Ceratophyllum; Chara; few Vivipara.

On a bar; marl bottom; little vegetation; some short Chara and a little Pota-
mogeton lucens.

SERIES II

A second series of dredge-hauls, made on the same date and in
the same general locality, is represented by the following table :

No. of haul

Depth in feet

Results

26-22

A little Nitella.

22-13

Potamogeton robbinsii; Chara;
tectoides.

a little Naias; a little Vallisneria;

Vivipara con-

20-16

Potamogeton robbinsii; P. lucen

s; Philotria; Vivipara, 2.

Chara abundant; Potamogeton robbinsii abundant: P. amplifolius
lisneria, Myriophyllum, and Naias a little; Potamogeton lucens;
tectoides several.

a little; Val-
Vivipara con-

260 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

SERIES III

This table records a series of hauls made with a drag on east
and west half section line, section 22, and east of the middle of
the same section in water between shore bar and lake bar, dragging
toward the lake bar.

No. of haul

Depth in feet

Results

25-22

Mud bottom, Nitella abundant, covered with young gastropods, probably
Vivipara contectoides; 1 large V. contectoides and 1 small bivalve. No plants
except the Niiella.

22-18

Mud bottom, chiefly Ceratophyllum and some Nitella; no other plants; several
moderate sized V. contectoides and a few small ones.

20-18

Mud bottom, Nitella plentiful, with several plants of Ceratophyllum and 1 of
Potamogeton; several young gastropods, some evidently V. contectcidts.

22-19

Mud bottom, chiefly Ceratophyllum; a good deal Nitella and 2 stems Potamo
geton compressu?; plenty of V. contectoides; 1 red worm.

18-17

Chiefly Ceratophyllum; some Nitella; a little Potamogeton compressus and P.
robbinsii; V. contectoides common.

17-15

Ceratophyllum, abundant; Potamogeton sp., a good deal; P. robbinsii, common;
Naias, Philotria and Chara, a little; plenty of V. contectoid(s; 1 red worm.

15-14

SteTi of Potamogeton sp.

14-12

Plenty of- P. compressus; some Vallisneria; a little Myriophyllum; two other
species of Potamogeton.

P. compressvs, plentiful; Naias fleiilis robus'.a, plentiful; Vallisneria, little; P.
robbinsii, little; Myriiphyllum , little.

12-10

P. compressus, common; P. perfoliatus, few plants, in fruit; Potamogeton sp;
few.

Nearly all P. compressus.

CONDITIONS FAVORABLE TO FISH-LIFE

The physical and biological conditions obtaining at Lake Max-
inkuckee are favorable in an unusual degree to the development of
fish-life ; they are sufficiently diversified to provide suitable environ-
ments for species possessing widely different habits. The lake-
bed varies, in different places, all the way from soft black mud and
decaying vegetation through clay, marl, fine sand, coarse sand, and
fine gravel to coarse gravel and glacial boulders. In the littoral the
bottom, though usually of hard, compact sand and gravel, is, in
places, of softer material or very boggy. The depth of water
ranges from a few inches to 89 feet. There is a considerable area
of water exceeding 40 feet in depth, and there is a very great area

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 261

of bars on which the depth is 20 feet or less, and these are dis-
tributed about the lake most advantageously. The water appears
to be of the best, as to purity, clearness, and temperature; it is
warm enough to meet the needs of many species which thrive in
warmer water, and cold enough for cold water species. The only
important known limitation lies in the absence of absorbed oxygen
in the depths, which necessarily bars the lake to deepwater species,
such as the lake trout.

The biological environment appears to be equally well adapted
to support a varied and abundant fish life. The plankton (both
holophytic and holozoic) is adequate both in quantity and quality;
its composition seems almost ideal, and its distribution appears
to be that which will meet the needs of the fishes in the highest
measure.

The larger plants are also well selected as to species and abund-
ance; most of them are certainly helpful in one way or another.
Animals of various kinds, many of them useful to fishes and few
of them harmful, are present. There are many species of mollusks,
many of crustaceans, and a good number of batrachians and rep-
tiles. Aquatic birds, as ducks, coots and grebes, are common, and
to be sure, not always helpful to fish-life, but, on the other hand,
not wholly harmful. Natural enemies of fishes are not numerous
nor very destructive. The purity of the water probably has much
to do with keeping the fishes resistant to disease.

Favorable situations for spawning grounds are numerous.
There are reedy shallows for pickerel, pike, yellow perch, and the
like ; sandy and gravelly areas near shore for darters, various min-
nows, and sunfishes of various kinds ; bars of moderate depth well
suited to bass, bluegills, walleyed pike and yellow perch; and a
great range of situations in which most of the other species find
conditions favorable to their eggs and young.

In the following systematic account of the fishes of Lake Maxin-
kuckee, we have endeavored to treat each species somewhat fully,
so that anyone using this report will be able to acquire the general
facts in its life history and to be able to distinguish the different
species, one from another. A statement as to the known geogra-
phic distribution of each is given, followed by remarks on its dis-
tribution and habits in Lake Maxinkuckee as made known to us
through our studies in that region, and finally by a relatively non-
technical description which, it is believed, will enable anyone using
the book to identify the species occurring here.

The total number of species of fishes known from Lake Maxin-
kuckee and its immediately connecting waters is 64. Of this num-

262 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

bar, 59 are known to occur in the lake proper and its small inlets,
the remaining 5 species being found in Lost Lake and the outlet
immediately below.

This is a considerably greater number of species of fishes than
is known from any other small lake in the world. For purposes of
comparison, the following figures are given :

There are known from the entire basin of the Great Lakes
152 species ; from Lake Ontario, 73 ; from the St. Lawrence River
and its tributaries, 71 ; from Lake Champlain and tributary waters,
54 ; from Chautauqua Lake, 31 ; from Cayuga Lake, 59 ; from Tur-
key Lake, Indiana, 29 ; from Eagle Lake, Indiana, 41 ; from Clear
Lake, California, 13 ; Colorado River basin, 32 ; Klamath River
basin, 15.

The great variety of fish-life in Lake Maxinkuckee is due to the
unusual assemblage of favorable factors, constituting an environ-
ment, both physical and biological, that conduces in a remarkable
degree to the development of a varied aquatic fauna.

The 64 species of fishes known to inhabit this lake are distrib-
uted among 15 families and 41 genera. There are representatives
of nearly all the families of American freshwater food-fishes only
the salmon, sturgeon, mooneye, grayling, dallia, blindfish, pirate-
perch, trout-perch, and sculpin families being unrepresented. And
nearly all those families containing species which are useful as food
for the food-fishes have numerous representatives 'here. The fami-
lies having large representation are the Cyprinidse (minnows) with
17 species, the CentrarchidaB (basses and sunfishes) with 11 species;
the Siluridse (catfishes) with 4 species; the Catostomidse (suckers)
with 5 species; and the PercidaB (perches and darters) with 13
species.

Of the 64 species inhabiting the lake at least 30 may be re-
garded as food-fishes of greater or less importance. The most im-
portant of these are the two species of black bass, the yellow perch,
the bluegill and the walleyed pike. And at least 16 species are re-
garded as game fishes of greater or less interest. Among these
are the small-mouth black bass, the large-mouth black bass, wall-
eyed pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass, and pike.

Fishes in this lake are not only unusually numerous as to
species, but equally so as to individuals. Many of the species are
found in very great abundance, some of them swarming in myri-
ads. Even the game fishes are usually abundant. This is par-
ticularly true of the yellow perch, bluegill and the basses. When
one considers the vast amount of fishing that is done at this lake,
it is little less than marvelous that the supply keeps up so well

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 263

as it does. The plantings made from time to time by the Bureau
of Fisheries doubtless contribute in great measure to the mainte-
nance of this satisfactory condition; nevertheless, the conditions
for natural reproduction must be exceptionally favorable.

Of the 64 species of fishes inhabiting this lake, at least 29 are
used more or less for food and may therefore be properly regarded
as food-fishes. Named approximately in the order of their import-
ance as food, they are the following: Yellow perch, bluegill, rock
bass, straw bass, small-mouth black bass, walleyed pike, calico bass,
common sunfish, crappie, long-eared sunfish, warmouth, red-eared
sunfish, pickerel, pike, eel, white sucker, redhorse, black sucker,
chub sucker, carp, common bullhead, yellow bullhead, black bull-
head, dogfish, river chub, creek chub, silverside, buifalo and spoon-
bill cat.

Col. Daniel McDonald, in his interesting "History 1 of Lake Max-
inkuckee," states that little or no attention was given to the fish of
the lake by the early settlers until about 1840. "There are yet
living in Marshall County a few of those who as boys fished with
their fathers in those early times, and the stories they tell of the
schools of fish to be seen and the quantities caught are enough to
make the modern fisherman green with envy. With fish poles cut
from the grubs, homemade linen lines, and hooks of antique make,
a couple of farmers would man a canoe, paddle to the first bar, and
with worms and grubs for bait, an evening's fishing would bring
in a bushel of as fine fish as ever swam in lake or river. It was not
many months before a longer, a trolling line, with bucktail bait,
was used, and a pull across the lake was all that was needed to fur-
nish a small neighborhood with a hearty fish meal."

That this lake was early known to the Indians and resorted to
by them on account of the abundance of its fishes, is well known.
The Indian villages on its shores and in its vicinity were among the
most populous in northern Indiana, and they depended in large
measure on this and neighboring lakes for their supply of food.

FISHING AND FISH PROTECTION

In the early days the methods of fishing were primitive and
had as their sole object the taking of fish for food. The spirit
of the meek and honest Isaak Walton had not as yet penetrated
any of those sturdy pioneers; they had other more important,
more serious things to do. They caught fish only when needed
as food. They caught them in their own way and in such

1 History of Lake Maxinkuckee, by Daniel McDonald. Indianapolis, J905.

264 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

quantities as the condition of the larder in their cabins de-
manded. It was purely a matter of food supply with them.
Forunately for us, as well as for them, fish were abundant and
the supply was not easily exhausted. Little or no thought was
given to methods of fishing except as related to immediate,
tangible results. There was no apparent danger of depleting the
supply; fish were abundant and, it seemed, would always remain
so. That a time would ever come when the fish would need pro-
tection probably never occurred to any one; the fish protection
idea was of later birth.

According to Mr. McDonald, spearing fish at night very early
became a favorite method of fishing and "if the occupants of a
boat got less than a hundred pounds of fish during a night they
considered themselves in bad luck."

A little later, between 1850 and 1860, the use of seines be-
came common and great quantities of fish of various kinds were
caught each year in this way.

The sentiment favoring the protection of the fish of the lake
has developed slowly, but it has developed. It has developed not
only in the minds of the regular summer cottagers, but it has grown
also in the minds of the casual visitors, the farmers roundabout
and the local villagers. There are some exceptions to be found in
each of these classes, perhaps as numerous in one as in another,
while willful law breakers are rare; those who do all the destruc-
tion they can under a liberal interpretation of the law, are more
numerous. On the whole, however, the law is well respected and
the attitude of the people toward fish protection is wholesome.

ANGLING

According to Mr. McDonald, "it was not until in the '60's
that the sporting fraternity the fishermen with rod, reel and
line began to visit Lake Maxincuckee. By that time a few
fairly comfortable row boats had been put on the lake and a small
visiting party could find accommodation for a day or two with
some of the farmers near by, and the fame of the lake as a fisher-
man's paradise began to spread abroad. The completion of the
I. P. & C. Railroad (now the Lake Erie & Western) brought the
cities along its line within eight miles of the lake, and parties from
Rochester, Peru and Logansport began to camp upon its shores,
and their white tents could be seen all through the fishing sea-
sons beneath the shady groves of Long Point, Edwards' Landing
and Peebles's Point. And after the completion of the Vandalia

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 265

Railroad to South Bend the Terre Haute people came in goodly
numbers. The good qualities of the lake were first made known
to the Indianapolis people by Hon. Martin H. Rice, who had known
the lake since 1855, and when the railroad was completed the fish-
ermen from the capital city came up, first singly, then by twos
and threes, and finally by the dozen, to try their luck in the clear
waters of our beautiful lake. They found good quarters at the
Allegheny House, and they brought along their finest fishing tackle,
their well-tried fly rods, their Frankfort reels, and the most ap-
proved artificial baits, and they all caught fish all kinds of fish
and enough to make a goodly show in their fish baskets, and nearly
every man of them had a bundle of smashed fishing tackle to take
home to prove the truth of his story of the big fish he had hooked,
but which got away. And the men from these cities came again
and again, and they caught something besides the fishes; they
caught a vision of the glory of the lake, with its clear waters, its
tree-lined shores, its wooded bluffs, its clean sandy beaches over
which gurgled the cool waters of its crystal springs, and the vision
went with them to their homes, to their business rooms, and it
would not depart, and they began to long for a portion of bluff, of

The charm of Maxinkuckee rests partly on its brilliant water above a clean gravel floor,
and partly on the elevated shore line covered with grass and grove down to the water edge.

266 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

shore or beach, where they might abide for days or months and
take into their souls all the beauties that vision had revealed to
them, and shortly after they became possessors of jutting points,
of stretches of beach, of tracts of wooded shores, of acres of the
shady bluffs, and there they built the row of artistic cottages that
now encircle the lake like rich tinted gems set around a luminous
pearl."

And thus the angler has come more and more in evidence as the
years have passed. At first the fishing was done wholly with live
bait. The usual method still largely in vogue among the farm-
ers of the region was by means of the long cane pole and angle-
worms, grubs, grasshoppers, mussels, or cut fish for bait. Min-
nows and artificial lures were not popular nor much appreciated.
Later, a greater refinement of method gradually developed.
Jointed split bamboo, lancewood and Bristol steel rods came into
use, the lightness and cost of the rod varying with the experience,
skill and professional pride of the angler. The grasshopper has
continued a favorite for summer fishing and it is likely to ever so
remain. The live minnow has grown in use and is now indis-
pensible to fall fishing. Artificial lures of various kinds have come
into use, some to be discarded, others as the frog and the Dowagiac,
to remain in favor.

A brief description of these various methods of angling will, it
is believed, prove of interest and value.

The long cane pole: This primitive and very effective method
is still popular and will doubtless remain so. A good long stem
of the giant cane (Arundinaria macrosperma) is selected. The
length may vary from 10 to 25 feet. The longer the pole the bet-
ter, as the areas over which one may fish vary as the squares of
lengths of the poles. The devotees of this method of fishing usually
go out in pairs and each with two poles. One fishes from the bow
of the boat, the other from the stern. The line used is as long as
can be properly handled without the use of a reel, and thus the
fisherman is able to reach water 30 to 50 feet distant on either side,
in front, or behind. He whips first on one side and then on the
other until the fish are found when he anchors and settles down to
steady fishing. A cork or wooden float is almost invariably used
and it is adjusted from time to time to suit the depth of water.
The line is usually inexpensive. The bait used consists chiefly
of angleworms, cut bait and grasshoppers. Angleworms (and
grubs when they can be had) are always popular. From early
spring until midsummer they are the chief bait. In July, when

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 267

grasshoppers appear, they largely take the place of worms and con-
tinue to be the principal bait until fall when they can not be
easily obtained. Cut bait is always resorted to when other kinds
fail, and by some is even preferred. Various species of fishes,
mussels and even meat are utilized. Sometimes a stringer is used
on which to keep the catch, but usually a gunny sack is preferred.
The sack, securely fastened to the boat, is allowed to hang in the
water, by which method the fish are kept alive and in excellent
condition.

The species most often caught are bluegills, yellow perch, rock
bass, calico bass and catfish, though an occasional bass or wall-
eyed pike is taken. A hundred fish to the boat is not an un-
usual catch.

This method is very effective and, on occasion, appeals to many
an angler who usually uses more expensive tackle.

Trolling: Trolling has long been, and still is, a popular method
of fishing. It can be practiced any time in the year when the ice
is off the lake, and it seems to be about equally effective at all times.
The rod used varies from a short stiff cane pole to a high-priced
split bamboo. The line is usually of better quality than that used
by the long cane fisherman. It may vary in length from 50 to 200
feet. Among the popular lures are the Hildebrandt spinner, the
Skinner fluted spoon, and other spoons, phantom minnows, and the
like. Perhaps the most effective is the Hildebrandt spinner. When
this method is employed the angler usually throws out his line im-
mediately after putting out from shore and free of weeds, and
then rows slowly to some favorite bar across or along the edge of
which he will carefully row, doubling and recrossing as occasion
requires.

The species most often caught are the straw bass, small-mouth
bass and the walleyed pike in the order named. Now and then
a rock bass, calico bass or yellow perch is taken. The straw bass,
however, is, above all, the species most frequently caught by
trolling.

Bait-casting: This method has grown in popularity greatly
during the last few years, whereas it was little practiced 10 years
ago. A short rod, either of split bamboo, steel or lance wood, 3|
to 6 feet long, and a good 60-yard quadruple reel, with 50 yards
of light, flat raw silk line, of 10 to 14 pounds tension, together with
surface artificial lures such as the Dowagiac, pork rind, or pork
chunk with weedless hooks or frog, constitute the proper outfit.
Sometimes live frogs are used and with commendable success.

268 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

The boat is slowly rowed over what is thought to be likely
water, the angler casting the meanwhile, on either side or from
the bow, 50 to 75 feet, depending upon the skill he happens to pos-
sess in the art. Many of those who come to the lake are quite
successful and easily reach the lawful limit. The species taken are
large-mouth bass, small-mouth black bass, and walleyed pike. Oc-
casionally two bass or a bass and a walleyed pike are taken at one
cast.

A favorite and usually successful method practiced by those who
are seeking large-mouth bass is to row slowly late in the evening
or very early in the morning along near the shore and cast into
the edges of the patches of weeds.

Fly-casting: Not many fly fishermen come to Lake Maxin-
kuckee and not much fly casting is seen there. Those who do come
use a 9 to 10-foot rod, and a very light oiled or Japan waxed silk
line of 10 to 14-pounds tension. The small-mouth bass is the
species usually taken ; rarely a large-mouth bass or a walleyed pike
is secured. But several other species will rise to the fly on occa-
sion; among them may be mentioned the rock bass, yellow perch,
pumpkinseed, bluegill, calico bass, crappie, and the warmouth bass.

Baits and lures: The baits and lures used by the fishermen who
visit this lake have a very wide range. They include, among live
bait, minnows, frogs, grasshoppers, crickets, grubs, angleworms;
among cut bait, mussels, meat, cut fish, crawfish, etc. ; and among
artificial lures, Dowagiacs of all patterns, Hildebrandt spinners,
Skinner fluted spoons, buck tail, squirrel tail, pork rind, pork chunk,
and doubtless others.

Beginning in the spring live minnows are used. The principal
bait minnows are the following: creek chub, river chub, blunt-
nosed minnow, Storer's chub, common shiner, silverside, young
goldfish, mud minnow, straw-colored minnow, grayback minnow,
mad torn, darters of various kinds, and various other small fishes.
For large bass and walleyed pike, creek and river chubs of moder-
ate size are preferred ; for smaller bass any of the other species
mentioned are good; and for bluegills, rock bass and perch, small
minnows of almost any kind are suitable if not too large. The
value of any particular kind of minnow depends largely upon its
ability to live on the hook; if the minnow is delicate and dies
promptly, it is not of great value, however attractive it may other-
wise be. For this reason the common mud minnow ( Umbra limi)
is popular. Its dark, somber color, however, prevents it from
being very attractive to bass and walleyed pike. The mad torn

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 269

and other small catfish, so popular with bass fishermen on- the
Susquehanna River, are not much used at this lake.

Unfortunately good bait minnows are not abundant in the
streams about Lake Maxinkuckee. The nearest streams from
which good minnows can be obtained are the Yellow. River, about
two or three miles north of the lake, and the Tippecanoe River at
Belong, four miles south. Most of the minnows used at the lake
come from a distance, mostly from Bachelors Run, Wild Cat Creek,
and Deer Creek in Carroll County, and from the Wabash River and
small creeks near Logansport. Many of the anglers who come to
the lake for a few days' fishing bring a bucket of live minnows
with them.

Minnows will be used in the spring and early summer until the
water becomes so warm that they will not keep well; then they
give way to grasshoppers which constitute the principal live bait
from the middle of July until in September or the first frosts,
after which they can no longer be found in any abundance. As
soon as grasshoppers become scarce and the water becomes cool,
minnows again become popular and continue so throughout the
late fall and winter. After the temperature of the lake water gets
down to 45 most any of the minnows -can be kept alive in minnow
buckets all winter.

Grasshoppers become popular as a bait just as soon as they
are abundant enough to be caught in any numbers. At Lake Max-
inkuckee this happens in the first half of July, and they continue
in demand as long as they can be obtained. About the last of
September, after a few good frosts have come, grasshoppers dis-
appear. Most of the grasshoppers used at this lake belong to one
or the other of two species, Melanoplus differentialis and Melanop-
lus bivittatus, more of the former than of the latter. Both species
are abundant in the meadows and fields about the lake, particu-
larly on the west and south. In 1898, a boy living 2| miles south
of the lake sold $25 worth of grasshoppers to anglers about the
lake, and in 1899, $43.35 worth. He charged only 5 cents a dozen.
Several other boys supplied grasshoppers more or less regularly
during the season, and the total amount of money received by them
per season for hoppers has been conservatively estimated at $200,
which would represent 4,000 dozen grasshoppers. Perhaps another
1,000 dozen were caught by the fishermen themselves, thus mak-
ing the total number used each season at the lake not fewer than
5,000 dozen or 60,000 grasshoppers.

Considerable numbers of white grubs also are used. In 1899,

270 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

the grasshopper boy sold 140 dozen white grubs at 5 cents a dozen,
or $7.00. The grubs are a very killing bait as long as they last
for any fish with mouth large enough to take them. Of all species
perhaps the rock bass is the one that likes them best.

Angleworms are always in demand and can usually be depended
on to appeal strongly to rock bass, crappie, calico bass, yellow perch
and bluegills; and, when properly impaled, they are not without
attraction to bass and walleyed pike. Perhaps they possess the
greatest charm to the goggle-eye and yellow perch, and it is a poor
angler, indeed, who, when armed with a liberal supply of angle-
worms, can not reach the lawful limit of these species. Fortu-
nately for the fish, the region about Lake Maxinkuckee is entirely
too sandy for angleworms, and those who wish to use this old
familiar bait must bring them from other more favored localities.

Frogs are not much used for bait at this lake. Small examples
of the common leopard frog (Rana pipiens) , and the little cricket
frog (Acris gryllus), are the species most used. At times good
catches of straw bass have been made with these by casting along
the edges of patches of Scirpus or lily-pads, particularly in Lost
Lake. In the fall of the year when it is a little too cold for grass-
hoppers and a little too warm for minnows, black crickets (Gryllus
abbreviatus) are sometimes used with good results. These crick-
ets can be had late in the fall after grasshoppers have practically
disappeared. Favorite places to find them are in tiles lying on the
ground or under pieces of old canvas or tarpaulin lying spread out
on the ground. By examining such situations early in the morning
large numbers may often be found. Crickets are most attractive
to bluegills and goggle-eyes.

Of the various kinds of cut bait cut fish is probably most used
and most popular, as well as most easily obtained. An eye, a
pectoral fin, or a piece of flesh of a yellow perch, is quite attractive
to goggle-eyes, yellow perch and sometimes, to bluegills; occasion-
ally good catches of crappie, calico bass, and even small-mouth
bass can be made with this sort of bait.

Mussels or freshwater clams are not much used except by the
long cane pole fishermen who are after goggle-eyes, bluegills and
yellow perch. The "foot" is the part of the mussel generally used.

Crawfish are frequently used for bait. Small soft "ones are
often used whole ; larger ones are cut up and only the fleshy part
of the tail made use of. This sort of bait is of course used only
in still fishing.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 271

Of artificial lures the kinds are many and diverse that one may
see about the lake. Among a few of the more popular are the
Hildebrandt baits of various kinds, particularly the double tandem
and single spinners, Skinner's new casting spoon No. 2, various
weedless hooks such as Bing's, Mayer's, Maloney's, Hasting's and
McCurdy's, buck tails, reverse double-blade spinners, vacuum bass-
baits, moonlight floating bait, weedless porkers, Hedden's surface
and minnow baits, and Dowagiacs of various patterns. All these
and many others are more or less popular. Aberdeen hooks, Ken-
dall sneck, Cincinnati bass, sproat and Pennell, are popular, No. 4
for bluegills, yellow perch, redeyes and crappie, and Nos. 1 to 4/0
for bass and walleyed pike.

Reels of many kinds are in use, and rods of many styles from
the long cane pole to the most expensive split bamboo and lance-
wood and green heart ; an 81-foot rod for bass, 7^-f oot for walleyed,
pike and 10-foot No. 4 for bluegills and perch.

LAKE MAXINKUCKEE AS AN ANGLING RESORT

No very close estimate can be made of the number of anglers
who visit Lake Maxinkuckee annually, or of the quantity of fish of
each species annually taken from the lake. There are now about
the lake about 175 summer cottages. Each of these is occupied from
two to five months each season. There will probably be at least one
person at each cottage who does more or less fishing. Then a great
many more come and spend from one to several days fishing. In the
spring, and more particularly in the fall, farmers and farmers'
boys from the surrounding country make frequent fishing trips
to the lake. Then many of the permanent residents about the
lake and in the town of Culver do more or less fishing throughout
the year. It is believed that 2,000 is a conservative estimate of
the number of people who fish at Lake Maxinkuckee for an aver-
age of twenty days each year, and that the average daily catch
is five fish for each person. This would make an annual catch
of 200,000 fish. Putting the average weight at one pound, this
would make the annual catch 200,000 pounds. The species caught,
in order of number, are yellow perch, bluegill, rock bass, straw
bass, black bass, and walleyed pike. Considered by weight the
order would be straw bass, bluegill, walleyed pike, rock bass, yellow
perch, and black bass.

The following table will give some idea of the angling possibil-
ities at this lake.

1817618

272 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

FISH BY SPECIES AND NUMBER CAUGHT BY ONE ANGLER AT LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

Date

1899

Small-
mouth
Black
Bass

Large-
mouth
Black
Bass

Rock
Bass

Bluegill

Walleyed
Pike

Yellow
Perch

Catfish

Remarks

Aug.
18

Sept.
1

Date
1899

Small-
mouth
Black
Bass

Large-
mouth
Black
Bass

Rock
Bass

BluegiU

Walleyed
Pike

Yellow
Perch

Catfish

Calico
Bass

Remarks

Oct.
1

Nov
5

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 273

I ISM BY SPECIES AND NUMBER CAUGHT BY ONE ANGLER AT LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

Continued

Date
1899

Small-
mouth
Black
Bass

Large-
mouth
Black
Bass

Rock
Bass

Bluegill

Walleyed
Pike

Yellow
Perch

Catfish

Calico
Bass

Remarks

Nov.
15

1900
Jan.
3

Feb.
6

36 Ibs.
11

April
22

May
4

July
9

200

166

160

274 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Some idea can be gotten of the amount of fishing at Lake
Maxinkuckee by noting the number of anglers' boats observed on
the lake from day to day. A few records of this kind were made
and they are here summarized in the following table:

A.M.

P. M.

Date

Sky

Lake surface

No. of boats

Sky

Lake surface

No. of boats

July
14

Cloudy

Cloudy . . .

Rain

Cloudy

Fair

18
19

Fair
Fair

Smooth
Smooth

13
11

Fair
Fair

Very smooth. .
Choppy

9
9

Fair

Smooth

Fair

Rough

Fair, east wind

Fair ..

Fair, east wind

6 '

Fair

Fair . .

Fair

Smooth

Fair

Rain

Rough

Fair . .

Fair

Cloudy

Fair

Smooth

Fair

Rough . .

Fair

Smooth

Fair

Smooth

August
1

Rain

Fair

Rough

Fair

Smooth ....

Fair

Partly cloudy

Fair

Few

Clear

Smooth ....

Few

Clear

Smooth

Clear

Cloudy

Rough

Rain

Rough

Fair

Smooth

Fair

Rough

Fair

Choppy

Fair

Rough

Cloudy

Rough

July
17

Smooth

Few

August
10

September
3

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 275

Ice-fishing: One of the most interesting methods of fishing
practiced at Lake Maxinkuckee is that known as ice fishing, or
fishing through the ice. A rather careful study was made of this
method during the winter of 1900-1901, and a large amount of in-
teresting and valuable data secured.

The apparatus and the method may be described as follows:

The apparatus consists of a small stick about 15 inches long,
f inch thick, 2 inches wide at the reel end and tapering to one
inch at the smaller end. On the larger end is placed a spool,
usually If inches in diameter and If inches long, upon which the
line is wound. The axis of the spool projects on one side as a
handle, bent to the shape of the handle of the ordinary reel. About
4 or 5 inches from the spool is a hole through the stick through
which a round stick somewhat smaller than the hole is placed. An
oblong hole is cut in the ice, through which the lower end of the
stick is placed until the cross-stick rests upon the ice, adjusted so
that the stick stands at an angle of about 40 degrees from perpen-
dicular. A piece of red flannel is tied to the handle of the reel
which is adjusted so as to stand up. Live minnows are used for
bait. Each fisherman will have several, sometimes 15 to 20,
spools arranged in a circle in the center of which he stands, keep-
ing watch on all. When the red signal of any reel is observed to
be turned down he assumes that a fish has taken the minnow of
that line and, going to it, he takes the spool in his hand, gives it
a jerk to hook the fish, then winds it in.

Another somewhat similar contrivance used to some extent by
ice-fishermen is the tip-up. This consists of a board 24 inches
long, f inch thick and about 2 inches wide. A hole is bored
through the board from edge to edge about 8 inches from one end.
This detached piece, upon the outer end of which the spool is placed
is supported by a wooden pin passing through the hole already
mentioned and is so balanced that, when the tip-up is properly placed,
a slight pull on the upper end brings it down. Usually a small
leather flap is fastened upon the frame at the lower end so as to aid
in holding the movable piece in place until pulled upon by a fish.
The tip-up is set in the ice at an angle of about 45 degrees and the
hook is let down through a hole underneath. Live minnows are
used for bait. When the bait is taken the movable piece tips, the
spool end going down.

Sometimes the tip-up is simply laid flat on the ice over the
hole. The inner (or base) end of the movable piece is painted red
so that it may be seen the more readily when it tips up.

276 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Ice fishing usually begins as soon as the ice is strong enough
to bear up well, and continues as long as it remains safe. In the
winter of 1900-1901, it began on December 13 and continued until
March 22. Fishing is best when the ice is covered with snow or
has become sufficiently opaque to prevent the fish from seeing the
fishermen.

As Lost Lake freezes over earlier in the winter than the large
lake, ice fishing begins there first. On the first fine morning after
the ice has become strong enough to be safe and sufficient snow has
fallen to render it opaque, the ice fishermen will be found out in
force. Usually there are about a half dozen who make ice fishing
a regular business in winter. Besides these there is a varying
number of others who fish irregularly. The fishermen usually ar-
rive upon the scene early in the morning and, unless the weather
becomes too disagreeable, continue until evening, and every day
until the ice becomes so rotten as to be unsafe.

The number of ice fishermen will vary from 2 or 3 to 20 or
30; perhaps the average daily number would be about 6.

The species of fishes that are caught in this way at this lake
are the following : Straw bass, black bass, bluegill, rock bass, wall-
eyed pike, yellow perch, warmouth, crappie, calico bass, grass pike,
and catfish. Water-dogs and turtles are also occasionally taken.

The straw bass is the principal fish caught, though large num-
bers of the other species are sometimes taken. The method is a
very successful one and on favorable days large catches are made.

The following table shows by species the number of fish caught
by certain ice fishermen in the winter of 1900-1901 :

Date
. 1900

No.

fishing

Yellow
Perch

Crap-
pie

Cat-
fish

Straw
Bass

Grass
Pike

War-
mouth

Black
Bass

Blue-
gill

Rock
Bass

Wall-
eye

Water-
dog

December
14

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 277

Date
1901

No.
fishing

Yellow
Perch

Crap-
pie

Cat-
fish

Straw
Bass

Grass
Pike

War-
mouth

Black
Bta

HlUO-

gill

Rock
Bass

Wall-
eye

Water-
dog

Dog-
fish

Jan.

-21

Feb.

Date
1901

Number
fishing

ll
:=

Catfish

Straw Bass

Grass Pike

Warmouth

Black Bass

&
1

Waterdog

Calico Bass

February
15

March
1

112

195

126

1,068

278 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

FISHES PLANTED IN LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

The people interested in Lake Maxinkuckee have been and are
alive to the value of the artificial propagation of food and game
fishes and the inadequacy of natural reproduction to keep up the
supply in the lake. The officials of the Vandalia Railroad, the
Maxinkuckee Association, and a number of private individuals
have kept in touch with angling conditions at the lake and have
been active in their efforts to keep up the supply of fish. The
United States Bureau of Fisheries has always responded promptly
to requests for fish for this lake, and during the last 23 years has
planted in the lake a total of more than 34,138,830 fish.

So far as known the first plantings of fish in Lake Maxinkuckee
were made in September, 1889, and August, 1890, by the senior
author of this report, then professor of biology in the Indiana State
Normal School at Terre Haute. In his investigations about Terre
Haute he had observed that, during high water in the spring, many
fishes, including both the large-mouth black bass and the small-
mouth black bass, run out into the overflow ponds and bayous
along the Wabash River, and, as the water recedes, become caught
there. And in the fall the majority of these ponds dry up and
the fish in them perish. He conceived the idea of seining out these
fish and transplanting them into the Wabash River and Lake Max-
inkuckee. Large tin transportation cans were borrowed from the
U. S. Fish Commission, and with the assistance of his students
several hundred valuable fish were saved which would otherwise
certainly have perished had they been left in the ponds. Many
hundreds of large-mouth black bass, small-mouth black bass, rock
bass, crappie, calico bass, sunfish and catfish of several species,
suckers, buffalo, saugers, and other less important kinds, were
turned loose in the Wabash River near by, and one shipment was
made to Lake Maxinkuckee. Two other shipments were made in
August, 1890. Mr. George E. Farrington, general agent of the
Vandalia, with the true public spirit and a keen appreciation of the
advantages of keeping Lake Maxinkuckee an attractive fishing
resort, kindly arranged for the free transportation of the fish to
the lake, and the three plants were made from the pier at Knapp's
hotel. The three plants aggregated a total of 750 adult fish and
consisted chiefly of large-mouth black bass though there were many
of the small-mouth species among them.

Since then the U. S. Fish Commission (now the Bureau of Fish-
eries) , has planted a great many fish in Lake Maxinkuckee, as may

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 279

be seen from the following tabular statement. It is doubtful if any
lake in the country has been more liberally supplied with fish by
the Government. It is also doubted if there is any other lake where
the results of artificial plantings of fishes have been more satis-
factory. Perhaps the best results have been obtained with the
walleyed pike, locally called "salmon." While this species is un-
doubtedly indigenous to the lake, it does not seem to breed well
in this lake. In order to keep up the supply to any considerable
abundance it is therefore necessary to make large plants of fry
from time to time. It is believed that the majority of "walleyed"
pike caught each year are the grown up fish from the fry planted
two or more years previously. It is different, however, with the
large-mouth black bass, the small-mouth black bass and most of
the other species planted; they all breed freely in this lake and
every plant made increases the breeding stock correspondingly.

It will be observed from the table that four plants of lake trout
aggregating 10,587 fish have been made in this lake. So far as
we have been able to learn there is no evidence that any of these
survived ; there is no authentic record of the capture of a lake trout
in this lake. If the physical and biological conditions obtaining in
Lake Maxinkuckee had been as well understood before the lake trout
were planted, as they are now, those plants would not have been
made. One of the important results of our investigations was the
discovery that there is little or no absorbed oxygen in the deeper
waters of the lake in the fall. Deep-water species, such as the lake
trout, whitefish, etc., finding no oxygen in the depths they inhabit,
can not survive. This interesting problem is discussed more fully in
another part of this report (page 221) . If this important fact had
been known in time the plantings of lake trout would not have been
made and the Government would have been saved an expense
greater than the entire cost of all the investigations that have been
made of Lake Maxinkuckee.

The following table shows the number of fish of the various
species that have been placed in Lake Maxinkuckee. In the earlier
plantings the two species of bass were not differentiated; each
planting usually contained both species, the large-mouth more often
predominating :

280 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

PLANTS OF FISH IN LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

Date

Species

Fry

Fingerlings and adults

1889-90

750

1890
Feb. 15

Lake trout

1,900 yearling

1891
Jan. 14

Lake trout

3,250 yearling

June 12

Pike perch or salmon

800,000

1892
Feb 1

Nov 10

Crappie

50 year ing

1894
Mar 10

1 ii .-

2 906 yearling

2 000 000

1896
Dee 29

Black bass

2,200 yearling

1 , 600 yearling

300 adult

1898
Oct 20

200 yearling

1899
Aug 23

5 198 adult

1900
May 16

800,000

1902

10,000,000

800

1903

8,200,000

400

1904

Pike perch

7,700,000

1905

Catfish

5,700

750

6,900

1907

1,000,000

1909

625

1911

1,500,000

1912

2,100,000

1913

250

Total . -.

34,100,000

38.830

From this it is seen that a total of over thirty-four million fish
have been planted in Lake Maxinkuckee. These represent differ-
ent species, as follows:

Lake trout 10,587

Pike perch 34,100,000

Black bass, both species

Warmouth bass

Crappie

Yellow perch

Catfish .

18,558
400

3,200
385

5,700

Total 34,138,830

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 281

All of these species do well in Lake Maxinkuckee except the
lake trout. It is not certain that any of that species has ever been
seen in the lake after the plants were made, but all the others do
well.

On April 1, 1908, 600 rainbow trout were put in the outlet
stream just below Walley's and 150 in Culver Creek north of the
Academy grounds. The trout were 3 to 5 inches long.

Although an examination of those streams indicated favorable
conditions under which trout ought to do well, none of the fish has
been seen since the plants were made. The conditions are so fa-
vorable that it is hoped the experiment may be repeated soon.

The establishment of a fish-cultural station or fish hatchery at
Lake Maxinkuckee has often been suggested.

It is believed that an excellent site for a pond station could be
secured at this lake. There are two or three excellent locations on
the east side where a gravity supply of water could be secured and
where ground suitable in character and ample in area for a series
of ponds can be found. There are also good locations on the north
and west sides.

A well-equipped hatchery at this lake could easily keep, not
only Lake Maxinkuckee, but all suitable waters in northern Indi-
ana well stocked with bass, walleyed pike, bluegills, and rock bass.

MORTALITY AMONG DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FISHES

At various times in the year dead fish of different species are
found in some numbers washed up along the shore. The species
most affected appear to be the bluegills and white suckers. The
bluegills die in the spring, in May and June, and the white suckers
in the fall, usually in September. Although a large number of dead
fish were examined no satisfactory explanation of the cause or
causes of their dying was discovered. The fish were usually infested
with water mould, or Saprolegnia, but it is not believed that was the
agent that caused the fish to die. This saprophytic plant first be-
comes evident by appearing as a soft white mould on the surface of
the fish, particularly in places where the scales have been rubbed off
or where the fish has been otherwise injured. But by the time it be-
comes evident to the naked eye, the fish is probably past helping.
When the fish becomes injured in any way or when its vitality is
lowered because of foul water or any other reason, it is apt to be
attacked by water mould and nothing can be done to save it.

In the spring of the year, soon after the ice goes off the lake,
unusual numbers of dead fish, water-dogs, crawfishes, etc., are apt
to be washed up on shore. These do not indicate any sudden or un-

282 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

usual mortality among the fishes; they probably simply represent
the accumulated mortality of the past winter, during which time
the lake was covered with ice, the water inadequately aerated, and
many fish died as a result. Fishes or other animals dying under
such circumstances would decay very slowly in the ice-covered
water and, remaining well preserved in the ice-cold water, would
accumulate and be washed up on shore soon after the ice disap-
pears and winds again disturb the lake surface.

COMMERCIAL FISHING

There is now no commercial fishing at this lake. The impor-
tant species in it are all game fishes under the law, the sale of
which is not permitted.

A canvass made of the fisheries of Indiana in 1894, credited
Lake Maxinkuckee with five hand-line fishermen with 10 hand-lines
valued at $30 and five boats worth $50, and a catch of

600 pounds of rock bass, valued at $72 00

2,833 pounds of black bass, valued at 368 00

300 pounds of walleyed pike, valued at 24 00

500 pounds of yellow perch, valued at 60 00

4,233 pounds total, valued at $524 00

This of course represents only the fish actually sold; the vastly
greater amount caught by sportsmen does not appear.

Until the present law prohibiting the sale of game fishes became
effective, a considerable part of the catch of the ice-fishermen was
sold.

OBSERVANCE OF FISH LAWS

Public sentiment about Lake Maxinkuckee in relation to the
fish and game laws is wholesome and favors their observance.
There has been a notable improvement in the last ten years. In
the spring of 1900, it was not uncommon to see lights in the
south part of the lake where spearing was going on at night.
Sometimes the violators operated in Outlet Bay. In the same
year some spearing was done about the middle of November.
Some netting was done also. A favorite method was to cut a
long narrow slit through the ice across the mouth of Norris Inlet.
A gillnet would be let down through this and by pounding on the
ice the fish would be driven into it. Little or none of this sort
of fishing has been observed recently.

It was reported that some seining was done in May, 1907, and
three arrests were made, and a conviction secured, in each case.

Considerable illegal fishing was thought to be going on in March
and April, 1911, but no actual case was observed.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 283

There have doubtless been more violations of the bird law.
Even prominent cottagers and citizens have been suspected of
shooting or hunting ducks illegally and some convictions have been
secured. In October, 1904, a prominent cottager on the east side
was caught chasing coots with a motor boat, after sunset and on
Sunday, all three acts being unlawful. He was fined on all three
counts.

We are informed by the present deputy fish and game warden
stationed at the lake that he has known of only one violation of the
fish law in the last two years. One arrest was made for having a
fish spear in possession. Conviction was secured.

It is believed that both the fish and game laws are now fairly
well observed in the vicinity of the lake.

MINNOWS

In the fall of the year, about when the water becomes chill
and the first ice forms, minnows of various species begin to
congregate in great numbers in shallow water along the shore.
On November 12, 1899, a narrow fringe of ice appeared along
the shores of Lost Lake and minnows were observed crowded
thickly under it. Similar conditions existed at the south end of
Lake Maxinkuckee and thousands of minnows were crowded under
the ice. Some that had hidden under boards and boats were more
tame and more easily caught than those found elsewhere.

On September 16, 1900, a large school was seen near shore in
front of the Fish Commission station ; on the 18th, a considerable
school remained near shore all day. On October 17, a good many
were again observed, and on the 26th, a large school remained near
shore. The day was quiet, the water very smooth, and the little
fish could be heard breaking water and splashing for some dis-
tance. They were probably feeding on surface plankton. On the
29th, they could be heard at night making a "snipping" noise. On
the night of October 30, they could be heard making a sort of lisp-
ing noise. Early in tho morning of November 3, great numbers
were seen near shore, playing very lively at the surface. Again
on the 10th, llth, and 12th they were very lively, splashing and
making considerable noise.

On November 30, several grayback minnows among a large
number taken were found to be ruptured slightly in the abdomen.
This was probably caused by freezing. Many large schools of
minnows, chiefly skipjacks, were seen under the ice at south end of
lake.

On December 1 and 2, only a few were seen near shore, some
in Lost Lake and some in the big lake. On the 3rd, there was an

284 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

immense school, very dense and compact, of straw-colored min-
nows and skipjacks along the east side of Long Point for a long
distance.

On the 5th, enormous schools, considerably larger and denser
than ever noted before/were seen along the east side of Long Point.
They made great dark patches on the bottom, like Chara carpet.
On the 12th, a good many under the ice near shore all day ; a large
and very dense school under the bow of a small steamer at the
Arlington station. Many were noted also on the 14th, in each lake,
under the ice, and a few under the ice in Lost Lake on the 15th;
none seen in the Outlet.

Similar conditions were observed in 1904. On December 16
and 24, several schools were seen along Long Point, but they were
not so dense as in 1900. On the 27th, enormous schools were seen
under the Depot pier. The next day many skipjacks were noted
under the Outlet bridge. On January 4, 1905, considerable num-
bers were seen along the north shore where there was some ice, and
Culver Inlet was full of straw-colored minnows.

In 1906, a great many were seen on east side of Long Point,
November 13, and on the 14th, many in Lost Lake.

In a body of water as small as Lake Maxinkuckee and with no
considerable tributary streams or outflow, the movements of the
fishes are necessarily much restricted. There are, however, certain
movements that may be considered, as follows :

1. From one depth to another: Movements of this kind occur
at various times.

a. During the summer, when the deeper parts of the lake are
abundantly supplied with absorbed oxygen, certain species, such
as the walleyed pike and to some extent the small-mouth black bass,
the large-mouth bass, the bluegill and the yellow perch, will be
found in deep water. This is particuarly true of the walleyed pike ;
of the other species named it is true only to a very limited ex-
tent. In the fall, even as early as September, the oxidation of
the vast amount of dead plankton which during the summer has
been slowly falling to the bottom of the lake in a continuous shower
from above, will have exhausted the supply of oxygen in the deep
water. The walleyed pike and other fishes which were able to live
there during the summer are now forced to move up to shallower
depths to which, fortunately, they are able to adapt themselves.
This movement is not usually until toward the end of September
or in October. By the middle of October they have come out into

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 285

water 30 to 45 feet deep and may be taken on or about the bars
between those depths. Later in the season they will be found at
still more shallow depths. Whether they return to deeper water
during the winter has not been definitely determined. It is known
that they are in relatively shallow water during the spring where
they remain until in June, or early July; then they go to deeper
water.

b. There is another seasonal movement from greater to lesser
depths and back again, that is probably not related in any way to
the oxygen content of the water, but which is caused chiefly by
temperature differences. This manifests itself in a number of
ways, of which a few illustrations may be given : The little stickle-
back, Eucalia inconstans, prefers relatively cold water. During
the summer and early fall they may not ordinarily be found in
water less than 15 to 20 feet in depth; indeed, they seem to go
down to the depths which mark the maximum for Chara and other
aquatic vegetation. In all of our summer seining operations about
the lake only one stickleback was obtained ; but in the late fall and
during the winter, specimens were frequently obtained when dredg-
ing in 4- to 12-foot water. During summer dredging they were
found only in considerably greater depths. Evidently these little
fish remain during the warm summer months at considerable
depths, and some, not all, come out into shallower water only when
the temperature there has become equally cool.

Then again, young of many of the fishes of the lake, especially
basses, bluegills and perch, are found in greatest abundance dur-
ing the summer in shallow water near shore where they not only
find protection in the masses of vegetation which they inhabit but
where they also find an abundant supply of suitable food. But as
fall comes on, and the shallow water near shore becomes more and
more cold until finally near the freezing point, these young fishes
move out into deeper and slightly warmer water and secrete them-
selves in the masses of Chara, Nitella and other vegetation. There
they spend the winter, returning to shallower water in the spring.

Still another movement occurs late in the fall, usually not until
after the first frosts have come, when several species of small
fishes gather up in unusual numbers in shallow water along the
shore. The species most concerned are the straw-colored minnow
(Notropis blennius) , the Cayuga minnow (Notropis cayuga), the
blunt-nosed minnow (Pimephales notatus) , the skipjack (Labides-
thes sicculus), the grayback minnow (Fundulus diaphanus me-
nona), and the log perch (Percina caprodes). Each of these
species is found at all times in greater or less numbers pretty welJ

286 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

distributed in shallow water everywhere along shore. But in the
fall they gather up in schools. Sometimes these schools are of im-
mense size, containing many thousands of individuals. The dif-
ferent species mentioned are present numerically usually in the
order named, and there will be along with them a few individuals
of several other small fishes, chiefly CyprinidaB. Usually the skip-
jacks and log perch school by themselves. The log perch schools
come earlier than the others; in 1913, they were first noticed in
large numbers on October 3, when a school of 100 to 200 or more
was seen at Johnson's pier on Long Point. They were lying quietly
on the clear sandy bottom or moving slowly about in shallow water.
The same school was observed on several subsequent days. On
the same day, October 3, a large school of skipjacks was seen near
the same place. Others were seen later and continued to be noted
as opportunity afforded so long as our observations were kept up,
or until October 31.

The very large schools of small fishes that may be seen along
the shore in the fall consist, however, chiefly of the species of
Notropis mentioned, particularly Notropis blennius and N. cayuga,
and do not appear until some time later. Perhaps the largest
schools ever noted by us were seen on November 5, 1907. On that
day the shallow water on the east side of Lost Lake was alive with
small fishes all the way from the Bardsley cottage to the south end
of the lake. More than a bushel were caught at a single haul with
a 12-foot seine. There were actually millions of them, chiefly
Notropis cayuga. In other places Notropis blennius was the most
abundant species.

These schools seen in the fall vary much in size, from small to
very large. They are seen to best advantage on still, bright sun-
shiny days, even when the air is quite cold. They are seen most
often about or under piers or boats.

We are unable at this time to explain why these small fishes col-
lect in schools and come out into shallow water in the fall. It
evidently has no relation to their feeding habits or their breeding
habits; nor does it appear to be for the purpose of getting away
from the bass and other carnivorous fishes; as a matter of fact
many of them fall prey to water-dogs which crawl up close to shore
and devour the fishes in considerable numbers. It may be a reac-
tion to temperature.

c. There is still another movement that occurs daily during
the summer and early fall. We refer to the coming of bass and
other fishes into shallow water at night. This is a well-marked
movement and occurs more or less evidently every still night in

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 287

summer, especially in August and September. The species that
participate are both large- and small-mouth black bass, rock bass,
yellow perch, walleyed pike, dogfish and even suckers and catfish.
This movement is clearly a factor in the feeding habits of the
species concerned ; they evidently come at night into shallow water
along shore for the purpose of feeding upon the young and small
fishes and other life found there, especially insects which oviposit
in the water surface near shore.

For this reason seining operations along shore at night were al-
ways interesting, because species could then be gotten which could
not ordinarily be found there in day time.

The intelligent anglers, well aware of this habit, particularly
of the large-mouth bass and the walleyed pike, will be found troll-
ing or casting near shore in the evening. And the enthusiasts who
fish after dark know that it is worth while to do their casting and
trolling near shore at the edges of the rushes and other vegetation.

2. From Lake Maxinkuckee to Lost Lake: To what extent do
bass and other fishes leave Lake Maxinkuckee in the fall and go
down into Lost Lake and on to Tippecanoe River? And to what
extent do they return in the spring? These are very important
questions. The abundance and the permanence of the supply of
fishes in the lake will be dependent in large measure upon the facts
suggested in these questions.

In the opinion of many residents about the lake and of many
of the anglers who visit it, a great many of the game fishes leave
the lake in the fall and go through the Outlet down into Lost Lake.
Some think they all stop and spend the winter in Lost Lake and
return to Lake Maxinkuckee in the spring. Others think that
many of them go on down the Outlet stream to Tippecanoe River,
perhaps to return to the lake in the spring, or perhaps not. All
are agreed that the species most concerned is the large-mouth bass,
and the small-mouth black bass to a less extent.

So general and strong is the belief in this alleged migratory
movement that, at various times, those holding this view have suc-
ceeded in having a screen put across the Outlet at the railroad
bridge in the fall to prevent the fish from going down. The screen
would be installed in September and kept in place until sometime
in the winter or early spring when it would be removed in order
to let the fish return if they wished to do so.

During our investigations we gave considerable attention to
this question. As the Outlet is only a few rods (about 40) from
where we stopped when at the lake we were able to make almost
daily observations on the fish at that place. Our observations cov-

1917618

288 Lake Maxmkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

ered practically all of the fall of 1900, 1904, 1906, 1907, and 1913,
and during parts of other falls.

A few of our records may be given as typical.

September 28, 1900, a good-sized school of straw bass of various
sizes, mostly small, under railroad bridge.

October 21, 1904, a few small straw bass in Outlet above the
screen this morning ; about as many near a minnow box in the Out-
let below the screen.

October 23, one small straw bass against the screen.

October 25, a small school of little straw bass under the railroad
bridge.

October 26, a school of small straw bass and one yellow perch
under the railroad bridge, the perch having moved down from
under the wagon bridge.

October 27, water too rough and foamy for observation.

October 28, a good sized school of small straw bass near the
screen. In the afternoon there was a school of perhaps 1,000 skip-
jacks under and at each side of the wagon bridge, heads up stream
and skipping some.

October 29, a number of small straw bass in morning and at
noon; also a school of skipjacks and a few common sunfish
(Eupomotis gibbosus) .

October 31, only a few straw bass (same school previously
noted) under railroad bridge. Immense school of skipjacks under
wagon bridge at noon; nothing seen in evening.

November 1, nothing seen early in morning but probably the
same school seen later, also on 2d, and a smaller one on the 3d.

November 4, a few small straw bass under railroad bridge
all day.

November 5, 6, 7, and 9, only a few seen each day.

November 11, 12, 13, and 15, no fish at Outlet.

November 17, a few straw-colored minnows at noon.

November 18, nothing in morning, a few straw-colored minnows
at noon.

November 19, nothing under railroad bridge; a few straw-col-
ored minnows under wagon bridge at morning and noon.

November 20, nothing except a few straw-colored minnows
under railroad bridge in morning, nothing at noon, a few in even-
ing.

November 23, nothing.

November 26, nothing.

December 10, a large school of straw-colored minnows.

December 12, nothing.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 289

The observations of other years show essentially the same con-
ditions.

Much to our regret, spring records are largely wanting, due to
the fact that neither of us was at the lake during the spring ex-
cept in 1901, when the importance of this question had not yet
been fully realized. Such observations, however, as were made in
the spring do not confirm the belief that there is any appreciable
spring movement into Lake Maxinkuckee.

It will be noted that the large-mouth black bass (straw bass)
is the species that was most frequently observed, and that the in-
dividuals seen were almost without exception young or very small
ones.

Migration of fishes through the Outlet of Lake Maxinkuckee
might consist of any one or more of the following movements:

1. From the lake into Lost Lake either (a) to remain perma-
nently or (b) to return to the larger lake in the spring.

2. From the lake into Lost Lake and on down into the Tippe-
canoe River either (a) to remain there permanently or (b) to re-
turn to Lake Maxinkuckee in the spring.

3. From Tippecanoe River to Lake Maxinkuckee either (a)
to remain in it permanently or (b) to return to the river in the
fall.

4. From Lost Lake to Lake Maxinkuckee either (a) to remain
permanently, or (b) to return to the smaller lake in the fall.

It is evident that the only movement that can seriously affect the
fishing in the larger lake is that which is not followed by a return
migration. If a fall migration out of the lake is followed by a cor-
responding spring migration into the lake, the supply of fish in the
lake is not materially affected. This is true whether the fall mi-
gration carries the fish only to Lost Lake or on down into the
Tippecanoe River. If the fish should go into Lost Lake and remain
there the supply in the larger lake would be deceased by so much
and that in Lost Lake correspondingly increased. As the two lakes
are only a few rods apart this would not greatly affect the fishing
in the general Maxinkuckee region ; if the fish could not be found
in one lake they could in the other. But if the fish go on down to
the Tippecanoe River and do not return the fishing in the Maxin-
kuckee region suffers.

Aside from the evidence secured through observations at the
Outlet, very important, if not conclusive, evidence has been ob-
tained as one of the results of another and very different investiga-
tion, namely, a study of the geographic distribution of the Union-
ida3 or freshwater mussels in the Maxinkuckee-Tippecanoe region.

290 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

As is now well known, the young of the various species of fresh-
water mussels are carried as parasites on the fins and gills of fishes
for a ' considerable period. When sufficiently developed, these
young, known as glochidia, slough off and drop to the bottom at
any place where the fish happens to be at the time, and there enter
upon an independent existence. If there were any considerable
migration of fishes from one of these waters to the other it is highly
probable that glochidia of mussels from the one body of water
would be carried to and dropped in the other. We should there-
fore find some river mussels in the lake and some lake mussels in
the river; in other words, the mussel faunas of the lake and that
section of the Tippecanoe River adjacent to the outlet stream
should closely resemble each other. But such is not the case ; as a
matter of fact, they are almost wholly different. It is not believed
this would be possible if there were any marked interchange of
fishes between the two waters. This feature of the case is con-
sidered more fully in the discussion of the mussel fauna of the lake,
to which the reader is referred.

Another important fact must be kept in mind. As already
stated the large-mouth black bass is the species which, of all, is
popularly believed to leave the lake in the fall, and which is most
often seen in the Outlet. But that these fish go down to Tippe-
canoe River is rendered extremely doubtful by the fact that this
species is not known from the portion of the Tippecanoe River
concerned. Considerable and frequent collecting in the river at
and near the mouth of the outlet stream has failed to discover a
single example of the large-mouth black bass in those waters ; and
anglers familiar with the Tippecanoe River rarely, if ever, find
that species in that stream.

During the autumn of 1906, on various occasions, hauls with the
seine were made in the Outlet about two or 2^ miles below Lost
Lake, and on various occasions trips were made along the whole
or part of the Outlet, and the species of fishes noted. Although
both the seine-hauls and several of the trips were made at a time
of year when the fishes are supposed to be migrating, and the
seining was done in just such places as they would naturally lurk,
no bass were observed, only a few small suckers, minnows, and
darters, some species of which make their home in the Outlet but
do not ascend to the lake at all. We are therefore forced to the
conclusion that such migration or movement of fishes in and out of
Lake Maxinkuckee as may occur is negligible and that screening
the Outlet will serve no useful purpose.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 291

FOOD AND PARASITES OF THE FISHES

BY CHAELES BRANCH WILSON

INTRODUCTION

The paper herewith presented is one of those resulting from
an investigation of the animal and plant life found in Lake Max-
inkuckee and neighboring waters. The author was sent to the
lake in the summer of 1906, and directed to study the parasites
and diseases affecting the fishes of the region.

Mr. H. Walton Clark assisted the writer during his stay at the
lake in 1906, and, at various times thereafter, collected and sent
to him additional material which has been useful in the study of
the food and the external parasites of the fishes of this lake.

Unfortunately no record could be found of such a study of a
limited area of fresh-water, where the entire ground could be
covered. Consequently there has been no precedent to serve for
guidance and much of the work has been preparatory rather than
conclusive.

The fishes studied were mostly the game and food fishes caught
by local and visiting sportsmen, and hence just the ones most de-
sirable. Young fish of the same species and others too small or
otherwise unfit for food were caught with a seine.

In this way nearly 1,500 fish, adults and young, were examined
during July, August, and the first week in September, and care-
ful records were kept of the food and parasites observed.

It was soon realized that any intelligent discussion of the para-
sites must include their life histories and also a careful study of
their habits, their enemies, and the physical conditions which
might prove advantageous or detrimental to their growth.

For the three genera of parasitic copepods these data were
all obtained, in the case of two of them for the first time; for the
various genera of cestodes, trematodes, and Acanthocephali, the
data have been already published by Dr. Edwin Linton in his vari-
ous excellent papers- dealing with the internal parasites of fresh-
water fishes. But for the leeches, which bid fair to prove the most
important of the parasites, only a crude beginning could be made.
Their importance was not realized until late in the season; only
a little time could then be given to them, and they are not a group
that can be easily handled.

The lake was found to be exceedingly well balanced in both its
animal and vegetable life, and the fish proved to be disappoint-

292 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

ingly healthy. And yet, on second thought, a region where the
various kinds of life are well suited to their environment and
properly balanced can be made fully as profitable a subject of
study as one filled with contamination and disease.

A remedy or preventative is always of more value than the dis-
ease which it cures; indeed, the only true incentive for the study
of any disease is the hope of thereby finding an effective cure or
preventative. Hence the careful investigation of such conditions
as prevail at Lake Maxinkuckee ought to reveal the proper balance
between parasite and host, and show how the former are prevented
from multiplying fast enough to become dangerous. With such
a purpose the following observations have been recorded, and it is
hoped they may also serve as a basis for future work along the
same lines.

The physical and general ecological conditions obtaining at
Lake Maxinkuckee are considered in detail in another portion of
this report. The conditions which make possible the abundant fish-
life of the lake are fully considered the depth of the lake, the char-
acter of the water, the remarkable richness and profusion of plant
life, and the abundance and variety .of many groups of aquatic
animals and need not be repeated here.

Of the 64 species of fishes known to inhabit Lake Maxinkuckee
and immediately connecting waters 27 species were studied by the
writer with relation to their food and parasites. Among these are
included practically all the food and game fishes of the lake (at
least 12 species) and also a considerable number of minnows and
darters, of which there are in the lake no fewer than 10 species.

This wealth of small fishes bears a most important relation to
the general economy of the larger food and game fishes, as will
be seen in the following considerations.

In the first place, they furnish food directly to the larger fishes,
the majority of which are carnivorous. Ten of the species cer-
tainly depend upon these small fish for a portion of their food.
And these ten include all the game fishes of the lake except the
crappie and the bluegill. For the different kinds of bass and
perch there is no bait that can compare with a lively minnow. And
the best of the artificial baits are made in imitation of the min-
now, either directly simulating its form (Hildebrandt), or indi-
rectly imitating the gleam of its body darting through the water
(the various trolling spoons) . Then, too, every fisherman knows
by repeated experience that it is not the food fish alone that are
partial to minnow bait. Many of the worthless fish are only too

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 293

willing to seize the tempting morsel and bring disgust to the angler
who, after a hard fight, was looking for something much better.
Again it must be remembered that the fish just enumerated were
examined during the summer season when their other food is es-
pecially abundant. They could be expected therefore, to yield only
minimum returns in the line of fish food.

In the winter, on the other hand, when the plankton, frogs,
crawfish, mollusks, and algse are less numerous, the proportion of
fish food probably increases. And it would not be surprising to
find even the crappie and bluegill eating darters and minnows
then. There is much reflection in the thought that not only is a
minnow the one bait available for fishing through the ice, but in
all probability it is the best that could be offered. Necessity and
choice go hand in hand for once.

In the second place, the minnows themselves feed almost en-
tirely upon plankton and insect larvae, and hence an abundance of
these foods is requisite to keep up the supply. Fortunately the
lake is very rich in just these creatures, and although the swarms
of may-flies, gnats and other dipters may occasion the angler some
inconvenience at times, he has but to remember how essential they
are to the life of the fish he is endeavoring to secure.

Species of fish studied:* In discussing the food and parasites
as here recorded it will be better to take up the different kinds
separately, considering their relative importance and abundance,
and proposing such recommendations as have been suggested dur-
ing the progress of the work.

1. Dogfish ; bowfin. Amia calva.

Only six specimens were examined, in whose stomachs were
found chiefly crawfish and minnows, with the remains of other
small fishes, mollusks and algje. Each of the six fishes contained
internal parasites, trematodes in the mouth and throat, and ces-
todes and Acanthocephali in the stomach and intestine. There was
also a trematode (Azygia tereticolle) in the gills of four of the
specimens. On the outside of the body one fish yielded Argulus
americanus, and three gave two different species of leeches.

The dogfish in Lake Maxinkuckee seem to be unusually free
from tapeworms. All those examined elsewhere are invariably
found loaded down with masses of tapeworms, the penalty of their
voracious and carnivorous habits, but here they seem to have es-
caped.

* Considerable additional data regarding the food of Maxinkuckee fishes will be found in
the chapter on Fishes (pp. 306-451).

294 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

2. Yellow Cat. Ameiurus natalis.

One hundred and twenty-two specimens of this species were
obtained, all but 10 of them from Lost Lake. Such of the food as
could be recognized consisted entirely of small fish and crawfish,
but in the great majority of cases nothing could be distinguished.
This species is the true host of Argulus maculosus and more than
60 specimens were obtained, nearly half of the. fish examined being
infested with the parasite. On the yellow cat, also, a new species
of Ergasilus E. versicolor, was more abundant than on the bull-
head. Leeches were commonly found in the mouth and around
the lips, and occasionally on the fins, while nearly every specimen
showed trematodes and many of them Acanthocephali in the stom-
ach.

3. Common Bullhead. Ameiurus nebulosus.

Twenty specimens were examined, half of which were caught
in Lake Maxinkuckee and the other half in Lost Lake.

Partially digested fish were found in the stomachs of four speci-
mens; in a fifth many seeds of the water lily, Castalia odorata,
while in the remainder there was a small mass of indistinguishable
animal remains. About one fish out of four proved to be the host
of Argulus maculosus, three or four of these parasites being ob-
tained from the outside surface and fins of a single fish. A single
leech was found fastened to the lip of the fish in three specimens ;
on the gill-filaments of eight others were a very few specimens
(only 12 in all) of a new species of Ergasilus, which has been
named E. versicolor, and which will be found described on page
341, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 39. In the stomach of nearly every
fish were found trematodes and Acanthocephali.

4. Mad Tom. Schilbeoties gyrlnus.

The stomachs of the specimens examined contained beach-
fleas, which are very common in the lake. The mad toms lie
among the Chara where these Crustacea are plentiful.

We thus see that the cat-fishes as a whole are omnivorous, eat-
ing both animal and vegetable food. The larger cats feed mainly
on small fish and crawfish, while the smaller ones eat the smaller
Crustacea.

5. Buffalo-fish. Ictiobus cyprinella.

A single specimen of this large sucker was found dead and float-
ing at the surface in one of the deeper parts of the lake.

It had not been dead more than an hour or two when secured,
and so was practically freshly caught. It measured 4 feet in
length and 3 feet in girth, and weighed 75 pounds.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 295

Its stomach was filled to distention with chironomus larvae and
the remains of algae, the latter so digested as to be incapable of
identification. A few trematodes were found on the gills and
cestodes in the stomach and intestine, but no external parasites of
any kind were seen.

6. White Sucker. Catostomus commersonii.

Only four specimens of this fish were examined and two of
these were found dead near the shore. From one of them and
from the two freshly caught, were obtained eight specimens of
Argulus catostomi, four males and four females. The stomachs
of these fish contained only an indistinguishable mass of dirt and
vegetable remains. Many teeches were found on the dead fish but
it was impossible to determine whether they had fastened to the
fish before or after their death.

7. Hog-molly; Stone-roller. Hypentelium nigricans.

Two specimens of this sucker were obtained from Yellow River
four miles north of Lake Maxinkuckee. Their stomachs were
found to be filled with mud and a mixture of animal and vegetable
remains, the only things distinguishable being a few insect larva?.
No parasites were found anywhere upon them.

8. Chub Sucker. Erimyzon sucetta.

Two specimens of this sucker also were obtained from Yellow
River in connection with the preceding species. The stomachs of
both were empty and no parasites were found anywhere upon
them.

9. Blunt-nose Minnow. Pimephales notatus.

One of the most common forms, and also one of the best for
bait because it is so hardy and long-lived. The stomachs of five
specimens showed insect remains and plankton, the latter chiefly
Bosmina 1 and Cyclops.

10. Silver-fin. Notropis whipplii.

Another common form, and one greedily eaten by all the food
fishes. The stomachs of two specimens showed insect larvae, water
mites, and plankton.

11. Grass Pike ; Pickerel. Esox vermiculatus.

A single specimen of this pickerel from Lost Lake showed the
usual fish remains in the stomach together with trematodes and
cestodes. A trematode (Azygia tereticolle) was also found on
the gills, and a leech was fastened to the tongue near its tip.

1 We have not endeavored to distinguish between the genera Bosmina and Chydorus.

296 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

12. Grayback Minnow. Fundulus diaphanus.

Abundant in shallow water and makes excellent bait. The
stomachs of four of these killifish contained several small snails,
six water mites, many Bosmina and a few Cypris. In each of
them were also found several trematode parasites.

13. Top Minnow. Fundulus dispar.

Fairly common along shore, but more abundant in the Outlet
and in Lost Lake. The stomach contents of three examined con-
sisted entirely of surface plankton, amongst which was a cope-
podid larva of Achtheres which also swims at the surface.

14. Brook Stickleback. Eucalia inconstans.

Nothing was learned of its food under natural conditions but
some which were kept in an aquarium eagerly snapped up red
worms (Chironomus larvse) and small entomostraca, such as
Cypris, shaken from the towing net into the water.

A single specimen was secured in a good state of preservation
from the throat of a large-mouthed bass which was just endeavor-
ing to swallow it. There was nothing recognizable in the stomach
and no parasites of any kind were found.

15. Skipjack. Labidesthes sicculus.

This species is also abundant in shoal water along the shore.
Like the top-minnow it feeds almost exclusively at the surface,
frequently jumping out of the water. Neither this species nor the
top-minnow is of much value for bait since they die so quickly
in the minnow buckets and when placed on the hook.

16. Calico Bass. Pomoxis sparoides.

Twenty specimens were examined, whose food so far as could
be determined consisted entirely of plankton and insect remains.

From the gills of two of them were obtained six specimens of
Ergasilus centrarchidariim, while in the mouth of two others were
found several leeches. It was noticeable that the largest fish ex-
amined, one and a half and one pound respectively, were entirely
free from parasites, while the smallest ones were most infested.

17. Red-eye; Rock Bass. Ambloplites rupestris.

Two hundred and sixty specimens of this fish were examined,
and they were of all sizes from one inch to 11 inches in length.
The small ones were captured in a minnow seine, while the larger
ones were obtained from the fishermen.

The food of the smaller ones, four inches and under, was found
to be chiefly plankton, and small fish. The plankton was largely
Bosmina, Daphnia, and Cyclops, and there were also a few may-
fly and other insect larvse. Among the small fish were two mad

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 297

toms, Schilbeodes gyrinus, the pectoral spine of one of which had
pierced the stomach wall of the red-eye that swallowed it, and was
imbedded in the flesh of the body wall. Other small fish that could
be identified amongst the food of the red-eyes were Etheostoma,
iowse, Labidesthes sicculus, and Notropis whipplii.

On several occasions some of the small red-eyes were kept over
night in minnow buckets along with minnows, and in nearly every
instance they improved the opportunity and swallowed some of the
minnows. From the stomachs of these red-eyes, in addition to the
small fish just mentioned, there were taken also specimens of
Pimephales notatus, Notropis cornutus, Fundulus dispar, and
Fundulus diaphanus menona.

The larger red-eyes, four inches and over, ate mostly crawfish,
minnows, and darters of the various kinds just mentioned.

For parasites, Ergasilus centrarchidarum was found upon the
gill-filaments of even the smallest specimens examined. With rare
exceptions the gills of every fish contained some of these parasites,
and often 50 to 75 could be obtained from a single fish. To the
gill-arches of the larger specimens were attached Achtheres am-
bloplitis; these were much less plentiful than the Ergasilus and
many of the fish were entirely free from them.

Leeches were found in the mouth or on the fins of about one-
third of the fish, while cestodes and trematodes were nearly always
present in the stomach and intestine.

18. Warmouth Bass. Chssnobryttus gulosus.

Only three specimens of this fish were examined, and nothing
could be determined as to the food of any of them. On the gills
of one were found three specimens of Ergasilus centrarchidarum
and on another seven. No other parasites were found.

19. Bluegill. Lepomis pallidus.

One hundred and fifty of these sunfishes were examined, includ-
ing many small ones caught in the minnow seine.

The smaller ones, like the smaller red-eyes, had eaten mostly
plankton. From the stomach of one, three-quarters of an inch in
length, were taken many Bosmina, five or six Cyclops, one Daphnia,
and much that was indistinguishable. From another fish, two and
a half inches long, were secured two green beetles and the re-
mains of other insects. In a third, 65 millimeters in length, were
many Bosmina, two blue, and 12 red, water mites, and two insects
like ants. A fourth, 18 millimeters in length, contained several
Cyclops, Bosmina, and Daphnia like the first one, but in addition
there were two copepodid larvaB of Achtheres. As these larval

298 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

parasites were attempting to fasten themselves to the gills of the
little fish, they evidently met their just deserts and were swallowed.

The stomachs of the larger bluegills contained many Chirono-
mus larvae. Of 50 obtained near the middle of August the stom-
ach of every one was gorged with the tender tips of Potamogeton,
Heteranthera, Naias, and other water plants. But most of the
vegetable matter was so chewed and digested as to be incapable of
identification.

Ergasilus centrarchidarum was obtained from the gill-filaments
and Achtheres ambloplitis from the gill-arches of a few fish, but
neither parasite was at all common.

To the sportsman, acquainted with the carnivorous habits of
most game fishes, this vegetable diet of the bluegill comes as a
surprise, but of course the fish eats many animals also. In the
summer they eat Potamogeton, Ceratophyllum, Naias, some
Chironomus larvse, and a few Sphseriums. In the fall they eat
large branches of the brown bryozoan of the lake, Plumatella poly-
morpha, Rivularia, and bits of Chara.

These bluegills are particularly infested with leeches, some
being found on nearly every fish, and often eight or 10 huddled
together on the roof of the mouth of one fish. Trematodes also
occur on the gills and cestodes and Acanthocephali in the stomach
and intestine.

20. Sunfish; Bream. Eupomotis gibbosus.

Only six specimens of this fish were examined, the food of which
consisted of insect larvse, mollusks, and small crawfish. One ex-
ample had two tapeworms in its stomach, but there were no ex-
ternal parasites on the gills or the outside of the body.

21. Small-mouthed Black Bass. Micropterus dolomieu.
Twenty-five specimens of this fish showed almost nothing beside

crawfish and minnows; what there was of other material was so
digested that it could not be identified.

Every bass had at least some specimens of Ergasilus centrarchi-
darum on its gill-filaments, and about half of them (11) had also
Achtheres ambloplitis on the gill-arches. There were usually but
two or three of the latter on a single fish, but from one bass weigh-
ing one and a half pounds there were taken 37 specimens, includ-
ing both sexes and every stage of development from a copepodid
larva just attached up to the mature adult.

Cestodes were also found on the gills and in the stomach, and
Acanthocephali in the stomach and intestines. A single leech was
taken from the pectoral fin of one of the smaller specimens.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 299

22. Large-mouthed Bass. Micropterus salmoides.

Fifteen of these fish were obtained for examination during the
summer, and in most of them the digestive tract contained noth-
ing that could be identified with certainty. From three were ob-
tained crawfish, and from one of these and four others the remains
of small fish. Five young fry taken in the minnow seine gave bet-
ter results. One, 45 millimeters long contained many Cypris,
Daphnia, and other entcmostraca, one Chironomus larva, and an
Achtheres copepodid larva. Another, the same length, contained
the same entomostraca and their eggs, and a strange alga. A
third, 52 millimeters long, had its stomach nearly filled with amphi-
pods. A fourth, 55 millimeters in length contained an Achtheres
larva and a lot of indeterminable material. The fifth one, 70 milli-
meters long, contained only fish remains.

All the larger fish and four of the small ones contained cestodes
and Acanthocephali ; the fourth small one just enumerated yielded
four species of these parasites from the stomach alone.

Achtheres ambloplitis was found on the gill-arches of four of
the large fish, and Ergasilus centrarchidarum on the gill-filaments
of four of the smaller ones.

23. Wall-eyed Pike; "Salmon". Stizostedion vitreum.
Twenty-four of these perch were obtained for examination, the

largest of which weighed four pounds and the smallest a pound
and a half. The only thing obtained from their stomachs in the
way of food was the remains of small fish, too far digested in every
instance to allow of identification.

They were all badly infested with Acanthocephali, six or eight
large specimens being often found in the stomach of a single fish.
Trematodes were also common in the stomach and intestines.
Ergasilus centrarchidarum in small numbers was found on the
gill-filaments of three of the fish.

No leeches were found on any of the fish, but this is no doubt
partly due to the fact that during the summer the walleyes stay
in deep water. In the spring when they come into shallow water
to breed they are probably as badly infested with leeches here
in this lake as they have been found to be elsewhere.

The author had the privilege of examining 200 walleyes at the
Hatching Station at Swanton, Vermont, on the extreme northern
end of Lake Champlain, in the spring of 1905.

With very few exceptions every fish had at least a few leeches
somewhere on its body, and from the roof of the mouth of one four-
pound female were taken 40 large specimens.

300 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

24. Yellow Perch. Perca flavescens.

One hundred and fifty of these perch were examined at differ-
ent times, and in their stomachs were found insect larvae, amphi-
pods, small fish, mollusk remains, crawfish, and in the smaller speci-
mens, plankton and a few algae.

Ergasilus centrarchidarum was found on the gill-filaments of
nearly every fish, but although careful search was made not a single
specimen of Achtheres was secured.

A large species of cestode was found in the throat of many
specimens whither it seemed to have crawled from the stomach
after the fish's death. Large leeches were also found in the mouth
of 50 of the fish; trematodes and Acanthocephali were found in
the stomach and intestine of about one-third of the specimens. Of
two examined October 27, 1904, one contained a rather large rock
crawfish, and the other a number of Sphseriums.

One found dead on shore November 1, 1904, contained a large
dragon-fly larva.

On October 3, 1904, many perch were caught fishing from the
pier. They all contained medium sized crawfishes. Of two perch
about six inches long examined October 22, 1904, one contained 8
small Physa and the other a well digested fish. Of a number of
small perch caught off the Gravelpit September 25, 1900, three
contained crawfishes, one had 28 small Physas, five others had a
few Physas each, and one had two Vivipara opercula.

25. Manitou Darter, Per dim caprodes zebra.

The largest and one of the most common darters in the lake.
Eight specimens from two and a half to three and three-quarters
inches in length were examined. They all contained much indis-
tinguishable insect remains ; in four, may-fly larvae could be recog-
nized, in two others beach fleas, and in one Bosmina, Daphnia and
Chironomus larvae.

26. Johnny Darter. Boleosoma nigrum.

Another very common species found everywhere in shallow
water. Of the five specimens examined, two yielded beach fleas,
two Chironomus larvae, and one an ant-like insect which could not
be determined. In addition they all contained partly digested in-
sect remains, and one had a trematode parasite in its stomach.

27. Iowa Darter. Etheostoma iowse,.

Fairly common along shore in the shallow water where it lurks
amid the algae on the bottom. Of the three specimens examined
each contained several beach fleas and a mass of indistinguishable
insect remains.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 301

The algse and water plants furnish ideal breeding places for
these entomostraca and insect larvae on which the minnows and
darters feed, and so long as they remain there need be no fear of
any diminution in this important food item.

Amongst their other food the minnows which frequent the
surface eat more or less of the larvse of the parasitic copepods
which infest the larger food fish. They thus not only serve as food
for the larger fish, but also are of great value in helping to keep
these obnoxious parasites within due bounds.

This double service greatly increases their economic value and
makes their preservation a matter of considerable importance.

There is every probability that the darters which frequent the
eel grass at the bottom of the lake feed to some extent upon the
small leeches which breed there. These leeches are the worst
enemies of the food fish, and anything that contributes to their de-
struction is worthy of careful fostering and protection.

Such being the relation between the minnows and darters
and the food fish the following facts become worthy of careful
consideration :

1. None of the darters and only three or four of the minnows
are of any value as bait. They die quickly in the minnow buckets
and still more quickly when placed upon the hook.

Every one that dies in a minnow bucket acts as a killing agent to
the minnow's left alive, and every one put upon a hook decreases
by so much the angler's chance for success.

2. The very kinds that are of least value as bait are of most
service in keeping down the parasites which infest the food fish.
Under natural conditions also they are as often eaten by the large
fish as any of the bait species.

3. In seining for minnow bait all kinds of minnows and dar-
ters get into the net, and nearly always the young fry of larger fish,
particularly those of the large and small-mouthed bass, bluegills,
red-eyes, sunfish, and catfish.

4. Very few of the fishermen and none of the boys who seine
for minnows can distinguish these different kinds one from
another. Those who can do so have never been taught the eco-
nomic value of these small fish, and, if they stop to think at all, con-
sider them good for nothing if they do not make suitable bait.

Consequently the good ones, or usually all that are large enough,
are put in the minnow bucket, and the rest are left to die on the
shore where the seine was pulled out and examined.

5. Such indiscriminate destruction is a serious menace to the

302 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

fishing interests. The supply of bait, if obtained in this manner,
is by no means "inexhaustible" as Judge Capron would have us be-
lieve. And worse than all is the wanton destruction of small fish
that are of no value directly to the angler, but are of immense im-
portance in the economy of the fish life of the lake. Hence the
following recommendations seem in order :

, a. Some means should be taken to acquaint the fishermen and
especially the seine boys with the common minnows and darters,
and with such fish fry as they are likely to get in their seines.

A collection of the common species, well labelled and placed in
the office of the hotels frequented by fishermen would help greatly
in this direction. The publication of a small folder setting forth
these facts briefly and plainly, and its free distribution among
fishermen would also tend to arouse their interest and turn it in
the right direction.

b. There is already a law which limits the size of the seine
that can be used in catching minnows. There should be a corollary
to that law making it compulsory to throw back alive into the
water everything that was not kept for bait.

c. There should be some restriction in the use of minnows.
Most anglers take too many in their buckets, and they die rapidly
and are thrown away without having served any legitimate pur-
pose.

Insect Larvae

Amid the wealth of insect forms which surround the lake and
teem in its waters, a few may be selected as of more importance in
consequence of their value as fish food.

I. The Diptera. Two-winged Flies.

This immense order is represented by an abundance of the
aquatic larvse of the Culicidse (mosquito) and Chironomidae
(midge) families.

Species of Chironomus are particularly abundant, and the long
jelly strings containing their eggs are common everywhere among
the algae during the earlier part of the season. Some of these eggs
were hatched and reared in aquariums and it was found that the
young larvse ate Spirogyra and similar algae greedily.

These larvae are eaten by many of the fish in the lake, notably
the crappie, the darters, young bass fry, and even by the huge
buffalo-fish.

The larvae of some culicid were found in the stomachs of two
darters, Etheosoma IOWSR and Percina caprodes, and in the young
fry of Eupomotis gibbosus and Perca flavescens.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 303

These Culicidse also furnish food for the dragon-flies and damsel-
flies ; the adult dragon-fly eats the adult mosquito, gnat, midge, etc.,
while the dragon-fly nymph feeds just as voraciously on their wrig-
gler larva?. The larger fish feed upon the dragon-flies, both adults
and nymphs, and thus indirectly upon these Diptera.

II. The Ephemerida. May-flies.

These may-flies or shad-flies are all aquatic, and their nymphs
can be found everywhere in countless numbers amid the algae and
near the surface of the water. Several times during the early
summer the tow consisted almost entirely of these nymphs and
their cast skins from which the sub-imagos had emerged.

These were the larger Species having a limited period of emer-
gence, the adults of which suddenly appear in countless numbers
along the lake shore and as suddenly disappear.

At such times the sub-imagos and images fairly covered the
screens at the doors and windows after nightfall, and there was
no difficulty in collecting a sixteen-ounce bottle full every evening
around the lantern on the wharf. In the morning the entire top
of the wharf would be found covered with the sub-imago skins
fastened as closely together as they could stand.

But most of the species are not thus limited, and only a few
adults emerge at a time, the nymphs being taken commonly in the
tow during the entire summer up to the first of August. The lar-
vae are very active and swim about among the water plants, feed-
ing for the most part upon algae, including beside the plankton
scums, diatoms and conferva. The larva lives from one to three
years, thus compensating in a measure for the short life of the
adult.

Both larvae and adults are eaten by nearly every fish in the
lake, and thus constitute an important item in their food.

In particular they are a favorite food with the crappie, the
redeye, the perch, the darters, the catfish, the suckers, and the
minnows. The fact to which Howard calls attention in his Insect
Book is worthy of repetition here in emphasizing the value of
these insects for fish food. Imitation shad-flies furnish one of the
best possible' baits in regions where the real insects abound. The
flies known as duns, drakes, and spinners, which are used by Eng-
lish anglers, are imitations of Ephemerids. One of the best arti-
ficial baits at Lake Maxinkuckee is known as the Hildebrandt spin-
ner, in which the hook is covered with a tuft of feathers to simu-
late an Ephemerid.

2017618

304 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

III. The Odonata. Dragon-flies and Damsel-flies.

Treatment of the species of this order in their relation to fish-
life will be found in the chapter of this report (p. 648) giving a
systematic list of the species of Dragon-flies and Damsel-flies known
to occur in the vicinity of Lake Maxinkuckee.

Leeches

These are found in great numbers everywhere around the lake,
and it is safe to say that there is not a species of fish that does not
suffer from their ravages. They are frequently found on mussels
also, as well as on turtles, crawfish, and mud-puppies. And they
do not refrain from attacking cattle and even human beings while
wading through the eel-grass near the shore.

They often congregate in considerable numbers upon some ani-
mal which has been subjected to adverse conditions and make it
so much the harder for it to recuperate. Fifty-three specimens of
Glossiphonia parasitica were taken from the neck of a snapping
turtle whose shell was only seven inches long. The turtle was
fairly clean when caught but had been kept for ten days in a fish-
car with several others of its kind.

The leeches are more abundant at certain seasons than at
others, especially in the spring, and there can be no doubt that they
at least contribute to the killing of the fishes, which perish in such
numbers at that season.

They constitute therefore a serious menace to the fishing inter-
ests ; once let them get the upper hand and they would destroy the
fish rapidly. Hence it is of interest to ascertain what keeps them
down and prevents their multiplication in sufficient numbers to
prove destructive.

No study of this problem has ever been published so far as
known ; indeed, but very few papers have appeared upon American
leeches, and they are concerned entirely with morphology and
systematization. The most that can be done here is to call atten-
tion to the importance of the study and record a few observations.

Leeches lay their eggs in cocoons which are either deposited in
moist earth or glued to some object in the water. In one or two
genera the cocoon is covered by the body of the parent, who fur-
ther cares for the brood by carrying them about with her for some
time after they have hatched. But usually on hatching the young
seek the shelter of the algse and water plants in the shallow water
along shore. From this shelter they emerge to fasten upon what-
ever host they may select.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 305

Here among the algse, therefore, we should look for the chief
enemies of the leeches, and this period immediately after hatching
must constitute a critical period in their lives.

There are two groups of animals which frequent the alga3, both
of which probably eat many of the young leeches, although unfortu-
nately there is no direct proof of such a fact in the observations
here recorded. The importance of the leeches was not realized
until the very close of the summer's work and it was then impos-
sible to secure the evidence.

The first is the group of small fishes called darters, that live
and breed amid the algse. In the few whose stomachs were ex-
amined were found the larvse of many animals that breed in the
algae and of some parasites (see p. 300). There is good reason
to believe that further investigation of the food of these fishes
would show that they occasionally eat leeches also.

The second group is even more promising; it is the dragon-fly
nymphs whose greed and voracity are only too well known.

They seize and devour everything in sight, and it must happen
sometimes that they get hold of leeches amongst their other prey.
At least there is promise enough in these two groups to warrant a
careful study in the future.

The fishes get back at the leeches in another way also, since
the latter are often found in the fish's stomach mingled with other
food. Marshall and Gilbert, in their "Notes on the Food and
Parasites of some fresh-water Fishes from the Lakes at Madison,
Wisconsin" (Appendix to the Report of the Commissioner of Fish-
eries for 1904, pp. 513-532) record leeches amongst the food of
Esox Indus, Lepomis pallidus, and Micropterus salmoides.

That they are eaten by other fish also seems probable from the
testimony of City Marshal Fisher of Culver, who says they make
the best fish bait he ever tried. All sorts of fish bite at them
eagerly, bass, perch, bluegills, sunfish, etc. They are tough, so the
fish cannot tear them from the hook easily, and often two or more
fish can be caught with the same bait.

Here is a good suggestion for the fishermen, especially when
other bait is scarce, and one that will help to rid the fish of their
worst enemy.

Copepod Parasites

The Copepod Parasites will be found fully treated in connec-
tion with the other Crustaceans, pp. 717-720.

306 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

LIST OF SPECIES OF FISHES

In the following annotated list we use the nomenclature and
sequence of species of Jordan and Evermann's Fishes of North
and Middle America.

1. WESTERN BROOK LAMPREY

LAMPETRA AEPYPTERA (Abbott)

No lampreys have been seen by us in Lake Maxinkuckee itself
and it is possible that they do not occur there. A few catfishes
were found dead along the east side of the lake in the spring of
1901, and from marks on their sides it was thought that they might
have been killed by lampreys, but this is by no means certain.

Young lampreys, however, are not rare in the Outlet of the lake
and in some of the smaller lakes of the region. Fishermen about
the lake who go seining for minnows in the Outlet and other
streams and waters of the region report -the capture of "young
eels."

On June 18, 1901, one of the fishermen living near the lake
reported that he had two young eels, obtained while seining for
minnows in an old outlet of a drained mud pond. He said that
when the lake was drained it was quite full of young eels, and that
he could get many more where the two had been caught. The
supposed eels were found to be lampreys. In 1906, a fisherman
reported finding "young eels" in the Outlet, but none was seen
by us at that time.

On October 7, 1907, a trip was taken with men going to seine
for minnows at a point in Outlet Creek, about 3 miles below the
lake. The net was dragged through a hole with a muddy bottom,
and upon being drawn ashore was found to contain a large amount
of mud in which were several lampreys. A few more were taken in
a subsequent haul, the total number taken in 4 hauls being 14.

None of the specimens seen was adult; the largest obtained
were the two secured in June, 1901, one of which was 132 mm.,
and the other 124 mm. in length. This is less than half the length
given for the adult, which is given as 12 inches (304.8 mm.). Of
the 14 specimens secured in the fall of 1907, the largest was 116
mm. and the smallest only 29 mm. long.

An interesting characteristic of this species is the size it at-
tains while still in an immature condition; none of the specimens
obtained has either teeth or eyes developed, while considerably
smaller examples of the related /. castaneus, with which it was
compared, have teeth and eyes well formed. Lampetra wilderi

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 307

also has well-developed teeth and eyes before it reaches the size
of the specimens of /. aepyptera at hand.

The following is a description of the specimen 116 mm. in
length :

Head 5.8 in length; depth 19.3; dorsal finfold beginning as a
low ridge a short distance behind last gill-opening, reaching its
greatest height (about 8 mm.) a little behind vent, no notch sepa-
rating it from caudal ; caudal fold quite low ; the dorsal and ventral
folds extending nearly to end of body; barely any membrane
beyond caudal tip of body ; ventral fold similar to dorsal, beginning
as a mere ridge a little behind the last gill-opening. Body ellip-
tical in cross-section, not much compressed, the thickness from
side to side being about five-sixths the depth; gill-openings 7 in
number, branchial space about 9 in body; nostril small, single,
median, consisting of a small pore somewhat lengthened along the
axis of the body, surrounded by 3 low flaps forming an equilateral
triangle with one apex at the anterior end ; upper lip a prominent
horseshoe-shaped projection, thick at the base, thinner at the edges,
curving somewhat downward along each side and ending in a
rounded lobe; lower lip a low open V-shaped ridge; buccal disk
covered with small, somewhat fringed flaps or papilla?; teeth and
eyes not developed.

Color: Back and sides slaty blue, belly whitish, the branchial
area somewhat paler than the remaining portion of the sides; the
small dusky spots mentioned in current descriptions as being pres-
ent above each gill-opening and usually conspicuous even in the
Iarva3, are not present in our (alcoholic) specimens. The num-
ber of muscular impressions between the last gill-opening and
vent in the specimens examined is somewhat larger than given in
current descriptions, there being 53 to 55 instead of 51.

These larval lampreys are exceedingly active little creatures,
and move rapidly through the water or mud by quick lateral
flexions of the body, their actions much resembling those of some
of the aquatic salamanders in this respect. They appear to spend
most of their time in the mud, upon which they feed for the sake
of the microscopic organisms contained in it, and the fringed flaps
on the buccal area probably assist in washing the mud into the
mouth, or in selecting food. The stomach of an example 100
mm. long was examined. The intestine, a straight tube from the
mouth to the vent, was pretty well filled with mud. The mud was
examined and found to contain numerous diatoms, among
which Navicula was represented by several species; species of
Synedra, Epithemia, Gomphonema, Stauroneis and Cymbella and

308 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

an example of Cymatopleura solea were also present. In addition
to the diatoms 2 examples of the desmid, Closterium dianse, one of
Gleocapsa, one of Pediastrum, and 2 tests of the rhizopod Euglypha
alveolata were found.

It is quite likely that this actively wiggling creature might
make an attractive bait for some species of fishes, although it is
not used at the lake. Prof. Simon H. Gage* says of a similar form
(Lampetra wilderi) "from the tenacity with which the larvae re-
tain life they have been found excellent bait for all kinds of ordi-
nary carnivorous fishes. The fishermen along the Cayuga and
Seneca Lake inlets make considerable use of the larvae for bait.
This form of bait has not up to the present been much used in the
lake fisheries, as apparently its excellence is unknown. At Owego,
on the Susquehannah River, however, quite a business is carried
on in supplying larval lampreys to fishermen of all kinds, and
many are shipped to distant points." The larvae are, therefore,
to be regarded as "non-injurious and positively beneficial by serv-
ing for bait. The adult Lamprey, however, is injurious, and is
a common parasite of the sturgeon and other large fishes. The
following is a description of the adult form :

Body considerably compressed ; head broad, with a large buccal
disk, which is moderately fringed ; teeth strong and nearly uniform,
the 2 supraoral teeth being similar to those on the rest of the disk ;
lateral teeth all simple; infraoral cusps connivent, 7 in number,
the middle ones the longest; upper margin of dorsal scarcely de-
pressed in front of the vent; origin or dorsal nearly midway be-
tween tip of snout and end of tail ; 51 muscular impressions between
gill-openings and vent. Head 7.5 ; depth 12.

Color silvery, bluish above, sometimes with bluish spots; a
small dusky spot above each gill-opening, usually conspicuous even
in the larva. Length 12 inches.

2. PADDLEFISH

POLYODON SPATHULA (Walbaum)

The Paddlefish, known also as the Spoonbill Cat, Duckbill Cat
and Spade-fish, is a fish of the shallow lakes and bayous and slug-
gish lowland streams of the Mississippi Valley. It is perhaps most
abundant in those portions of Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas
bordering on the Mississippi, though it occurs as far south as Texas
and as far north as Minnesota. It is fairly common in the Ohio
River, at least as far east as Pittsburgh, and a single example, said
to have been 6 feet 2 inches long and weighing 123.5 pounds, has

* The Lake and Brook Lampreys of New York. Wilder Quarter-Century Book, 1893, 457.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 309

been reported from Chautauqua Lake. The senior author has
taken it in the Missouri Basin as far west as Chamberlain, South
Dakota. At least one specimen has been taken in Lake Erie* ;
which it had probably reached through the Wabash and Erie Canal.

The Paddlefish attains a considerable length, but as much of this
is taken up by the bill, it does not weigh heavy in proportion.

Mr. George D. Shannon of Penns Grove, New Jersey, reports
one from Natchez, Mississippi, 7 feet in total length, which weighed
about 50 pounds dressed. A male example caught in White River
near Chamberlain, South Dakota, was 4 feet 5 inches long and
weighed 18 pounds. The average length of those now caught near
Natchez does not exceed 4 or 5 feet, and the weight (dressed), 30
or 40 pounds. A large number examined at Louisville, Kentucky,
in May, 1898, averaged very much smaller, though all were mature
fish. They varied in weight (dressed) from .5 to 15 pounds.

Paddlefish (Polyodon spathitla)

Some were quite small, not exceeding a foot in length, exclusive
of the bill and tail. The female is larger than the male. Mr.
Shannon gives the average length of the females taken at Natchez
as 5 feet 4 inches, and the weight 40 pounds, and of the males 4
feet average length and 30 pounds weight. The weight of the roe
is given by Mr. Shannon as 5 to 12 pounds, but not usually exceed-
ing the former figure. The weights given by Mr. Shannon seem
rather large for the lengths, and verifications are much to be de-
sired.

The only record of the occurrence of this fish in Lake Maxin-
kuckee has been furnished by Mr. M. V. McGilliard of Indianap-
olis. In 1891 or 1892 he was present when a Paddlefish was

* McCormick, Descriptive list of the fishes of Lorain County, Ohio, Laboratory Bull. No. 2,
Oberlin College, 9, 1892.

310 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

caught with hook and line in this lake. The fish was about 14
inches long and weighed about 2 or 2.5 pounds. Mr. McGilliard
has for many years been familiar with this species in the Illinois
River and elsewhere, and his identification is entirely trustworthy.

It is rather surprising that this fish has not been more fre-
quently reported from the lake. It is possible that the dam which
existed until recently in the Outlet of Lake Maxinkuckee has been
effective in keeping it out. It is not uncommon in the Wabash
River, at least as far up as Logansport, and it has also been re-
ported from Lake Manitou at Rochester, only about 10 miles east
of Lake Maxinkuckee, and from Tippecanoe Lake about 35 miles
northeast.

Very large examples have been reported from Lake Manitou.
The largest is said to have been speared many years ago (sometime
in the fifties) by Wilson Newell, and it weighed 173 pounds. While
spearing bass from the shore in a little channel connecting Manitou
or Devils Lake and Clear Lake he saw the fish working its way
through the channel and struck it with his spear, leaving it fast in
the fish. The shaft fastened to the spear by a long cord becom-
ing detached, floated and indicated the course of the fish. Newell
followed the fish all day, finally exhausting and killing it. Another
weighing 163 pounds was shot in the same lake a few years later,
and still another, 7 feet 8 inches long and weighing 116 pounds,
was caught by Andrew Edwards in a gillnet about the middle of
May, 1890. It is said that this fish was a female and that "nearly
a wooden pail full of spawn was taken from it." One has been
recorded from Tippecanoe Lake which weighed 150 pounds. These
are the largest paddlefishes of which we have any trustworthy rec-
ord.

The Spoonbill Cat is, of course, not a catfish at all, it being more
closely related to the sturgeons than to the catfishes. It is the only
American representative of the family to which it belongs ; indeed,
the family has but twp known species, the present one and another
(Psephurus gladius) which is known only from the fresh-waters of
China. The family is an old one which has been long upon the
earth. Because of its representing an ancient type, the Paddlefish
is of much interest to zoologists, and especially to embryologists,
though its embryology has never been fully worked out. The
young are rarely seen.

According to Dr. George Wagner, who studied the habits of the
Spoonbill at Lake Pepin, this fish lives practically always near the
surface in deep water; it feeds mainly during the night and early
in the morning, its food consisting entirely of plankton organisms.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 311

The rostrum or bill is not, as is frequently stated, used in stirring
up the mud, but probably serves purely as a sense organ.

Very little is known of the spawning time or place of this fish.
The little that is known indicates that in the lower Mississippi
Valley the spawning season is during February, March and April,
while in the Ohio and northward it is during the latter part of May
and June. Among a large number of fish examined by the senior
author at Louisville, Kentucky, during the third week in May, only
a few were fully ripe. At that time the fish were running up
stream, swimming near the surface, and evidently seeking their
spawning grounds, which are thought to be in the ponds and
bayous along the river. At this time they are caught in seines
lightly leaded so as to fish the surface. At other seasons the Pad-
dlefish may be caught on set-lines.

The greatest enemy of the Spoonbill is the silvery lamprey,
Ichthyomyzon concolor. Dr. Wagner reports as many as 20 of
these lampreys having been taken from a single Spoonbill, while
Mr. Horace Beach reports "as many as a half a dozen on a fish in
the spring of the year", and says that the fishes leap out of the
water and fall on their sides, probably to rid themselves of the
parasites.

Not until recently was the Paddlefish considered of any value,
its flesh being regarded as worthless; but now it is one of the most
highly valued and most assiduously sought fishes of the Missis-
sippi Valley. It is chiefly sought on account of its roe, which is
manufactured into caviar, for which it is regarded as not inferior
to the sturgeon. The eggs are greenish black in color, about three
times the size of shad eggs, and very numerous. The flesh of the
Paddlefish, though coarse, is nutritious and not unpalatable, closely
resembling that of the catfish when fresh, and when smoked not
much inferior to that of the sturgeon. There is great demand
for the roe, and the flesh always finds a ready sale. One dealer
at Louisville, during the four years preceding 1901, handled over
700,000 of these fish.

Head, with opercular flap, more than half total length ; without
flap, about 5; opercular flap long, nearly reaching ventrals; pre-
maxillary extending far behind the small eye; skin smooth or
nearly so, except for the rhombic plates on sides of tail; ventrals
near middle of body, dorsal well behind them; anal mostly behind
the dorsal and somewhat larger, these fins somewhat falcate; fin-
rays slender; spiracle with a minute barbel; isthmus papillose in
the young; spatula broad, 2.5 to 4 in length of body, proportionally
longer in the young. Color pale olivaceous; length 2 to 7 feet.

312 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

3. LONG-NOSED GAR

LEPISOSTEUS OSSEUS (Linnaeus)

The Long-nosed Gar occurs in the Great Lakes and all the rivers
of the United States from Vermont to the Rio Grande and west to
Kansas and Nebraska. It is generally abundant and very variable,
the local variations having given rise to not fewer than 28 specific
names.

This fish is, unfortunately, abundant in Lake Maxinkuckee. In
our seining operations, though confined chiefly to shallow water
near shore, numerous examples were caught. At one haul with a
45-foot seine near Norris Inlet, 40 examples were taken varying
in lejigth from 1.5 to 3 feet. With a larger seine drawn in deeper
water, a great many of this destructive fish could doubtless be
caught. They were occasionally caught in other hauls of the seine.
On July 29, 1899, a 27-inch example was caught near the top
of a gillnet in 8 feet of water, and on July 21 of the same year 3
were taken in one haul of the net at the Academy pier. They are
also sometimes caught on hooks. On July 26 one was caught by-
Miss Burford of Indianapolis which was 4 feet 2 inches long and
weighed 14 pounds. On August 16, 1900, a small one was caught
on a trot-line set off Long Point over night, and on September 20,
1903, a gar which was 4 feet 5 inches long and weighed 16 pounds,
probably this species, was caught by an angler.

The Gar has a habit of basking on the surface, especially in
warm shallow bays during hot weather. While thus occupied,
they look very much like a stick. It is possible that they sometimes
use this method of capturing other fishes instead of chasing them.
In the latter part of August, 1900, a fisherman reported that they
were seen basking in considerable numbers in Culver Bay, and
about the same time several were seen on the Weedpatch.
Sometimes the basking fish seem to be actually asleep. On August
11, 1906, an example about 9 inches long was seen basking among
the weeds near shore in the Inlet region and was nearly caught by
the hand before it escaped. It was reported that in the spring of
the same year a member of the Military Academy saw a large gar
in Culver Inlet and, wading in, stabbed it with a sword. It was
41 inches long and weighed 14 pounds. During the summer of
1907 little Gars about 6 inches long were occasionally seen basking
in shallow water near the shore of the upper Mississippi River,
at St. Paul and in Lake Pepin, and one was caught by hand. It
still had the long streamer or filamentous projection extending
from the upper lobe of the caudal ; a peculiar feature characteris-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 313

tic of young Gars. On October 17, 1907, after the water had
become quite chilly, two young Gars of this species were seen lying
perfectly still at the bottom in water 2 or 2.5 feet deep off the east
shore of Long Point. They looked much like sticks in the bottom.
One was pinned to the bottom by a thrust with a rake which hap-
pened to bp at hand, and was captured. It measured 12.5 inches
in length. The other example escaped.

During the winter the Gars are occasionally seen through clear
ice. They are never up close against the ice, but those seen were
2 feet or so below the surface. They do not dart away when seen,
as bass and most other fishes do, but remain stationary or swim
slowly and unconcernedly along. On December 23, 1900, an ex-
ample about 2 feet long was seen in Lake Maxinkuckee off the
Gravelpit. It swam along slowly and was followed up until it
stopped and could not be urged to swim farther even by pounding
and stamping on the ice. A trip was made a quarter of a mile
for an ax and hooks with which to capture the fish, and on return-
ing it was found at the same place. While the ice was being cut
above it, it started off and moved with great deliberation to the
shore where it was hidden by opaque ice.

This Gar is a large fish, attaining a length of 5 or 6 feet. It is
a voracious creature, feeding largely upon the young of other
fishes, and is believed to be very destructive to the young of the
various food fishes which inhabit the waters in which it is found.
It is fair to state, however, that an examination of many stomachs
and their contents does not bear out fully the reputation which it
has for destructiveness to other fishes. Small fishes were fre-
quently found in their stomachs, but not to the extent that popular
belief would indicate. It is certain, however, that the two species
of Gar in this lake are destructive to other fishes, and it is not
known that they serve any useful purpose whatever. They are
not scavengers in any sense of the word. They are essentially
carnivorous and rapacious in their habits, and the only fishes upon
which they could feed in Lake Maxinkuckee are either food fishes
or species which serve as food for useful species. Sometimes they
fall a victim to their own rapacity. One large example was found
dead from trying to swallow a catfish 10 inches long.

Every effort to reduce the number of Gars in the lake is worthy
of commendation. Whether it is possible to rid the lake entirely of
them is doubtful, but much can be done toward greatly reducing
their numbers and holding them in check. Perhaps the most ef-
fective method would be by seining. By using a large seine in as
deep water as possible and when the Gars are out near shore in

314 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

relatively shallow water, good results ought to be obtained. In
the spring, during early May and June when the Gars are spawn-
ing, they will come out near shore and can then be seined to ad-
vantage ; and during the summer they may now and then be seen
in considerable schools feeding upon other fishes near shore, par-
ticularly near Norris Inlet and in Culver and Outlet bays.

Gillnets of 1.5- to 2.5-inch mesh would also yield good results.
These nets should be set where the Gars have been observed to run,
and should be examined at least once a day. On calm sunny days
when they are lying at the surface basking in the sun, they could
be shot from the deck of a steamer. They can also be caught on
set-lines and may occasionally be speared. By taking every op-
portunity to destroy these fish and keeping it up for a few years, it
is believed that their numbers could be very greatly reduced.

The Gars are exceedingly prolific. A female example of the
Long-nosed Gar, 3 feet 4 inches long, and weighing 9 pounds, was
examined by the senior writer at Morgan City, Louisiana, April
23, 1897. This fish was in mature spawning condition, the ovaries
weighed 1 pound 3 ounces, and the number of eggs was, by actual
count, 36,460. The spawning time of the Gars in Lake Maxin-
kuckee is during May and early June.

Head 3 in length of body ; depth 9 ; eye 12 to 15 in head, about
10 in snout; snout about 1.5 in head, or 4.5 in body; D. 8; A. 9;
V. 6; P. 10; scales about 58, 20.

Body long, slender, and sub-cylindrical ; snout very long and
narrow, its length usually more than twice that of rest of head,
its least width 15 to 20 times in its length.

Color grayish silvery, brightest on side; under parts yellow-
ish white; snout and top of head greenish gray; side of head sil-
very; snout and side with a few small dark brown spots; vertical
fins each with several large black spots, most numerous on caudal ;
ventrals and pectorals sometimes with one or two black spots.
Young with a broad dark brown band from snout through eye to
caudal, bounded above by a narrow pale line, then by a broad light
brown one ; below by a broad milky-white band ; under parts white,
dusted over with fine dark specks, which assume the character of
lines at sides of belly; fins profusely spotted with brown. Young,
2.25 inches in total length, are pale olivaceous above, silvery white
below, with a broad, somewhat darker lateral band.

The snout of this species is much longer and narrower than in
the next. An examination of 8 examples varying in length from
2.25 to 18.5 inches, does not indicate that there is any variation in
the length of the snout with age. The longest snout possessed

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 315

by any one of these examples was that of the smallest fish (1.375
in head), while the shortest snout was that of the fish next in size,
3 inches (1.5 in head).

The color, however, varies greatly with age, the lateral line
and most of the spots disappearing and the color becoming more
silvery.

Young Gars 3 inches long have no scales developed. The scales
appear to develop on the caudal end of the body first, an example
6.5 inches long had the posterior third of the body scaled, and one
5.75 inches long, had about the posterior half scaled. The develop-
ment of scales does not affect the color further, though it
appears to make this somewhat less distinct.

4. SHORT-NOSED GAR

LEPISOSTEUS PLATOSTOMUS Rafincsque

The Short-nosed Gar is found throughout the Great Lakes
region and south and west in all the lowland waters and larger
rivers, being more abundant southward. In Lake Maxinkuckee
this Gar is common, though probably less so than the long-nosed
species.

The largest example from this lake of which we have any defi-
nite information was caught near Long Point some years ago by
Mr. Thomas Medbourn. This specimen, which was afterward
mounted and which is now in the possession of Mr. Morris, of
Culver, was 4 feet 1.75 inches long. In our own seining opera-
tions, an individual 15 inches long was caught near the Outlet,
July 10, 1899, and another '28 inches long was taken on a set-line
August 16, 1900. On December 15, 1900, men who were fishing
through the ice on Lost Lake saw two of these fish through the
ice. They cut holes in the ice above them, and by cautiously letting
down a hook under the chin and jerking, managed to capture them.
One was 20.5 inches long and the other 22.5. Shortly afterward
another, 12.5 inches long, was caught in the same manner.

On June 8, 1901, while rowing along the south shore of Outlet
Bay, a small one, 11.5 inches long, was seen lying at an angle near
the surface of the water head upward, apparently dozing. The
boat was cautiously rowed up to the fish and, by making a sudden
grab, it was caught by hand. On June 20, 1901, a fisherman caught
one 28.5 inches long.

The habits of this species are similar to those of the Long-nosed
Gar. Like them they spend hot days in shallow water basking,
and they are occasionally seen lying motionless in the water under
clear ice. In cases where the fish were not captured it was not

316 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey .

possible to say with certainty what species they were. A very
large Gar, thought to be this, was seen under the ice in rather
shallow water in Outlet Bay, January 16, and holes were cut
through the ice and an attempt made to capture it, but without
success.

This species spawns at the lake during May and early June.
On June 12, 1901, two large Gars thought to be this species, were
seen lying close together among the weeds at the north end of
Lost Lake. They lay still until the boat was nearly upon them,
when they went off with a loud splash. Much splashing was tak-
ing place in other parts of the same region and it was thought
that these fishes were sporting about. The next day a large school
of Gars was reported basking off Long Point. Frequent reports
were heard of Gars being caught by fishermen, but the species
could not be ascertained.

Short-nosed Gar (Lepisosteus j>latostomus)

Like its near relative, the Long-nosed Gar, this species feeds
chiefly upon small fishes, great numbers of which are destroyed by
it. It could be captured and killed in the same manner as the
other.

Head about 3 in length of body; depth about 8; eye 12 to 15
in head ; snout 1.75 ; D. 8 ; A. 8 ; V. 6 ; scales 56, 20.

Body long, slender and sub-cylindrical, but stouter than in the
preceding species. Snout shorter than in L. osseus, its length 5 to
6 times its least width, and usually about one-fifth longer than rest
of head, though sometimes about equaling head.

Color grayish silvery; top of head with 15 or 20 large round
dark spots; side of head with similar spots; a small dark post-
ocular spot sometimes connected with a broad dark spot extending
forward from opercle ; under parts of head much mottled with light
and dark; a few distinct dark spots on side; under parts pale;
vertical fins each with a few large black spots; ventrals and
pectorals pale at base, but with much dark toward the tips. In the

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Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 317

young the dark markings are more pronounced. In a specimen
15 inches long the back was distinctly marbled with whitish and
black, and the side had a broad dark lateral band, interrupted
posteriorly ; the spots on the fins were darker, and even the ventrals
and pectorals were plainly spotted.

Examples of the Long-nosed Gar of the same size (15 inches)
are much more silvery and are comparatively free of black spots.
Length 2 to 4 feet. Weight 2 to 15 pounds. It is a very variable
species, the young being difficult to distinguish from related
species.

5. DOGFISH

AMI A CALVA Linmeus

(Plate 2)

The Dogfish, or Bowfin, is found in the Great Lakes and slug-
gish waters from Minnesota to Virginia, Florida and Texas, and is
generally abundant throughout its range. It does not appear to
be common in Lake Maxinkuckee, but in Lost Lake it is quite
abundant. During our investigations not many Dogfish were seen ;
3 were seined in Norris Inlet, and on July 25 one was seined which
weighed 4.75 pounds. Occasionally one would be found dead on
shore, while now and then one would be caught on a hook. Anglers
fishing in Outlet Bay, or near Norris Inlet, or off the Gravelpit,
were liable to get this fish, particularly if they were fishing for
catfish or doing bottom fishing. While seining in Norris Inlet
several young examples were secured, and a few were obtained in
Culver Creek; a few were also taken on set-lines. Some of the
largest examples ever seined were taken in front of the Fish Com-
mission station late at night, September 20. These had apparently
come in near shore to feed upon other fish which were then abund-
ant in shallow water. On May 8, 1901, a fisherman caught an im-
mense one which he thought would weigh 10 pounds, and Patrol-
man Wiseman caught on a set-line one which was 23 inches long
and weighed 4.5 pounds. Later in the year an example 25.5 inches
long was found dead on shore by Murray's and some fishermen
caught a male 22.5 inches long, weighing 4.5 pounds. On Novem-
ber 7, 1904, six were found dead on shore where they had probably
been left by men who had been seining. Their lengths were 16.5,
17.75, 18, 19.75, 20.5, and 21 inches. The stomachs of all except
one, which contained a young sunfish, were empty. In the autumn
of 1906 they were caught occasionally by fishermen ; one was seen
19 inches long and another, 24.

In Lost Lake and the Outlet, this fish is more abundant, and

318 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

numerous specimens were secured from that lake, chiefly on set-
lines, the large examples obtained by us varying in length from
16 to 24 inches. On April 22, 1901, one was found in a boat in
the Outlet, a male 21 inches long, weight 3 pounds. The smallest
individual secured by us was 3.75 inches long.

The Dogfish resembles the gar-pike in many of its habits. With
the exception of its feeding near the bottom and including more
crawfishes in its dietary, the habits of the two are very similar.
Both love to bask in warm shallow water. The Dogfish is, per-
haps, more fond of muddy bottom. One of the best places for
Dogfish fishing used to be the Little Wabash River, locally known
as the "Little River," a sluggish stream, coursing its way through
a large flat prairie, its shores quaking and edged with willows.
A fisherman, standing on entangled willow-roots, could shake a
large area and could push down a 20-foot fishing pole vertically
between his feet without touching bottom. Here, on hot still days,
the Dogfish would almost fight for bait, and there three fishermen
landed 55 big fish in the course of an afternoon.

Like the gar-pike, also, the Dogfish can frequently be seen mo-
tionless in the water under clear ice in winter. On December 18,
1901, one about 2 feet long was seen under the ice in Lost Lake,
swimming along very leisurely. On January 7 several large ones
were seen in Outlet Bay where the ice men had cut out ice. They
were in three or four feet of water, lying perfectly still on the bot-
tom where they were almost wholly covered by the Chara which
abounds there. When disturbed they made off, but not very fast
nor very far, propelling themselves with lateral flexions of the tail
like the water-dog. The same place was visited again in the after-
noon and 6 large individuals were seen. One was speared which
proved to be a male 22.75 inches long, weighing 4 pounds. The
Dogfish is not particularly heavy for its length. Two males from
Lake Erie, each a foot long, weighed one-half pound each.

At Lake Maxinkuckee this fish spawns toward the end of April.
On April 24 and 25 large ones were seen in a pool in Green's
marsh. The next day it was discovered that they were making
nests there. The nest is made by hollowing out a place in the
muck, and is of good size, about 18 inches to 2.5 feet in diameter.
The fish bite off such rushes as are in their way, and also make
paths for themselves leading to and from the nests. The eggs,
small and yellowish in color, are quite numerous and are in the
bottom of the nest, some of them apparently sticking to the pro-
jecting vegetable fibres of the muck. A male was usually found on
the nest. Besides the nests found in Green's marsh, another was

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 319

found July 3 near the Inlet, guarded by a male. After the young
are hatched they follow the parent about. Mr. S. S. Chadwick
speaks of having seen one accompanied by "a couple of gallons of
young, in a thick cloud."

A good many people near Culver eat the Dogfish in winter,
but say that "in summer the flesh turns green and is not good."
There is probably a heightening of color during the breeding sea-
son to which they refer. The fins of these fishes as seen in the
water June 7 and later were of a fine opalescent green.

This fish is quite free from external parasites such as copepods
on the gills, etc. Several individuals examined contained trema-
todes attached to the gills and a few had leeches attached, and one
had two fish lice ( Argulus) , but they were on the whole remarkably
clean. Internally they have numerous parasites, especially dis-
tomids and trematodes.

The Dogfish is of peculiar interest to zoologists as the remains
of an ancient stock of fishes; it is the only surviving species in
the whole order to which it belongs. Its habits, however, render
it a nuisance, as it is carnivorous and very voracious.

Its good qualities as a game-fish have not been sufficiently ap-
preciated, doubtless, chiefly, because not many have ever angled for
it, and because the fish has not been regarded as having any food-
value. But the true angler cares nothing for the edible qualities
of the fish he catches. His desire is to match the strength of his
tackle and his skill in handling it against the strength and intelli-
gence of the fish he hooks. Thus it is with the ever-increasing
large number of real sportsmen who seek the large ocean fishes,
the white sea-bass, the tuna and the albicore ; the shark, the yellow-
tail, and the silver king. And so it is with the few who have culti-
vated the Bowfin. It will take almost any kind of bait, but prefers
cut bait of some sort, such as cut fish, a freshwater clam, or a
piece of meat. It takes the bait deliberately, but when the sting
of the hook is felt, the fish wakes up and gives the angler as
pretty a fight as one could desire.

In the Report of the New York Fisheries, Game and Forest
Commission for 1898 is an article by Dr. Bashford Dean on the
Dogfish, which contains so much interesting information that we
take the liberty to reproduce it here. Dr. Dean says :

"The Dogfish has been described by some as diurnal, by others
as nocturnal in its habits. In the daytime during the season of
breeding the fish can readily be seen in shallow waters, and, when
not actually on its nest, can sometimes be made to take a bait. At
night, however, judging from my own experience vdth set-lines, the

2117618

320 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

fish is not often taken. And the result of my later observations
is not favorable to the view that the dogfish is distinctly nocturnal
in habit. With a view of determining how active the fish were
at night, I have kept them in captivity and I have also watched
them at different hours on their spawning grounds, when light was
no more than sufficient to enable their outlines to be seen. My con-
clusions indicate that the dogfish is rather to be regarded as most
active at twilight. It takes the hook best shortly after sundown
and during the early morning, and at these times I have seen it ex-
ceedingly active under natural conditions. In a general way the
fish can hardly be described as shy. As far as taking an alarm is
concerned, it behaves very much as a catfish; it is certainly less
apt to notice one's approach than, for example, many common
teleosts.

"The general habitat of the fish varies greatly at different sea-
sons of the year. In summer it frequents deeper water ; in spring
it comes into the marshy shallows and makes its way through reedy
places where the water is scarcely deep enough to cover its dorsal
fin. In general it affects muddy water.

"In the matter of feeding, the rapacious nature of the dogfish
has already been noted. Its common articles of diet, as Fiilleborn,
for example, has noted, are small fishes and crayfish. The latter
are especially common in the stomach contents. Among the speci-
mens examined by the present writer was noted one, a female,
measuring twenty-eight inches, which had eaten among other
things, a pickerel twelve inches in length. Another, a female
measuring thirty-one inches, contained the columns of eleven fishes,
cyprinoids, each about three inches in length. Another, taken at
twilight near the margin of a rubbish heap, had eaten scraps of
meat and a lump of raw potato, the latter having been taken from
the stomach altogether undigested. Among the local fishermen of
the Wisconsin lakes, salt pork is well known as a 'killing' bait. I
have no evidence that the dogfish eats fish, or more accurately some
fishes, after they are dead. Dead perch and sunfish remain un-
touched, even in regions where Amia is very abundant.

"The dogfish deposits its eggs in more or less definitely pre-
pared nests.* These often occur very abundantly in the reedy
shallow in the margins of the lakes. A particular region of the
shore will often be given marked preference : in one case observed
by the writer eleven nests occurred within a radius of fifty feet,
and seven of these within a radius of fifteen feet. The spawning

* The writer has obtained good evidence that inconvenient rushes are bitten off when the
fish prepares the nest. This is also noted by Reighard.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 321

season, like that of all fishes, varies somewhat from year to year.
In Wisconsin, where the fish have been most accurately observed,
the height of the spawning occurs about the middle of May. It,
however, varies in this locality from the first day of April until the
early part of June. There is usually a maximum period of spawn-
ing, as in the case of other fishes.

"The actual nesting habits of the fish have not as yet been ex-
amined in sufficient detail. There is good evidence to believe that
the fishes divide into spawning parties, as in the case of the gar-
pike, Lepisosteus, each party consisting of a female and several
males. In a single instance the writer has seen three fishes on a
nest after spawning had commenced. Whitman, on the other
hand, maintains, also from a single observation, that but a single
male is present. The eggs are scattered over the nests thickly,
in number varying from a few hundreds to possibly a hundred
thousand. A single male tends the nest, keeps away intruders,
and by vigorous breathing produces a current of water which prob-
ably retards the growth of fish fungus. The fish stands guard,
sometimes for hours motionless, save for its movements in balanc-
ing and breathing ; at other times it appears restive, turning about
in the nest, making short detours, and returning by the 'runaway'
which it provides. A favorite position is for the fish to lie in the
'runaway' with its head projecting over the nest. It usually re-
mains in the shaded side of the nest, but appears occasionally in
bright sunlight, so that it can be seen quite a distance away.
* * * Such a fish, for example, has been photographed. The
pictures clearly demonstrate that Amia does not hesitate to show
itself in the sunlight, as Fiilleborn early maintained. The outline
of the nest in this case was clearly seen from the surface, and all
of the 'supernatant' rushes must have been brushed aside, or even
removed by the fish, since the nest was photographed as it first
appeared.

"The eggs hatch out in the course of about a week, the length
of time varying notably with the temperature of the water. The
larva? pass their first few days deep in the nest, where they at-
tach themselves to debris by means of curious sucking disks devel-
oped on the under side of their snouts. In the course of another
week or so, the young are probably herded together by the male
fish, who leads his flock of young to various points in the neighbor-
hood in search of food. This peculiar "nursing habit" of the
male is known to continue until the fish attain a length of several
inches. During the later spring it becomes a common sight to see

322 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

the male fish accompanied by a dense swarm of young, the latter
appearing dark in color, and at first sight tadpole-like.

t * ft 4> ' 4> 4i 4 4>

"The foregoing notes upon the spawning and habits of the dog-
fish provide the fish culturist, I am convinced, with data which
should enable him, and with relatively little trouble, to materially
reduce their numbers in localities where they abound. He learns,
for example, that these fish will repair to a more or less definite
locality at the time of spawning, and that here in the shallows
their nests can readily be found and destroyed. He concludes,
furthermore, that without extraordinary effort he can secure the
male fish which guards the nest and young. This he can take
either by snare or by spear. As the first step in reducing the
numbers of dogfish, he finds it of course necessary to determine
accurately the time of spawning ; in this he is helped, since the gen-
eral limits of the season have been already indicated. The exact
time of spawning may usually be determined with little difficulty,
for the splashing of the fish during the early days of spring may
be looked upon as an indication that spawning has either begun
or is about to begin. An occasional rise in the shallows is thus
found to mark the preparation for spawning; a continuous and
noisy splashing, one which can be noted at a distance of a hun-
dred yards or more, is, in the experience of the present writer, a
most useful sign that the fish are actually spawning. At this time,
perhaps, the greatest difficulty will be experienced in approaching
the fish closely enough to capture one or more of them. A slight
movement is sometimes enough to give the alarm. And a further
difficulty in capturing them at this time is the muddiness of the
water, caused by the energetic movements of spawning. In some
localities, no doubt, nests are more easily found than in others,
but in a general way the writer believes that there are few fishes
in our fresh-water lakes whose eggs and young can be secured
with less difficulty than those of the dogfish. Should the novice in
collecting fail to find at once one of their nests, the rush and splash
of the escaping guardian fish will often give a sufficiently obvious
hint as to the location of a nest. I may note, furthermore, that the
dogfish does not prove itself skillful in throwing a human enemy off
the scent ; one rarely finds that a fish will move away quietly from
the nest and then make a noisy escape in order to divert the col-
lector. The fish, on the other hand, is far more likely to remain
on the nest till the boat is actually upon it, when with a sudden
plunge it reveals the exact position of the nest. So fearlessly does
it stand its ground that in several cases noted by the writer, the

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 323

fish was not discovered until the stern of the boat had passed over
it. There may indeed be cases where, although almost touched by
the bottom of the boat, the fish has been actually overlooked ; but as
the writer has noted, the shape of the nest is so often shown at the
surface of the water, that one can frequenly detect it before any
sign of the fish is visible.

"Furthermore, the habit of the dogfish in accompanying its
young for a number of weeks after hatching gives the fish culturist
another valuable hint. With little difficulty many schools of young
dogfish can be found and destroyed. The very fact that the young
when alarmed draw together into a more and more compact mass
puts them readily into the hands of the collector although on the
other hand, this habit has doubtless proved of great value as a
means of preserving them from rapacious fishes; for should the
young scatter at the first alarm, they could obviously be less per-
fectly protected by the parent fish.

"In conclusion, accordingly, I think it is fair to assume that
whenever it becomes necessary, dogfish can be readily destroyed.
The fish themselves can be speared when they appear at the season
of spawning; their nests can be found and destroyed; and young
fish can later be taken, and in large numbers, when in company
with the male fish. I am led to believe that a single collector,
operating in a lake several miles in length, could in one season re-
duce the supply of dogfish in a very effective way."

Head 3.75; depth 5 to 6; eye 11 to 12; snout 5.75; maxillary
2.25 to 2.75; D. 48; A. 10 to 12; V. 7; scales about 10-70-12.

Body long, not compressed; head moderate; mouth large,
slightly oblique, snout broadly rounded, lower jaw slightly the
shorter; maxillary reaching far beyond eye; eye small;* back
broad, not elevated; caudal peduncle deep, somewhat compressed;
dorsal fin very long, beginning well in front of ventral fins and ex-
tending to near base of caudal ; anal fin small ; caudal fin rounded ;
lateral line nearly median, directed slightly upward at each end.

Dark olivaceous or blackish above, inclining to greenish, paler
below; side with traces of reticulate markings; lower jaw and
gular plate often with round blackish spots or irregular mottlings ;
fins mostly pale, somewhat mottled, especially the dorsal and anal ;
male with a round black spot at base of caudal above, surrounded
by an orange or yellowish shade; this spot usually not present
in the female. Length of male about 18 inches ; length of female
2 feet or more.

* In the young examined at the lake the eye is proportionally nearly twice as large as in
the adult, and the snout from .25 to .2 larger.

324 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

6. YELLOW CATFISH

(Plate 3)

The Yellow Cat is generally abundant from the Great Lakes
region to Virginia and Texas and southward. It is extremely va-
riable, running into several subspecies. Of the four species of cat-
fish known from Lake Maxinkuckee, this is by far the most abund-
ant. It is very common in Lost Lake and in favorable places in
Lake Maxinkuckee it is not rare. No attempts were made to get
a large number, but our collection contains specimens from many
parts of the shore and from the various inlets of the lake. They
are mostly quite small and exhibit much variation in general ap-
pearance, especially as regards depth, some being short and plump
and others rather elongate. The mature specimens appear to be
equally diverse as shown by the table of weights and measures
given below. The Yellow Catfish frequents the region of the in-
lets and those portions of the lake where there is soft bottom;
usually it may be found in water 5 to 15 feet deep where the bot-
tom is of marl, and even in somewhat deeper water in muck
bottom.

The Yellow Cat in these waters rarely attains a greater length
than a foot'or 15 inches and a weight of a pound or a pound and
a half, though considerably larger examples are sometimes taken.
The largest seen by us weighed 3 pounds, and the largest of which
we have heard is said to have weighed 5 pounds. The follow-
ing table shows the lengths and weights of 22 individuals examined
at various times.

Date caught

Length

Weight

May 9

6 inches

8 ounces

9 inches

8 ounces

10 inches

12 ounces

10 inches

14 ounces

11.5 inches

1 pound 1 ounce

12 inches

12 ounces

12 inches

1 pound

12 inches

1 pound 2 ounces

12 inches

1 pound 4 ounces

12.25 inches

12 ounces

12.25 inches

12 ounces

12.50 inches

1 pound 2 ounces

12.50 inches

1 pound 2 ounces

12.50 inches

1 pound 8 ounces

12.75 inches

1 pound 4 ounces

November 3

12 . 875 inches

1 pound 1 . 75 ounces

May 7

13 inches

1 pound 8 ounces

13 inches

12 ounces

13 inches

1 pound 8 ounces

14 inches

1 pound 4 ounces

14 inches

2 pounds

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 325

In the autumn the young of this fish appear to be fond of hid-
ing under logs and stones in shallow water. They also hide among
Chara in the winter and are occasionally raked up with other fishes.
The stomachs of a few individuals examined contained crawfish.

The habits of this fish, the methods of its capture, and its food
qualities are not essentially different from those of the common
bullhead, and are discussed more fully in connection with that
species.

Head 3.66 ; depth 4 ; eye 10 ; snout 3.66 ; D. I, 6 ; A. 26 ; maxil-
lary barbel 1.33 in head; nasal barbel 2.25. Body short and stout;
head heavy; jaws subequal; eye small; barbels moderate; origin of
dorsal fin nearer tip of snout than to origin of adipose fin ; dorsal
spine short, equal to snout and eye, or 1$ in longest dorsal ray;
anal large, its base 4 in body ; pectoral fin short, 2.5 in head ; caudal
fin regularly rounded.

Color, dark olivaceous yellow above, becoming clearer on sides ;
yellowish white below maxillary and nasal barbels.

7. COMMON BULLHEAD

AMEIURUS NEBULOSUS (Le Sucur)

(Plate 4)

Though this is the Common Bullhead or Horned Pout of every
pond or sluggish stream of the east and north, it is not so abund-
ant at Lake Maxinkuckee as the Yellow Cat. The two species are
usually associated and are not usually differentiated by fishermen.
The characters most useful for diagnostic purposes are the color
and the number of anal rays, the Common Bullhead being more or
less marbled or mottled and having but 21 or 22 anal rays, while
the yellow cat is quite uniform in color on the back and sides and
has 23 to 27 anal rays. The two species in Lake Maxinkuckee
reach about the same size 1 to 3 pounds, very rarely more and
have essentially the same habits.

They are, as every one knows, bottom feeders; and most of
them frequent those shallower parts of the lake where there is mud
bottom, where they feed upon crawfish and some of the softer-
shelled mollusks, as Spha?rium, and the young of various species of
Unionidse. They are also said to feed pretty extensively on the
eggs of other species of fishes. One example was found gorged
with water-lily seeds. A young one 2.125 inches long, raked up
in Chara December 22, 1904, contained a beach flea. Their spawn-
ing time is in late May and June. This seems to be a period of
considerable mortality among them, and a good many are found
dead on shore about this time. The eggs are relatively large and

326 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

few in number and these are placed under chunks or sticks, the
edges of rocks or about the bases of water plants. They hatch
in about 5 days in water at a temperature of 77, and in the cooler
waters of the lake probably require some time longer. The whole
school of young follows the parent fish about for some weeks after
hatching, forming a thick black cloud of actively wiggling black
creatures bearing considerable resemblance to tadpoles. This
species, more perhaps than any other fish, frequently gets en-
trapped in drying-up lagoons and ditches and dies in great num-
bers. It is considerably afflicted with leeches ; the majority caught
have the slender fish-leech of the lake attached to the chin, or
small red spots are usually found there where the leeches have
been. The leech also often attaches itself to the roof of the mouth
just behind the teeth. Among other external parasites are Argu-
lus maculosus, and a new species of Ergasilus found at Lost Lake,
Ergasilus versicolor. Two individuals examined contained en-
cysted in the mesenteries long round worms bearing a considerable
resemblance to the horse-hair snake.

In our seining operations not many adults were caught, scarcely
any in Lake Maxinkuckee, and only a few in Lost Lake. A good
many young 1.5 to 3 inches in length were taken, however. While
these young were most abundant in the mouths of inlets they were
often found in limited numbers almost everywhere, even on bot-
tom covered with Chara. They were more often found, however,
on marl bottom. Several examples of good size were taken on set-
lines placed in 4 to 7 feet of water just off the Gravelpit. Others
were taken in Outlet Bay and off the ice-houses, while the cane-
pole fishermen frequently make good catches in the south part of
the lake.

Among the cottagers of Long Point was one lady who appreci-
ated the game qualities of this fish, and she made many excellent
catches in a shallow channel just east of the Point.

There are not many people who have ever fished at all who
can not remember many happy days spent in angling for bull-
heads. The individual whose experiences do not include days of
this kind has missed one of the real joys of youth.

The following racy account of the habits of the Common Bull-
head was written by the author of "Peck's Bad Boy," and published
originally in the Milwaukee Sun. Though written as a burlesque,
it presents a truthful and vivid picture of the game qualities of
the Bullhead: "It seems that the action of the Milwaukee com-
mon council in withdrawing the use of the water works from the
fish commissioners will put a stop to the hatching of white-fish.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 327

This is as it should be. The white-fish is an aristocratic fish that
will not bite a hook, and the propagation of this species is wholly
in the interest of the wealthy owners of fishing tubs, who have
nets. By strict attention to business they can catch all of the
white-fish out of the lake a little faster than the State machine
can put them in. Poor people cannot get a smell of white-fish.
The same may be said of brook trout. While they will bite a hook,
it requires more machinery to catch them than ordinary people can
possess without mortgaging a house. A man has got to have a
morrocco book of expensive flies, a fifteen dollar bamboo jointed
rod, a three-dollar trout basket, with a hole morticed in the top,
a corduroy suit made in the latest style, top boots of the Wellington
pattern, with red tassels in the straps, and a flask of Otard brandy
in a side pocket. Unless a man is got up in that style a speckled
trout will see him in Chicago first, and then it won't bite. The
brook trout is even more aristocratic than the white-fish, and should
not be propagated at public expense.

"But there are fish that should be propagated in the interest of
the people. There is a species of fish that never looks at the
clothes of the man who throws in the bait, a fish that takes what-
ever is thrown to it, and when once hold of the hook never tries
to shake a friend, but submits to the inevitable, crosses its legs and
says, 'Now I lay me', and comes out on the bank and seems to
enjoy being taken. It is a fish that is the friend of the poor, and
one that will sacrifice itself in the interest of humanity. That
is the fish that the State should adopt as its trade-mark, and culti-
vate friendly relations with and stand by. We allude to the Bull-
head.

"The Bull-head never went back on a friend. To catch the Bull-
head it is not necessary to tempt his appetite with porterhouse
steak, or to display an expensive lot of fishing tackle. A pinhook,
a piece of liver, and a cistern pole is all the capital required to
catch a Bull-head. He lies upon the bottom of a stream or pond
in the mud thinking. There is no fish that does more thinking,
or has a better head for grasping great* questions, or chunks of
liver, than the Bull-head. His brain is large, his heart beats for
humanity, and if he can't get liver, a piece of thin tomato can will
make a meal for him. It is an interesting study to watch a boy
catch a Bull-head. The boy knows where the Bull-heads congre-
gate, and when he throws in his hook it is dollars to buttons that
'in the near future' he will get a bite.

"The Bull-head is democratic in all its instincts. If the boy's
shirt is sleeveless, his hat crownless, and his pantaloons a bot-

328 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

tomless pit, the Bull-head will bite just as well as though the boy
were dressed in purple and fine linen, with knee-breeches and plaid
stocking's. The Bull-head seems to be dozing on the muddy bot-
tom, and a stranger would say that he would not bite. But wait.
There is a movement of his continuation, and his cow-catcher
moves gently toward the piece of liver. He does not wait to smell
of it, and canvass in his mind whether the liver is fresh. It makes
no difference to him. He argues that there is a family out of meat.
'My country calls and I must go', says the Bull-head to himself,
and he opens his mouth and the liver disappears.

"It is not certain that the boy will think of his bait for half
an hour, but the Bull-head is in no hurry. He is in the mud and
proceeds to digest the liver. He realizes that his days will not be
long in the land, or water, more properly speaking, and he argues
that if he swallows the bait and digests it before the boy pulls
him out, he will be just so much ahead. Finally, the boy thinks of
his bait, pulls it out, and the Bull-head is landed on the bank, and
the boy cuts him open to get the hook out. Some fish only take the
bait gingerly, and are only caught around the selvage of the mouth,
and they are comparatively easy to dislodge. Not so with the
Bull-head. He says if liver is a good thing, you can't have too
much of it, and it tastes good all the way down. The boy gets
down on his knees to dissect the Bull-head, and get his hook, and
it may be that the boy swears. It would not be astonishing, though
he must feel, when he gets his hook out of the hidden recesses of
the Bull-head, like the minister who took up a collection and didn't
get a cent, though he expressed thanks at getting his hat back.
There is one draw-back to the Bull-head, and that is his horns.
We doubt if a boy ever descended into the patent insides of a
Bull-head to mine for limerick hooks, that did not, before the work
was done, run a horn into his vital parts. But the boy seems to
expect it, and the Bull-head enjoys it. We have seen a Bull-head
lie on the bank and become dry, and to all appearances dead to
all that was going on, and when a boy sat down on him, and got a
horn in his elbow, and yelled murder, the Bull-head would grin
from ear to ear, and wag his tail as though applauding for an
encore.

"The Bull-head never complains. We have seen a boy take a
dull knife and proceed to follow a fish line down a Bull-head from
head to the end of his subsequent anatomy, and all the time there
would be an expression of sweet peace on the countenance of the
Bull-head, as though he enjoyed it. If we were preparing a pic-
ture representing 'Resignation', for a chromo to give to subscrib-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 329

ers, and wished to represent a scene of suffering, in which the
sufferer was light-hearted, seeming to recognize that all was for
the best, we should take for the subject a Bull-head, with a boy
searching with a knife for a long-lost fishhook.

"The Bull-head is a fish that has no scales, but in lieu thereof
has a fine India rubber skin, that is as far ahead of fiddle-string
material for strength and durability as possible. The meat of the
Bull-head is not as choice as that of the Mackerel, but it fills up a
stomach just as well, and the Sun insists that the fish commission-
ers shall drop the hatching of aristocratic fish, and give the Bull-
heads a chance."

But the editor of London Punch does not agree with the editor
of the Milwaukee Sun, and When the introduction into England of
one of our catfishes was being suggested, Punch printed this
protest :

"Oh, do not bring the Catfish here!
The Catfish is a name I fear.

Oh, spare each stream and spring,
The Kennet swift, the Wandle clear,
The lake, the loch, the broad, the mere,
From that detested thing!

"The Catfish is a hideous beast,
A bottom-feeder that doth feast

Upon unholy bait;
He's no addition to your meal,
He's rather richer than the eel;

And ranker than the skate.

"His face is broad, and flat, and glum;
He's like some monstrous miller's thumb;

He's bearded like the pard.
Beholding him, the grayling flee,
The trout take refuge in the sea,

The gudgeons go on guard.

"He grows into a startling size;
The British matron 'twould surprise,

And raise her burning blush
To see white catfish as large as man,
Through what the bards call 'water wan',

Come with an ugly rush!

"They say the Catfish climbs the trees,
And robs the roosts, and down the breeze

Prolongs his caterwaul.
Oh, leave him in his western flood,
Where the Mississippi churns the mud;
Don't bring him here at all!"

330 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Though the cat-fish is a good deal of a scavenger in its tastes,
its flesh is firm, flaky and well-flavored, and there are many who
will agree with the old darky when he says:

"Don't talk to me o' bacon fat,
Or taters, coon or 'possum;
Fo' when I'se hooked a yaller cat,
I'se got a meal to boss 'em."

The Darkey and the Cat-fish.

"Sat'day night come arter,
De niggers went a-fishin',
Dey call for Billy Carter,
'Case he want to go a-cattin',
Dey filled de jug an' started
For de Pocomoka river,
Chicken-guts was better bait,
Dey dug a gour o' wurrims."

From "Pleasantry of the South."

Head 3 to 4 ; depth 4 to 4.5 ; snout 3.66 ; eye 10 to 12 ; D. I, 6 ; A.
21 or 22 ; V. 9.

Body rather long; upper jaw usually distinctly longer than
the lower ; humeral process more than half length of pectoral spine,
which is rather long; length of base of anal 4 in that of body;
dorsal fin inserted rather nearer adipose fin than tip of snout.

Color dark yellowish brown, more or less clouded, sometimes
yellowish, sometimes nearly black, but usually distinctly marbled
or mottled. Length a foot to 18 inches.

8. BLACK BULLHEAD

AMEIURUS MELAS (Rafinesque)

The Black Bullhead is found in brooks, ponds and lakes from
northern New York westward to Kansas and Nebraska and south

Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas)

-
w
p

fe
o

G
H

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 331

to Texas, and is usually abundant, especially west of the Missis-
sippi. It is very variable and is closely related to both A. natalis
and A. nebulosus. It is, however, a smaller fish and can usually
be known by the fewer rays in the anal and by the marked contrast
between the pale anal rays and the dark interradial membranes.

This species is not at all common in Lake Maxinkuckee, only a
few individuals having been seen there, and the majority of these
were obtained in the Outlet and in Lost Lake.

Head 3.5 ; depth 3 to 4 ; eye 8 to 9 ; snout 3 ; D. I, 6 ; A. 17 to 19.

Body short and stout; head blunt; mouth moderate, jaws sub-
equal; origin of dorsal midway between tip of snout and origin
of adipose fin, dorsal spine long, 2 in head, equalling pectoral spine ;
anal short, its base 4 to 5 in length of body, its rays 1.75 in head;
barbels long, maxillary barbel much longer than head.

Color usually almost black; anal rays pale, the membranes
black, the contrast being quite marked. Size a foot or less.

9. MAD TOM; TADPOLE CAT

SCHILBEODES GYRINUS (Mitchill)

(Plate 5)

This little fish is common from the Hudson River westward
through almost the entire Mississippi Valley and upper lake re-
gion. In Lake Maxinkuckee it is rather common. It seldom
reaches a length of more than 3 inches here, though specimens 5
inches long have been reported from elsewhere. Of 35 examples
measured at the lake the largest was 2.6 inches long, the short-
est .9 inch, and the average was 1.74 inches. Several of these
examples were mature fish. This is the only species of the genus
occurring in Lake Maxinkuckee, although other species are com-
mon in the various streams of Indiana. It may be readily known
from the young of any of the other catfish found there by its
adnate adipose fin which is continuous with the caudal fin, and also
usually by its color.

It was found by us both in the main lake and in the small one.
It is not at all uncommon in shallow water near shore, where we
would frequently find it more or less completely secreted in the
Chara or in patches of Nitella or dwarfed Potamogeton. Speci-
mens were also brought up with vegetation by the dredge or
grapple from depths of 8 to 16 feet. Throughout the winter rak-
ing in the Chara would frequently bring up one or more of these
fishes. With the exception of the Iowa darter this is one of the
most common fishes taken in this manner. They were also often

332 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

found under sticks and stones. The species is capable of in-
flicting a very painful sting, as it has a poison gland at the base
of the pectoral spine. According to Prof. H. D. Reed it also has
poison glands under the skin surrounding the pectoral and dorsal
spines.*

The food of this species consists mainly of small crustaceans
and insect larvae. One of 2 examples raked up in Chara November
25, 1904, contained a small beach flea and the other an Asellus ; of
4 examples raked up in Chara in Outlet Bay, December 21, 1904,
one, 1.19 inches long, contained a large water flea and an ostracod
(Cypris), another 1.125 inches long, contained 2 ostracods and a
few other entomostraca ; the third, 1.875 inches long, had eaten a
good-sized insect larva and an ostracod ; the fourth, 1.25 inches
long, contained a worm and 2 ostracods. One example, 2.31 inches
long, examined in the summer, contained 5 individuals of Asellus,
and another contained beach fleas. Stomachs of 2 examined May
7, 1901, contained may-fly larvae and larvae of Chironomus.

The species apparently spawns in June and July. One found
dead on the shore by Lakeview Hotel, May 18, was much distended
with ova; the eggs were yellow, large (11 to the inch) and about
50 in number. Another example, 2.63 inches long, taken in the
lake July 10, contained 93 mature eggs each about 1/15 of an inch
in diameter. All the others examined in July were either spent
fish or immature individuals.

Head 3.9 ; depth 5 ; eye 6 ; snout 3 ; D. I, 6 ; A. 13 ; body short
and thick, the head large, its width 3.5 to 4.5 in body; posterior
part of body compressed ; spines stout and long, that of the pectoral
straight, grooved behind, but not serrated, its length about 2^
in distance from snout to origin of dorsal ; dorsal higher than long,
inserted nearer anal than snout; jaws about equal; humeral process
short; adipose fin continuous with the pointed caudal.

Color uniform yellowish brown, sometimes blackish; a narrow
dark lateral streak and one or more dorsal ones.

10. COMMON BUFFALO-FISH

ICTIOBUS CYPRINELLA (Cuvier & Valenciennes)

The Buffalo-fish was formerly abundant in the larger streams
of the Mississippi Valley, and was also plentiful in many of the
lakes in that region. In Lake Maxinkuckee it appears to be rare ;
only one example was seen during the course of our investigations.

* The poison glands of Noturus and Schilbeodes, by Hugh Daniel Reed, Amer. Nat., XLI,
1907, pp. 553-567.

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Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 333

On the morning of August 24, 1906, Mr. George W. Davis and
a friend went out fishing toward the south end of the lake in a
launch, but soon returned with a large fish in tow. It was landed
at the Assembly grounds and placed on the pier at that place where
its size at once attracted attention, for it was not only the largest
fish known to have been taken in this lake, but considerably the
largest Buffalo-fish yet reported; previous records gave the Buf-
falo-fish "a length of nearly 3 feet and a weight of 20 to 30
pounds." This fish was 4 feet in length, 35 inches in girth and
weighed 75 pounds. It was taken to the laboratory and skinned.
The fish was quite fat; it had immense scales some of them
larger than a silver dollar. The stomach appeared to be full of
Chironomus larvae. It contained more than a bucket full of roe,
the ova being quite small.

Common Buffalo-fish (Ictiobus cyprinctla)

The Buffalo-fish, like the paddle-fish, is one of those fishes
which might exist in the lake in some numbers without the fact
being known, as they generally stay near the bottom and never
take the hook.

Old settlers along tributaries of the Mississippi report that
Buffalo-fish used to run in such schools in spring that it was im-
possible to ford streams while the run was in progress. In gen-
eral appearance and in some of its habits the Buffalo-fish bears
some resemblance to the carp. In some of the lakes of the Missis-
sippi Valley extraordinary runs of very large Buffalo-fish occur
occasionally. During the high water of spring the fish run out in
great numbers into the overflowed marshes where they are killed
with clubs, pitchforks or other weapons at hand. The flesh is of
an inferior flavor, but nutritious.

334 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Old settlers about the lake report that 20 or 30 years ago they
used to catch a good many Buffalo-fish in Lake Maxinkuckee with
the spear. A large one is reported to have drifted ashore some
30 years ago near where the Farrar cottage now stands.

Head very large and thick, 3.5 in length of body; depth 2.5
to 3.5 in length; developed rays of dorsal 27 to 29; anal rays 9;
ventrals 10; scales 7-37 to 41-6. Body robust, moderately com-
pressed, the outline somewhat elliptical, but the back rather more
curved than the belly. Opercular apparatus very strong, the
operculum itself forming nearly one half the length of the head.
Coloration dull brownish olive, not silvery ; fins dusky.

11. COMMON SUCKER

CATOSTOMUS COMMERSONII (Lacepede)

(Plate 6)

This is the most abundant sucker in the streams and lakes from
Quebec and Massachusetts westward to Montana and Colorado
and southward to Missouri and Georgia. It does not appear to
be at all abundant in Lake Maxinkuckee. On the night of Sep-
tember 20, 1900, two large examples, each about 18 inches long
and weighing about 2.5 pounds, were seined in shallow water in
front of the Fish Commission station. A few small ones were
found dead along the shore of the lake in the summer of 1906. No
examples were caught in any of the gillnets which we had set. A
few young individuals \vere seined in Culver Inlet and in the Out-
let below Lost Lake, and on one occasion a good number were
seen in the Outlet some distance below the lakes.

This fish does not take the hook, and when captured is usually
taken in nets and traps. The flesh is of good quality, but very full
of small bones. No opportunity was had to study its food . or
habits, as so few were seen.

Body moderately stout, varying with age, subterete, heavy, at
the shoulders, the depth 4 to 4.56 in length. Head rather large
and stout, conical, flattish above, its length 4 to 4.5 in body (3.5
to 4.25 in young). Snout moderately prominent, scarcely over-
passing the mouth. Mouth rather large; the lips strongly papil-
lose, the upper moderate, with 2 or 3 rows of papillas. Scales
crowded anteriorly, much larger on the sides than below; scales
10-64 to 70-9. Coloration olivaceous ; males in spring with a faint
rosy lateral band; young brownish, more or less mottled, often
with confluent blackish lateral blotches or a lateral band. Lateral
line imperfect in the very young. D. usually 12. L. 18 inches.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 335
12. HOG-SUCKER

HYPENTELIUM NIGRICANS (Le Sueur)

(Plate 7)

The Hog-sucker is abundant in swift and rocky streams from
New York to Minnesota and Kansas, Arkansas and the Carolinas.
Like all other well-known species of wide distribution, it has re-
ceived many different common names, among which are Stone-
roller, Stone-toter, Crawl-a-bottom, Hammerhead, Stone-lugger,
Boot-leg sucker, Spotted sucker, Black sucker and Hog-molly.

The Hog-sucker is not at all common in Lake Maxinkuckee.
Six examples were seined July 18 near the Maxinkuckee pier, the
largest about 8 inches long, and another example 12.75 inches long,
was obtained later. A small one about 3 inches long was washed
up dead in front of the Fish Commission station April 1, 1901.
Mr. Gardner on the east side caught a specimen about August 16
from a pool by his house. In the autumn of 1907 one was fre-
quently seen in the Outlet just below the wagon bridge, and one
was seen near shore along the south edge of Outlet Bay.

This fish is not a lake species, but one which prefers clear
pebbly streams, such as the Tippecanoe. Its occurrence in any
abundance in Lake Maxinkuckee would, therefore, hardly be ex-
pected. It is present in some abundance in the Outlet; on April
2, 1901, a trip was taken about a mile down the Outlet and 9
examples, each about a foot long, were seen in a pile on the shore
with spear marks on them. In a trip down the Outlet in the
autumn of 1907 (September 30) a good many were seen. On
August 9, 1906, 2 examples about 9 inches long were seined in
Yellow River. The stomachs were examined and found full of
mud and a few bits of insect fragments.

The Hog-molly can often be seen lying motionless at the bot-
tom of clear, rather swift brooks, the black stripes across its back
showing distinctly at a distance. In general coloration it resembles
a pebbly bottom considerably and this frequently makes it difficult
to see. In its general aspect, while in this position it resembles
somewhat a large darter or a miller's thumb. It cannot usually be
induced to bite, though a hook baited with a tempting morsel be let
down to its very nose. It probably lives chiefly on insect larvaB
and such microscopic organisms as it can suck up from the bottom.

This sucker reaches a length of about 2 feet. Although not ex-
tensively used as food its flesh is firm and flaky and possesses a
flavor peculiarly sweet and agreeable. The chief objection is the
abundance of small fagot bones.

2217618

336 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

At certain places in the Mississippi Valley this fish, along with
other species of suckers, is utilized to some extent by salting for
winter use.

Head 4 to 4.5 in body; depth 4.5 to 5; eye rather small, 4.5
to 5 in head, placed very high. D. 10 or 11 ; A. 7 ; V. 9 ; scales 7-48
to 55-6. Head flattened above, transversely concave between the
orbits, the frontal bone thick, broad and short, the physiognomy
being, therefore, peculiar. Upper lip very thick, strongly papil-
lose, with a broad free margin, which has upward of 8 to 10 series
of papillae upon it; lower lip greatly developed, considerably in-
cised behind, but less so than in related species. Fontanelle shorter
and smaller than in C. commersonii, pectoral fins usually larger.
Color olivaceous ; sides with brassy luster ; belly white ; back brown,
with several dark cross-blotches, irregularly arranged, these be-
coming obsolete in old individuals; lower fins dull red, with some
dusky shading ; young considerably variegated, the sides spotted.

13. CHUB SUCKER

ERIMYZON SUCETTA (Lacepede)

(Plate 8)

The Chub Sucker, or Creek Fish as it is sometimes called, is
found throughout the Mississippi Valley, the region of the Great
Lakes and in coastwise streams from Maryland to Texas. It pre-
fers small lakes, bayous and sluggish lowland streams, and, where
found, is usually not uncommon.

At Lake Maxinkuckee it is not often seen in the main lake but
in the Outlet and in Lost Lake it is not rare.

In our seining operations about the lake numerous specimens
were secured. Between July 25 and August 25, 612 hauls were
made and Chub Suckers were taken in 24 of them, the total num-
ber of specimens being 109. The largest number in any single
haul was 23. Specimens were obtained in Culver Inlet, Lost Lake,
and in the Outlet between the two lakes. A few were got near
the Vandalia pumping station at Culver and a few in Norris Inlet.
On May 29, 1901, one was found dead in Aubeenaubee Bay, and
another May 31 near the Assembly grounds.

The young of this species bears but slight superficial resem-
blance to the adult, the jet black lateral band and the small mouth
making it easy to mistake them for minnows.

This species reaches a length of 6 to 8 inches. Like all suck-
ers it is quite full of fagot bones but is, nevertheless, a delicious
lit lie panfish. The flesh is firm and of attractive flavor.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 337

Head 4.25 ; depth 3.25 ; eye 4.25 to 6 ; snout 2.5 to 3 ; D. 12 ; A.
7 : V. 9 ; scales 36 to 42-15.

Body oblong, compressed, becoming gibbous with age, the ante-
dorsal region more or less elevated in the adult; head short and
stout, the interorbital space wide; scales closely imbricated and
more or less crowded anteriorly; mouth small, somewhat inferior,
the upper lip well developed and freely protractile, the lower small,
infolded A -shaped in outline, plicate, with 12 to 20 folds on each
side.

Color varying greatly with age; back usually dark olivaceous,
the sides with pale streaks along the rows of scales; belly white;
young with a broad black lateral band bordered above by paler,
becoming broken up later into a series of blotches which sometimes
assume the form of broad transverse bars; often the band is jet
black and ends in a jet black spot at base of caudal. As the fish
gets older this black band becomes less distinct and finally disap-
pears, leaving the color nearly uniform dusky with a brassy or
coppery luster ; the fins are dusky, the lower ones sometimes tinged
with reddish.

A young example 2 inches long, taken in Lost Lake July 31, had
the following colors in life:

Back greenish-olive, side with a broad black band beginning as
a large black spot at base of caudal and running along side a little
above axis of body to tip of snout; under parts and lower part
of side silvery-white, with golden or coppery wash; caudal pale
brick-red; dorsal dark, particularly on the anterior 2 or 3 rays;
all the other fins pale ; pectoral with a thin dark edge. An adult
8 inches long was rich greenish-olivaceous, with rich brassy ir-
idescence; fins all greenish brassy, no trace of black lateral band.

The sexual differences are usually well marked, the males in
spring with large tubercles on the snout and the anal fin more or
less swollen and emarginate.

14. SPOTTED SUCKER

MINYTREMA MELANOPS (Rafinesque)

This species, known locally as Black Sucker, is not common in
these lakes. The only specimens we have seen were four examples
seined in Lost Lake, October 21, 1913, by some commercial fisher-
men who undertook to "rid Lake Maxinkuckee of carp." These
specimens were 14 to 16 inches in length.

This fish is also known as Winter Sucker. It attains a length
of a foot to 18 inches and, as a food fish, is one of the best of the
family, the flesh being firm, flaky and particularly sweet and palat-

338 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

able. It occurs throughout the region from the Great Lakes south
and west through the upper Mississippi Valley, it being perhaps
most abundant in Missouri.

It may be known from all other suckers by the following de-
scription : Dorsal fin short, with only 12 rays ; air-bladder in two
parts ; lateral line incomplete, most evident in the adult, the scales
large, firm, regularly and smoothly imbricated, in 44 to 47 longi-
tudinal series. Color dusky above, usually with a black blotch be-
hind the dorsal fin; each scale along sides with a small blackish
spot, these spots forming interrupted lines along the rows of
scales, especially distinct in the adult, faint in the very young.

15. REDHORSE

MOXOSTOMA AUREOLUM (Le Sueur)

This species of sucker, so common in most of the rivers and
creeks in the upper Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes region,
is apparently very rare in Lake Maxinkuckee. It is essentially a
fish of moderately swiftly flowing streams and its occurrence in
this lake was unexpected. Our records show but a single speci-
men, an example 6.5 inches long, obtained in the summer of 1900.
In neighboring streams, such as Yellow and Tippecanoe rivers, it
is a common and well-known fish. It is variously known as the
Common Redhorse, White Sucker, Large-scaled Sucker and Mullet.
In Indiana it is most commonly called the Redhorse, and is a
familiar fish to the boys and others who go a-fishing in the spring
and early summer. It is not often caught on the hook, though
when the hook is baited with angleworms and allowed to lie on the
bottom it will sometimes be sucked in by the Redhorse. The
method usually employed in the capture of this and other species
of suckers, however, was by means of the wire snare. Favorite
places were in the interstices in the old log drifts which occurred
all too frequently in the smaller Indiana streams 30 to 40 years
ago. As a game-fish not much can be said for the Redhorse, al-
though it fights well when once it is hooked. As a food-fish it is
excellent except for the abundance of fagot-bones. In a fish taken
from clear cold water, the flesh is firm and flaky and deliciously
sweet. At various places in the Ohio basin, and doubtless else-
where where these suckers occur abundantly, they are salted or put
up in brine for summer use.

The breeding habits of the Redhorse are well-known. In the
fall, when cold weather comes on, they run down stream and re-
tire to the quiet, deeper portions of the river where they remain

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Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 339

through the winter. When the warm days of spring return these
fish leave the deeper water and run up stream into the shallow,
swifter portions. This spring run of the suckers was, in the
early days, one of the phenomena in Indiana and Illinois which
never failed to attract the attention and excite the interest of those
who were at all observing.

The Redhorse may be readily known from all other species of
suckers of this region by the following description, based on the
one Maxinkuckee specimen :

Head 4.2 in length ; depth 3.9 ; eye 4.75 in head ; snout 2.6 ; in-
terorbital 2.5; dorsal I, 13; anal 7; scales 7-42-4. Body stoutish,
varying to moderately elongate, considerably compressed, dorsal
outline arched; head rather long, bluntish, rather broad, flattened
above; lips full, the nose projecting; lower lip strongly plicate.
Color in life yellowish or light rosy above, paler on sides, whitish
beneath ; fins more or less red, fading to light yellow in alcohol.

16. ROT-GUT MINNOW

CAMPOSTOMA ANOMALUM (Rafinesque)

(Plate 9)

This minnow is common in streams from central New York
westward to Wyoming and south to Tennessee and Texas. It is
usually most abundant in deep or still places in small streams with
muddy bottom. In the spring it runs into the smaller brooks at
spawning time. Although not a lake fish it occurs in Maxinkuckee
in some numbers. In July and August, 1899, more than 30 speci-
mens were seined in various places about the lake, though chiefly
in the small streams flowing into it. It was most abundant in
Aubeenaubee Creek ; it was found also in Norris Inlet, Culver Inlet
and the Outlet. Only rarely have we taken it in the lake proper;
two were got July 25, 1899, near the pumping house of the Van-
dalia railroad in the northwest corner of the lake on sandy bot-
tom covered with Hydrodyction and other aquatics, and another
was obtained near shore west of Lakeview Hotel, June 18, 1901.
The smallest specimen in our collection is 2 inches long, the largest
5.625 inches.

This species is known also as Stone-roller, Stone-lugger, Steel-
backed Chub, Mammy and Doughbelly. It attains a length of 5
to 9 inches. As a food fish it possesses very little value, albeit, it
often adorns the small boy's string. Its flesh is soft and doughy,
full of small bones, and quick to decay, hastened, no doubt, by the
character and quantity of food usually found in the remarkably

340 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

long intestine. If dressed immediately after being caught and
quickly consigned to the frying pan well rolled in fine meal and
seasoned with butter, and browned to a turn, it is a dainty morsel.
It is as a bait minnow, however, that this fish is of most value,
and it is often seen in the minnow buckets of anglers about the
lake. It is fairly good as a deep troller, and is excellent in shal-
lower water provided it is kept near the surface. Its tendency
is to bear down and become entangled in the weeds if there be
any present, where it will pout and sulk. It lives well and is
active on the hook when held up. It is a good bait for bass and
wall-eyed pike but too big for yellow perch.

This species can be readily distinguished from any of the other
minnows of the lake by an examination of the very long intestine,
which is spirally coiled around the air-bladder, a feature peculiar
to the genus to which it belongs.

The males are so greatly modified by the development of
tubercles over the body during the breeding season that they hardly
look like the same fish ; an example 4.75 inches long caught in the
Outlet at the railroad bridge June 16, 1901, was so decorated.
Several large tubercles adorned the head, and the greater number
of scales on the upper part of the body contained each a small
tubercle near the center. These tubercles appeared to be com-
posed of a horny substance and were each seated in a more or
less pit-like depression.

Head 4.2 in body ; depth 4.4 ; D. 8 ; A. 7 ; scales 7-53-8 ; teeth 4-4
or 1, 4-4, 0. Body stoutish, moderately compressed, the ante-
dorsal region becoming swollen and prominent in the adult. Snout
moderately decurved. Scales deep, rather small and crowded an-
teriorly ; maxillary not reaching to opposite the front of eye. In-
testine very long and wound around the air bladder. Color brown-
ish, with a brassy luster above, the scales more or less mottled
with dark; a dusky vertical bar behind the opercle; dorsal and
anal fins each with a dusky crossbar about halfway up ; the rest of
the fin, olivaceous in females, fiery red in the males in the spring,
the iris orange in males. Extremely variable. The young very
different in appearance from the old males. Length 6 to 8 inches.

17. CARP

CYPRINUS CARPIO Linnaeus

(Plates 10, 11, and 12)

During the seining operations of 1899-1900 not a single Carp
was taken in the lake and we have no specimens of this species in

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Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 341

the collection made at the lake. So far as known, no Carp has yet
been taken out of the body of the lake itself, but as they have been
taken in the marshes at both the Outlet and Inlet regions, they are
in all probability present in the lake. They have never been noted
splashing about in shallow water of the lakes as they usually do
when abundant. The Carp made its first appearance in the region
on the night of July 1, 1902. At about 2 o'clock that night Mr. S.
S. Chadwick heard several big fishes floundering about in Green's
marsh. He and Mr. E. Hatton took a lantern and tried to see
them. There appeared to be a good many large fishes splashing
among the grass and bushes, and sometimes their dorsal fins could
be seen projecting above the water. The fins indicated quite large
fish. In the afternoon of July 2 two men took a boat and rowed
all over Green's marsh, but saw nothing. The fish had either re-
turned to Lost Lake or were hidden in the grass or bushes. Late
the same evening a large fish was seen at the lower end of the tile
under the railroad. It swam down the ditch among the grass.
The next day several large fish were seen in the marsh, and one
was shot which proved to be a Carp 22 inches long, and weighing
just 5 pounds. Another much larger one was seen. Part of the
Carp which was shot was fried, and those who partook of it re-
ported it pretty fair eating.

On December 30, 1905, some large fish thought to be these,
were seen through clear ice in the Outlet about a mile below the
lakes.

So far as known the Carp first appeared here in considerable
numbers about May 13, 1905. The following extract from a letter
from Mr. S. S. Chadwick, June 4, 1905, describes the Carp situation
at that time: "Water was very high and Carp came out in the
field west of me [Green's marsh]. Mr. Green came up to my
place Friday, May 12, and said that the Carp were plentiful out
in the pasture. I went and got 9. The next morning I got up
at 4:30, took a 4-tined fork, crossed the road, and opened up on
them. At 5 Mrs. Chadwick brought out a washtub and I put in
11 Carp that filled it. The largest, 32 inches long, weighed 19
pounds. In the two mornings I killed 21 Carp. I gave 15 to my
neighbors and skinned the other 6, rolled them in paper and put
them on ice. We had fish for 8 days, split the large one and made
cut chops out of it, 1 rib to the piece, enough for an order, and I
will say this for the Carp, the 5 to 8 pound ones are perhaps bet-
ter than the larger ones. Flesh sweet and much better than the
large-mouth black bass. I was surprised, indeed; so were my
guests. Mrs. C. fried them and every one pronounced them fine.

342 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

There were from 150 to 200 Carp taken out of that field and the
Outlet between the two bridges. In Harvey Norris's field south
of his house, one 16-pounder and 20 or more smaller were caught."

In 1907, late in June, many Carp were seen in Green's marsh.
One man shot two and speared five others, and many others were
taken. The largest obtained this year that we have any record
of weighed 8 pounds.

In the autumn of 1907, a trip was taken by boat from Lake
Maxinkuckee down the Outlet to the Tippecanoe River. No sign
of Carp was seen either in Lost Lake or in the Outlet. It is some-
what surprising that this fish, so much in evidence in the flats in
the high water of spring, should appear to be wholly absent during
the rest of the year.

In October, 1913, a party from Wisconsin came to Lake Maxin-
kuckee prepared to "rid the lake of the carp." They were equipped
with a seine several hundred yards long and all the necessary boats,
winches and all other needful paraphernalia and authority, includ-
ing a permit and moral support from the State Fish and Game
Commission. On October 20, one haul was made in Aubeenaubee
Bay; result, about 1,000 bass, but not one Carp! The next day
Lost Lake was seined with only slightly better success, the catch
consisting of an immense number of straw bass (some weighing
about seven pounds each), a great many bluegills, a few dog-
fish, a few redhorse, two striped suckers, a lot of miscellaneous
species, and three Carp!

From which it appears that the Carp is not, as yet, very com-
mon in Lake Maxinkuckee.

About the lake, as in other places throughout the country, there
is a good deal of prejudice against the Carp, which has no founda-
tion in fact. They are supposed to devour the eggs of other fishes,
but very few eggs have ever been reported as having been found
in their stomachs.* They are supposed to drive away other fishes,
but almost any of our spiny-rayed fishes could probably drive away
the Carp. They are omnivorous, living on vegetable food, and al-
most anything else small enough to take into their mouths. The
young furnish a large amount of food to carnivorous fishes, such
as bass and perch.

In the winter of 1903 Carp were observed in great numbers in
lagoons in Jackson Park, Chicago; the fishes swarmed up to air-
holes by the thousands and many people caught them in their
bare hands.

* Leon J. Cole examined the stomach contents of 33 carp critically and many others less
carefully and found only 3 fish eggs.

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Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 343

Carp are usually caught by net, as they are not, as a rule, ready
biters at the hook. Small ones are, however, frequently caught on
the hook along the upper Mississippi. The favorite bait is the
dough ball, or a bit of potato. They will, however, also take the
angleworm and are sometimes caught on set-lines baited with
angleworms. As a game-fish the Carp is not to be despised; in-
deed, in some regions it is held in high esteem and eagerly sought
by local anglers. It is really quite gamy, and a 4 to 10 pound
Carp is able to make a fight that will delight even the most expert
angler.

The Carp is very productive, the number of eggs reported for
4- to 25-pound fish ranging from 100,OQO to more than 2,000,000.
Dr. Cole found that the eggs of a 17-pound Carp weighed 27 per
cent of the entire weight of the fish.

The Carp makes no nest but simply leaves the eggs scattered
about on the vegetation in shallow water and gives no further at-
tention to them.

As a food-fish in American waters the Carp has undoubtedly
come to stay. The annual catch now amounts to many million
pounds, valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Body robust, compressed, resembling that of the buffalo-fish.
Mouth moderate, anterior, with 4 long barbels. Snout blunt,
rounded; D. Ill, 20, the first spine strongly serrated; A. iii, 5;
teeth, I, I, 3-3, I, I; scales normally 5-38-5, but sometimes few
and large, scattered (mirror carp) or absent (leather carp) ; many
variations present, due to domestication. Habitat, fresh waters
of Asia; introduced into Europe and America as a food-fish.

18. BLUNT-NOSED MINNOW

PIMEPHALES NOTATUS (Rafinesque)

This little fish is found from Quebec to Delaware, Arkansas and
the Dakotas. It is generally abundant in small streams.

In Lake Maxinkuckee it is a very common and well-known fish.
In our seining operations many specimens were obtained, the num-
ber taken at each haul varying from 1 to 30. The species was rep-
resented in 79 out of 612 hauls and by 268 specimens. They are
most frequently met with where the water is shallow and the bot-
tom of mixed sand and gravel covered sparsely with vegetation.
During the spring and summer they are usually found singly or
only a few together, but later they bunch up and in the fall and
winter they are found in considerable schools. These schools are
usually found near shore, particularly under or about the piers.

344 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

On bright sunny days they may be seen swimming along in shallow
water and feeding upon entomostraca and other plankton elements
at the surface. Even after ice has formed these schools may be
seen. On November 14 and 27 many were found frozen in pools
along shore, 59 being taken from one pool.

The breeding season of this minnow is early in June. On June
6 several nests were found in shallow water near the south shore
of Outlet Bay. On June 8 more were found. They were invari-
ably found under small pieces of boards or other flat objects lying
on the bottom. Eight nests were found under one long board and
two are often seen under one small piece of board. Upon lifting
the board a rather broad but shallow burrow or depression is found
under it, and usually a small fish is seen swimming anxiously back
and forth in the burrow. The eggs are found attached to the
under side of the board in a single compact layer. They are pink-
ish white or transparent pinkish in color and about 17 to the inch

Blunt-nosed Minnow (Pimephales notutus)

in size. The eggs in some of the nests were evidently fresh, while
those of other nests examined on the same date showed eye-spots
and light wiggling motions. Several of these nests were examined
again on June 16 and the parent fish were still present.

Crawfishes apparently feed to some extent on the eggs of these
fishes. One or more were seen under nearly every board which
contained a nest, and the eggs disappeared before ready to hatch.

As a bait minnow this species is one of the most desirable,
perhaps the best of those found in the lake. All except the largest
are too small for trolling, but for deep-water fishing it is excellent.
It is very tough and lives well in all kinds of water and at all
depths. It is a good fighter and very active on the hook. It may
be used at any season and is good for wall-eyed pike, bass and
perch, and all other game fishes of the lake except the bluegill.

The Blunt-nosed Minnow is the only species of the genus found
in the lake. It may be readily known from the following descrip-
tion:

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 345

Head 4.3 in body ; depth 4.6 ; eye 3.4 in head ; snout 3.6 ; dorsal
I, 8 ; anal 7 ; scales 6-41 to 45-4 ; teeth 4-4.

Body rather elongate, not much elevated, only moderately com-
pressed; head rather short, the snout blunt and convex; top of
head depressed, cheeks vertical; mouth small, inferior, horizontal.
Fins small, the dorsal moderate, the first ray distinct and spine-
like in the male, slender in the female; anal fin small, caudal fin
short. Scales moderate, deep, closely imbricated, 23 rows in front
of dorsal ; eye small.

Color, back olivaceous; sides bluish silvery, belly white; nose
bluish; a black spot on the dorsal fin in front near the base; a
dusky blotch at base of caudal fin ; fins often reddish.

Comparative measurements were taken of 150 examples of this
species. These specimens ranged in length from 1.5 to 3 inches,
the aveage being 2 inches.

19. COMMON CHUB

SEMOTILUS ATROMACULATUS (Mitchill)

At Lake Maxinkuckee this fish is confined practically to the
small tributary streams. . Numerous specimens varying in length
from 1 to 9 or 10 inches were obtained in each of the inlets, per-
haps most numerously in Aubeenaubee Creek; and a few were ob-
tained in the Outlet. In all of these little streams it pushes well
toward the head, and good-sized examples may be found where the
stream is but a few inches deep. Their favorite place, however,
is in the deeper, more quiet pools of these small streams. Though
they can endure a relatively high temperature and water which is
not very pure, they are often so crowded in these pools that the
water becomes poorly aerated and quite impure, and the fish be-
comes infested by various sorts of psorosperms and other para-
sites. These, however, rarely seem to prove fatal, and when the
fish are removed to favorable surroundings they speedily recover.

The Common Chub reaches a length of 8 to 10 inches and is
one of the fishes quite sure to be found on the small boy's string.
It is one of the most voracious of the minnows and the sum total of
sport which it brings to the youth of the land is no doubt quite
as great as that which better fish bring to these same boys when
no longer young. But while the mature angler no longer seeks the
festive chub for its own sake, he nevertheless finds it a very useful
fish, for when he would land the wall-eyed pike, great pike, or
muskallunge, he finds no better bait than this same Chub ; the larger
ones for these species and smaller ones for black bass. The Chub

346 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

is a hardy bait, active on the hook and attractive to the game
fishes just named.

The principal food of the Chub consists of insect larvae, aquatic
insects, worms and small crustaceans.

Head 3.75 to 4 ; depth 4.75 ; eye 7.5 ; snout 3 ; interorbital 2.4 ;
D. 8; A. 8; scales 9-57-5, about 40 before the dorsal; teeth 2,
5-4, 2.

Body stout, not much compressed, the dorsal outline arched
somewhat in front of dorsal, the body tapering backward from a
point considerably in front of dorsal, so that the base of that fin
is quite oblique; head large, bluntly conic, broad and rounded
above; snout broad; mouth broad, oblique, lower jaw somewhat
included, the upper lip entirely below level of pupil; maxillary

Common Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)

barely reaching front of orbit; maxillary barbel small, sometimes
not evident; eye small; scales small, greatly reduced and crowded
anteriorly; lateral line strongly decurved.

Color, dusky bluish above, side with a vague dusky band, quite
black in the young, but almost or entirely disappearing with age;
belly whitish, rosy in breeding males ; dorsal fin with a large black
spot on base of anterior rays, bordered with red in the adult male ;
a dusky vertebral line ; scales everywhere black at base and dusky
on edges ; a broad black bar on shoulder behind opercular opening ;
males in spring with the snout coarsely tuberculate ; young with a
small black spot at base of caudal. The Chub varies somewhat
in the number of scales, northern specimens having an increased
number. Our specimens have from 57 to 60. The number of
fin-rays is also large in our specimens, one having D. 8 ; A. 9, and
another D. 9 ; A. 9.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 347
20. ROACH

ABRAMIS CRYSOLEUCAS (Mitchill)

(Plate 13)

The Roach, known also as the Golden Shiner or Bream, is a
common fish from Nova Scotia and Maine to the Dakotas and south
to Texas, on both sides of the Alleghenies, and is usually abundant
in weedy ponds and sluggish streams. It is not abundant in Lake
Maxinkuckee ; specimens were obtained in only 7 hauls of the seine
and of these 6 were made in Culver Inlet, and one in the outlet
below Lost Lake. A few were seen, along with calico bass and
bluegills under the Merchant pier, near Culver, Nov. 15, 1906. In
all, 59 specimens, ranging from 1 to 5f inches, were taken. It is
a handsome, hardy fish, and would make a very attractive aquarium
fish. It is sometimes used, along with other minnows, for bait.

This species reaches a maximum length of about a foot and may
be known from other minnows inhabiting this lake by the greatly
compressed body, the small mouth, the large anal fin and the
greatly decurved lateral line.

Head 4.5 ; depth 3.5 ; eye 4 ; snout 4 ; maxillary 4.3 ; mandible 3 ;
interorbital 2.6 ; caudal peduncle 2 ; D. I, 8 ; A. I, 12 ; scales 11-51-3.

Body elongate ovate, strongly compressed; head small and
short, moderately pointed; snout short, pointed; eye moderate, in
axis of body; mouth small, oblique, maxillary not reaching eye;
jaws subequal. Fins moderate; origin of dorsal behind insertion
of ventrals and a little nearer base of caudal than tip of snout;
first dorsal ray longest, 1.2 in head; last ray about length of
first; base of dorsal 1.75 in longest ray; free edge of anal con-
cave, the first rays longest, about 1.2 in longest dorsal; last anal
ray about 3 in first, base of anal equal to longest ray; caudal
widely forked, the notch rounded, the lower lobe slightly longer,
'greater than head, the upper scarcely equal to head; pectoral
small, short, 1.3 in head, not reaching insertion of ventrals; ven-
trals shorter than pectoral, reaching f way to anal; scales rather
small, not very firm, and not closely imbricated ; lateral line com-
plete, strongly decurved.

Color, clear greenish above ; side silvery, with bright golden re-
flections ; fins yellow-greenish, the tips of the lower fins sometimes
somewhat orange in breeding males.

348 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey
21. BLACK-STRIPED MINNOW

NOTROPIS BIFRENATUS (Cope)

Up to 10 or 11 years ago, this handsome little minnow was
known only as a rather uncommon fish in streams along the coast
from Massachusetts to Maryland. In 1898, Dr. W. C. Kendall of
the Bureau of Fisheries, obtained a good number in a bay near
the mouth of Songo River, at Sebago Lake, Maine. At Lake Max-
inkuckee, 5 specimens of this species have been found, 2, each about
1| in. long, in Lost Lake Aug. 25, 1900, a third about an inch
long of which the date has been lost, another example 1^ inches
long was taken in Aubeenaubee Creek near ^ the mouth November
15, 1904, and the fifth, If inches long, in Lost Lake, Dec. 24, 1904.
These specimens agree perfectly with those obtained at Sebago
Lake, Maine, by Dr. Kendall, except that ours have a slightly larger
eye and a slightly larger mouth.

The Black-striped Minnow very closely resembles the young of
the chub sucker, from which it can be distinguished by the struc-
ture of the mouth. It can be at once distinguished from any other
of the minnows of the lake by its intense contrastive markings.
It differs from Notropis cayuga, which it resembles more closely
than any other minnow of the region, in the larger mouth, black
lower jaw, stouter body, and much blacker lateral band. The
black lateral band in bifrenatus is solid and continuous, that in
cayuga is made up of a series of black vertical bars, somewhat
lunate in the anterior part of the body, separated by less black, sil-
very interspaces.

Head 4.2 in length ; depth 4.2 ; eye 3 in head ; D. 8 ; A. 7 ; scales
5-36-3 ; 13 scales before dorsal ; teeth 4-4. Body with both dorsal
and ventral outlines somewhat arched; the caudal peduncle some-
what contracted. Head moderate, the muzzle very obtuse. Mouth
oblique, the jaws about equal; upper lip opposite lower part of.
pupil. Eye large, greater in diameter than length of snout ; pores
of lateral line developed on only a few of the anterior scales.

Straw-colored, the scales brown-edged above; a shining black
band from snout through eye to caudal, including edge of lower
jaw; an orange band above this on the snout; regions below the
black band silvery. Length 1-J to 2 inches.

On account of its rarity, this minnow is not generally known to
the anglers of the vicinity. Its small size would probably prevent
its being used as a bait minnow, though its attractive colors might
make it a good lure.

o
o

in
ffi

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 349
22. CAYUGA MINNOW

NOTROPIS CAYUGA Mek

(Plate 14)

The Cayuga Minnow is a rather common fish in lakes, ponds and
streams from Cayuga Lake and northern New York, westward to
Assiniboia, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Arkansas. It is
an insignificant little fish, usually too small to be used for bait, and
chiefly useful as food for other fishes. It is generally overlooked
by minnow seiners and anglers, and is usually known only from
regions where systematic collecting has been done; its small size
and modest colors enable it to elude common observation.

It does not appear to be common in Lake Maxinkuckee proper ;
our only record is of 5 specimens taken July 7, 1900. It appears,
however, to be quite abundant in Lost Lake. On July 29, 1899,
19 specimens were obtained there, and the species appeared to be
exceedingly abundant at that place during the late autumn of 1907.
Late in October and during the first week of November of that
year, it swarmed in myriads in the shallow water along the shore.
On November 5, 1907, more than a bushel were taken in one haul
with a 12-foot seine dragged through a space not exceeding about
50 square feet of water, near the Bardsley cottage. Of these about
a gallon were saved and found to consist of 1,907 of this species,
48 Notropis heterodon, 25 Pimephales notatus, 7 Abramis cryso-
leucas and 4 Notropis blennius. The stomachs of a number of the
Cayuga minnows taken in this haul were examined and found
to contain various kinds of entomostraca and several different
sorts of diatoms; among the entomostraca were Diaptomus, Bos-
mina and Daphnia; among the diatoms were species of Navicula,
Pleurosigma and Cymatopleura. It was thought at first that these
came from the stomachs of the waterfleas, but these were quite
free from them. One filament of Spyrogyra and one of Lyngbya,
1 observed were probably taken by accident. At that time the entire
east shore of Lost Lake from the Bardsley cottage southward was
a mass of these small minnows, so uniformly abundant and
crowded that it was practically impossible to observe any segrega-
tion into schools.

Our specimens differ somewhat from the descriptions of typical
N. cayuga in having the lower jaw subequal or included, and not
projecting. In this respect they resemble N. ano genus, from which
they differ, however, in having the lateral line incomplete. The
chin usually has a few minute punctulations, but would be called

350 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

pale in comparison with that of N. heterodon. The following is a
description of a typical specimen :

Head 4.1 in length; depth 5.1; eye 3 in head; snout 3; D. 8;
A. 8 ; teeth 4-4 ; scales 5-36-4, -14 before dorsal ; lateral line usually
quite incomplete. Body rather slender, moderately compressed,
heaviest forward; caudal peduncle long and slender; head rather
broad; snout short, bluntly rounded; mouth small, maxillary not
nearly reaching eye, the lower jaw usually included or little pro-
jecting; eye large; fins moderate, origin of dorsal slightly behind
insertion of ventrals; caudal rather deeply forked, the inner rays
scarcely exceeding half length of outer ones.

Color, pale yellowish or straw-color above, whitish below; back
and two rows of scales on each side with a border of dark stippling
about each side ; middle of side with a broad plumbeous band over-
laid with black arranged in short vertical masses separated by sil-
very interspaces which are less heavily punctate with black, this
black band extending on to base of caudal fin and through eye
around snout. Length 1 to 2.5 inches.

Variable-toothed Minnow (Notropis heterodon)

23. VARIABLE-TOOTHED MINNOW

NOTROPIS HETERODON (Cope)

The Variable-toothed Minnow is rather common from New
York to Michigan and Kansas. Like its near relative, the Cayuga
minnow, it is a rather insignificant little fish, so much like a host
of relatives that it is not generally distinguished from the great
mass of "minnows" by most people. It can be distinguished from
the Cayuga minnow, which it closely resembles, by the larger
mouth and bit of black on the chin. The young of this species have
a broad black band on the side, and quite closely resemble the young
of the chub sucker (Erimyzon sucetta). They are not so deep,
however, and have a differently shaped mouth.

Z
X

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 351

Our collection contains 111 specimens, ranging from 1.12 to
2.5 inches in length, 34 of which were obtained in Lake Maxin-
kuckee, 75 in Lost Lake, 1 in Aubeenaubee Creek and 1 in Culver
Inlet.

Head 4 in length; depth 4; eye 3 in head; snout equal to eye;
D. 8 ; A. 8 ; scales 5-36-3, the lateral line extending about half the
length of the body; teeth 4-4 (sometimes 2, 4-4, 2) often crenate.
Body moderately stout, the back somewhat elevated; head rather
pointed, the muzzle acuminate; mouth rather oblique, lower jaw
projecting; upper lip opposite upper rim of pupil; maxillary ex-
tending to opposite front rim of orbit; thirteen scales in front of
dorsal.

Color: Back golden olivaceous; top of head black, snout paler,
yellowish ; middle of side with a broad, black, zigzag line beginning
often as a black spot at base of caudal and running along middle
of side through eye and around snout ; tip of lower jaw black ; lower
half of side and under parts silvery. In mature examples there is
a steel-blue wash along lateral line, and the whole body has a pale
golden tinge ; a small dark spot on back at origin of dorsal.

24. STRAW-COLORED MINNOW

NOTROPIS BLENNIUS (Girard)

(Plate 15)

The Straw-colored Minnow is generally abundant in small
streams from Ohio and Michigan to Tennessee, Dakota and Kansas,
and southward to Texas. At Lake Maxinkuckee it is very abund-
ant. During the seining operations of 1899-1900, 499 examples or
more were taken. Throughout the summer individuals of this
species seem to be pretty well distributed in the lake from the
shore to some distance out; with the coming of winter, however,
they crowd together and are frequently seen in immense schools
along the shore, sometimes alone, and sometimes associated with
skipjacks and blunt-nosed minnows. A sudden cooling of the
water in autumn appears to benumb them and other small fishes
and they are frequently found washed upon shore where they
perish. This particularly happens if there is a storm with high
waves about the time of a rapid lowering of water temperature.
When the first skirt of ice is formed along shore they are some-
times found frozen on top of the ice as if they had jumped up
there to escape some larger fish, or had been blown there in the
spray.

The Straw-colored Minnow is a rather delicate fish and cannot

2317618

352 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

stand severe cold. On November 30, 1900, a number of these, with
graybacks and other fishes, were found in a pool by Farrar's where
they had washed up during a storm. The pool was frozen almost
solid. The graybacks revived after being thawed out but the
Straw-colored Minnows were all dead, many of them having
actually burst asunder in the process of freezing.

Throughout the whole winter of 1900-1901 and during the fall
and early winter of 1904, these minnows were seen quite fre-
quently, in various situations. They congregated in great num-
bers under the first clear ice, appearing to crowd up as close to the
shore as possible, and they seemed to be enjoying the sunlight
shining through the ice. Whenever a hole was cut through the
ice near shore, they could be seen, apparently attracted by the light
and air. They also lurked about dark sheltering places such as
piers, and congregated in great schools about the steamboats dur-
ing the winter. They also sometimes crowded about the Outlet in
company with skipjacks. When they are associated with skipjacks,
the latter are usually nearer the surface of the water, while the
straw-colored minnows are more or less the bottom part of the
school. On November 1, 1904, a good many of these were noticed
with thousands of skipjacks near Long Point. When disturbed, if
under a pier, the skipjacks moved out into deeper water, while
the straw-colored minnows moved nearer shore. In the early
winter of 1904 they were seen crowding under pieces of boards
and sticks which lay on the bottom near shore. Those under
boards appeared to be dazed when the board was suddenly removed,
and were easily caught. When out in open schools, however, these
fish are quite alert, and rather more difficult to catch with the
dipnet than the skipjack.

In the spring of 1901 they were seen quite frequently, and,
though not in dense schools as in the autumn, were still often
abundant along shore as late as June 25.

This fish appears to subsist chiefly on animal food, and occa-
sionally on algse. An example 1.19 inches long contained a good
number of Bosmina, one Daphnia and remains of insect larvae.
Of a number examined October 7, 1904, several were empty, 2 con-
tained entomostraca and several contained Anabsena flos-aquse.
A lot were caught at the depot pier the next day; most of these
were empty, but several contained Anabsena. On December 7,
1904, five were examined of which 2 were empty but the other
three contained insect larvae. One examined May 22 contained a
few mature insects, others examined June 15 contained a few in-
sect fragments, but little else.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 353

The Straw-colored Minnow spawns early in June ; several speci-
mens examined June 6 were found to contain ripe eggs. Another
collected May 22 contained numerous immature eggs. An example
2} inches long caught at Long Point June 2, was examined. The
egg-mass was thick club-shaped, somewhat sharper behind, ap-
parently occupying all the body cavity behind the liver and closely
pressed against the air-bladder, almost surrounding it. The in-
testine was inconspicuous. The egg-mass was 19 mm. (nearly an
inch) long and 7 mm. (a third of an inch) in diameter. The in-
dividual eggs were small, pale in color, 305 in number and measur-
ing 33 to the inch. They were probably "nearly mature. Besides
these there were many immature eggs.

This little minnow is used for bait only when better ones are
not available. It is too small and tender to prove entirely satis-
factory. Its abundance, however, and the difficulty which anglers
coming to Lake Maxinkuckee frequently experience in obtaining
larger minnows, result in the use of a good many of this species for
bait. For rock bass, crappie and yellow perch it proves pretty at-
tractive and effective.

It is also doubtless of much importance as food for other fishes
of the lake. At night, when the bass, rock bass, perch, walleyed
pike and other species come in near shore to feed, the Straw-col-
ored Minnow is one of the species preyed upon most persistently.
Many doubtless fall a prey to the waterdogs which creep up among
them when crowded in schools near shore in late autumn.

Head 4 ; depth 5 ; eye large, 3 in head. Scales 5-36 (32 to 38) -4 ;
teeth 4-4. Body moderately stout, little compressed; head rather
broad, with rounded angles; mouth small, inferior, horizontal;
snout very obtuse; 15 rows of scales in front of dorsal; dorsal low,
its longest ray f head.

Back greenish-olive, scales dusted, darkest on edges, resulting
in cross-hatching ; a dark blotch on back in front of dorsal ; median
line on back behind dorsal fin black, not reaching caudal fin ; top of
head darkish; side usually pale, silvery, a faint line of dark
specks along middle of side, with a series of larger black specks
along lateral line ; under parts pale ; an indistinct dark spot usually
present at base of caudal fin ; fins all plain. Length 2 to 3 inches.
Of 161 examples measured the longest was 2.63, the shortest 1.25
inches and the average 1.7 inches in total length.

354 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

25. SPOT-TAIL MINNOW

NOTROPIS HUDSONIUS (DeWitt Clinton)

The Spot-tail Minnow is a species of wide distribution. It is
found from Vermont westward to the Dakotas and southward to
the Carolinas. It is abundant throughout the Great Lakes region
and is not rare in certain waters east of the Alleghenies. In Lake
Ontario it is particularly abundant. It probably occurs in all the
interior lakes of New York draining into Lake Ontario and is very
abundant in Lake Chautauqua. In Bass Lake and some others of
the small northern Indiana lakes it is quite common. At Lake
Maxinkuckee, however, it appears to be rare. The only record of
its occurrence there is that of a few specimens seined September
20, 1899.

Spot-tailed Minnow (Notropis hudsonius)

Like most species of wide distribution this minnow has many
vernacular names, among those in most general use being Shiner,
Spot-tail minnow, Spawneater and Hudsonian minnow. In Chau-
tauqua Lake it is called Cisco. How this name of a species of
whitefish ever got transferred to this little minnow is not easy to
understand.

The Shiner reaches a length of 3 to 6 inches and is an attractive
little fish. As a bait-minnow it is highly esteemed. On Lake On-
tario and the St. Lawrence River it is regarded as the best live bait
for bass. At Chautauqua Lake large examples are popular musk-
allunge bait. In northern Indiana it is a good general purpose
bait minnow, although not abundant enough in many places to
be well known. The smaller ones are excellent for yellow perch,
those of medium size are ^X)od for bass, and the larger ones for
walleyed pike and pickerel. Its bright silvery color makes it an

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 355

attractive bait, and it is active and vigorous on the hook, swimming
clear of vegetation and at a good distance above the bottom if
used in deep water. It is not the most hardy of minnows; its
scales rub off rather easily, thus giving a chance for attacks by
the fungus Saprolegnia in the live-box. But in the minnow bucket
or on the hook it lives fairly well and is, withal, a pretty satis-
factory bait minnow.

It may usually be readily known from the following description,
the black caudal spot being the most distinctive character mark:

Head 4.75 in body; depth 4; eye 3 in head; D. 8; A. 8; scales
5-39-4 ; teeth, 1, 4-4, or 1, or 2. Body elongate, considerably com-
pressed in the adult; head quite short, muzzle blunt, decurved,
shorter than the very large eye ; mouth moderate, nearly horizontal,
the jaws nearly equal, the maxillary reaching nearly to the eye;
lateral line nearly straight, slightly decurved anteriorly; 18 scales
before dorsal; pectoral not reaching ventrals, the latter not to
vent. Coloration very pale, with usually a dusky or black spot at
base of caudal, especially in the young; side with a broad, silvery
band, which is sometimes dusky. Length 4 to 6 inches.

26. SILVER-FIN

NOTROPIS WHIPPLH (Girard)

This handsome minnow is generally common in clear streams
from central New York to Minnesota, northern Alabama and
Arkansas, and is very abundant in the Ohio Valley. It is a stream
fish and not at all abundant in the lake, only about 41 specimens
having been secured. These were obtained along the east side of
Long Point from July 17 to 20, and on August 23, 1899, and a few
more were seined in front of the Fish Commission station on the
evening of Sept. 20.

It is preferably, a fish of the larger, clearer creeks and rivers,
delighting in the rush and swirl of the waters on the riffles where
it feeds on the insect larvse, small crustaceans and other small life
among the stones or adhering to the Potamogetons and other
aquatic plants which grow in such places. It is a trim, active
minnow, and one of the most handsome of the family. Like most
other minnows used as bait it has several common names ; shiner,
blueback, flat minnow, silver-fin, and hornyhead being among those
most often heard, the last being applied to breeding males.

This species evidently spawns in the lake toward the end of
July; of those obtained July 18, many were full of spawn and
ripe; of 2 females examined, one contained 686 eggs, .03 of an

356 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

inch in diameter, and another contained 745 eggs which ran 30
to the inch.

As a bait minnow the Silver-fin is not without value. It is
very active when on the hook ; and this, with its bright silvery color-
ation, should make it attractive to black bass. It is hardy and
lives well in the live-box, minnow bucket, and on the hook. The
smaller ones are good bait for perch and rock bass, the largest ones
for walleyed pike.

Head 4-i in body; depth 4 in adult males; females and young
more slender, 4| to 5; eye small, 4^ to 4| in head; snout 3 to 3;
maxillary 3 to 3f ; mandible 3^ to 4 ; D. 8 ; A. 8 or 9 ; scales 5-38
to 40-3; teeth 1, 4-4, 1, the edges more or less distinctly serrate.
Body moderately elongate, somewhat compressed, the dorsal and
ventral outlines regularly and gently arched; head rather long,

Silver-fin (Notropis whipplii)

triangular, the snout pointed; mouth rather small, quite oblique,
the lower jaw received within the upper when the mouth is closed;
maxillary not reaching orbit; eye small, in axis of body; caudal
peduncle rather long and compressed. Fins moderate, origin of
dorsal midway between tip of snout and base of caudal and over
base of ventrals ; origin of anal posterior to base of last dorsal ray ;
free edge of dorsal straight, the longest rays 1.2 in head ; free edge
of anal somewhat concave in the depressed fin, more nearly straight
when the fin is expanded, the longest ray 1.25 in head; pectoral
slender, slightly falcate, 1.3 in head; ventrals short, barely reach-
ing anal, 1.4 in head; caudal broadly forked, the notch rounded, the
lobes equal, 1 in head ; scales firm, closely imbricated, much deeper
than long, not crowded anteriorly ; top of head of male in breeding
season covered with prominent tubercles.

Color of male leaden silvery, brightest and with bluish luster
on middle of side ; back darker, inclining to olivaceous ; underparts

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 357

silvery; cheek and opercles silvery, with faint brownish dustings;
caudal peduncle with an ill-defined plumbeous spot posteriorly;
dorsal fin dusky anteriorly, the rays white ; last 3 interradial mem-
branes satiny-black, especially that between last 2 rays but one;
caudal pale, dusky on edges; anal and ventrals satiny-white; pec-
toral pale, with faint lemon wash in richly colored males; female
less brilliant than the male, the side more plumbeous. Length of
specimens described 3 to 4 inches.

The Silver- fin can be readily distinguished from any other min-
now of the lake by the elongate dark spot' on the posterior part of
the dorsal fin.

27. SHINER

NOTROPIS CORNUTUS (Mitchill)

(Plate 16)

The Shiner or Red-fin is distributed through the entire region
east of the Rocky Mountains, excepting the South Atlantic States
and Texas, and is almost everywhere the most abundant fish in
small streams.

Although usually a creek fish it is not uncommon in Lake
Maxinkuckee; during the seining operations, 688 specimens were
secured. The greatest number obtained in one haul was 208. It
was frequently seen during the spring of 1901, usually in the Out-
let under the wagon or railroad bridge or between them. On April
19, 1901, a fisherman, fishing from the pier by the Ice-houses,
caught an 8-inch example. On September 30, 1907, on a trip down
the Outlet, good schools of these fish, some of large size, were seen.

The Shiner is one of the handsomest and best known of the
minnows. It reaches a length of 8 to 10 inches and, with the ex-
ception of the species of Semotilus and Hybopsis, is one of the larg-
est species in the Eastern States. While it prefers the smaller
streams it may also be found in lakes and rivers as well. In small
brooks and in quiet places in creeks and rivers the young may be
found in myriads. The adults are vigorous, active fish frequenting
the rapids and swifter parts of the streams.

This fish takes the worm-baited hook with avidity and is
the minnow most frequently seen on the small boy's string. The
large individuals possess considerable game qualities often agree-
able to boys of larger growth. Although attaining some size and
sometimes used as food, it is not of much value for that purpose,
as the flesh is soft and spoils very soon after death; hence the
name Rot-gut or Rot-gut minnow often heard applied to it in
southern Ohio, Indiana and southward.

358 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

As a bait minnow, the Shiner is one of the best and most
popular. At Maxinkuckee it is one of the species most often used.
Owing to its general distribution and abundance. in northern In-
diana it is easy to obtain examples of any desired size up to 6 or
7 inches, for which reason this species is used for all sorts of bait
fishing at the lake. Those 3 to 5 inches long are regarded as
among the very best lures for large-mouth black bass, and those
2 to 24 inches long fov yellow perch and crappie. It is a fine
trolling minnow when the water is not too warm ; when the water
is above 70 they are apt to suffer and die too readily.

Head 4j in body; depth 3j, varying much with age; eye 4 to 5;
D. 8 ; A. 9 ; scales 6-41-3 ; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, with rather narrow grind-
ing surface. Body elongate in the young, in the adult short, com-
pressed, with the anterior dorsal region much swollen and gibbous ;
head rather heavy, compressed, rounded between the eyes, the
snout bluntish; mouth moderate, nearly horizontal, the jaws nearly
equal, the lower somewhat included; eye moderate; maxillary
scarcely reaching front of eye, the premaxillaries below the level
of the eye. Scales always deeper than long on the sides, becoming
extremely deep in the adult; lateral line decurved. Dorsal moder-
ate, inserted directly over ventrals in young, thrown somewhat
backward in adult by the growth of the nuchal region; pectorals
barely or not reaching ventrals, the latter about to vent ; region in
front of dorsal typically with about 23 scales, the number ranging
from 15 to 40. Coloration, dark steel blue above, the scales with
dusky edges, the bases also dusky; a gilt line along the back and
one along each side, these distinct only when the fish is in the
water; belly and lower part of the sides silvery, bright rosy in
spring males ; dorsal fin somewhat dusky ; other fins plain ; the
lower fins all rosy in spring males ; head dark above ; a dark shade
behind scapula ; lower jaw and region in front of dorsal to tip of
snout covered with small tubercles in spring males; female and
young fishes are plain olivaceous above and silvery below.

28. RED-NOSED MINNOW

NOTROPIS RUBRIFRONS (Cope)

This dainty little minnow is a common species from Vermont
and western Pennsylvania to Michigan, Kansas, and Kentucky. It
is by preference an inhabitant of the larger, clearer streams,
though it is also found in small rivers and creeks. It delights to
dwell on the riffles and in the swifter water. Sometimes it is
found in large schools swimming near the surface in the deeper,

COMMON SHINER, Notropis cornutus (Mitchill)

BLACKFIN, Notropis umbratilis atripes (Jordan)

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 359

quiet pools or in still eddies near shore. At such times it can be
caught in great numbers in the minnow seine.

At Lake Maxinkuckee it is apparently a very rare species. Our
collections contain but a single specimen; this is a good typical
example 2;! inches long, obtained in Aubeenaubee Creek, near its
mouth, April 27, 1901. The fact that only this one specimen was
obtained suggests that the species is not really native to the lake
and that the example caught was a bait minnow escaped from some
live-bait bucket.

The Red-nosed Minnow attains a length of 2 to 2.5 inches,
scarcely large enough to be used much as a bait minnow, although
it is not infrequently seen in the angler's minnow pail. Its bright
silvery color and its activity make up in a measure for what it
lacks in size. For yellow perch and the smaller bass it is a very
satisfactory live bait, and several on one hook have proved attract-
ive to the walleyed pike.

Head 4 in length ; depth 6 ; eye 4.7 in head ; snout 3.1 ; dorsal
9; anal 10; scales 7-47-4, teeth 2, 4-4, 2. Body long and slender,
considerably compressed; dorsal and ventral outlines but slightly
arched; head rather long, snout pointed; mouth moderate, some-
what oblique, the maxillary reaching vertical at front of orbit, the
lower jaw projecting; scales firm; lateral line complete, somewhat
decurved.

Color, pale lemon above, the edges of the scales with fine dark
punctulations ; side bright silvery, somewhat metallic blue above;
sides of head silvery, more red in breeding season; under parts
straw-yellow.

29. RED-FIN

NOTROPIS UMBRATILIS (Girard)

(Plate 16)

This is an exceedingly variable minnow, widespread in distribu-
tion, its range extending from Minnesota to western New York,
North Carolina, Alabama and Texas. It is represented in differ-
ent regions by well marked subspecies and is usually abundant in
small clear streams. It is not common in the lake, only 22 speci-
mens having been secured, 12 in Aubeenaubee Bay and 10 just
east of the Culver Military Academy pier on July 21, 1899.

Head 4| in body ; depth 4 to 4i ; eye 3 to 4 in head ; D. 7 ; A. 11 ;
scales 9-40 to 52-3; teeth 2, 4-4, 2. Body compressed; the caudal
peduncle long ; head long, conic, rather pointed ; mouth large, mod-
erately oblique, the premaxillary on level of pupil, the maxillary
extending to opposite eye; lower jaw somewhat projecting; eye

360 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

moderate, about equal.to muzzle ; scales closely imbricated, crowded
anteriorly, about 30 before dorsal. Dorsal fin high, inserted about
midway between ventrals and anal ; pectorals not reaching ventrals,
the latter to vent; caudal fin long. Coloration, dark steel blue
above, pale or silvery below; a more or less evident black spot at
base of dorsal in front ; the fins otherwise all plain ; males with the
anterior dorsal region and the head profusely covered with small
whitish tubercles, the belly and lower fins being of a bright brick
red in the spring; females very pale olive, sometimes almost color-
less. Length 3^ inches.

The subspecies represented in the lake is lythrurus, which has
the body moderately elongate, the depth 4^ in length, the females
nearly 5 ; eye large, about 3| in head ; scales 9-47-3 ; dorsal with a
conspicuous black spot in front, rest of the fin mostly pale; no
anal spot.

Cavern-jawed Minnow (Ericymba buccata)

30. CAVERN-JAWED MINNOW

ERICYMBA BUCCATA Cope

This interesting little minnow, which appears never to have re-
ceived any distinctive vernacular name, is found from Pennsyl-
vania westward to Michigan and Kansas and south to Florida. In
some streams, notably in central Indiana, it is abundant. It is a
stream fish, rarely, if ever, occurring in lakes. We have not found
it in Lake Maxinkuckee proper, but we have one specimen taken by
us September 11, 1906, in the outlet below Lost Lake near the site
of the old mill. It is known to occur in the Tippecanoe River at
Belong. We have also found it in the minnow buckets of anglers
at the lake.

It may be readily known from any other minnow of the United
States by the cavernous structure of the head which shows par-
ticularly in the lower jaw which appears to be made up of a series
of rectangular cavities or compartments.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 361

Head 4 ; depth 5 ; eye large, 4 in head ; dorsal 8 ; anal 8 ; scales
5-33-3 ; teeth 1, 4-4, 0. Body fusiform, rather elongate, little com-
pressed, the back not elevated; head rather long, somewhat de-
pressed above, with broad and prominent muzzle; mouth rather
small, horizontal, subinferior, the lower jaw considerably shorter
than upper ; upper lip below level of pupil ; maxillary not reaching
to eye; dentary bones dilated, the mucous channels conspicuous;
suborbital very broad, silvery, with an elevated longitudinal ridge
and conspicuous cross lines; opercle smajl; fins small, dorsal over
ventrals; scales moderate; lateral line nearly straight; breast scale-
less ; 15 large scales before dorsal. Color olivaceous, rather pale ;
sides bright silvery with bluish reflections; a dark dorsal streak,
conspicuous posteriorly; fins plain; males without tubercles or
bright colors. Length 3 to 5 inches.

Black-nosed Dace (Rhinichthys atronasus)

31. BLACK-NOSED DACE

RHINICHTHYS ATRONASUS (Mitchill)

The Black-nosed Dace is a very abundant fish in clear brooks
and mountain streams from New England to Minnesota, northern
Alabama and Virginia. It is extremely variable in different parts
of its range.

It is not common about Lake Maxinkuckee ; no specimens were
taken in the lake itself, and only 19 in all were taken in the region.
Of these, one was taken in Aubeenaubee Creek and the remaining
18 in Culver Inlet.

As a bait minnow this species possesses some value, particularly
for bass and walleyed pike. It is unusually hardy and lives well
on the hook as well as in the minnow bucket and live-box. It is
also extremely vigorous and active. Its dull colors, however, ren-
der it less attractive than it otherwise would be.

362 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Head 4 in body; depth 4; eye H in snout, 4 in head. D. 7;
A. 7; lateral line 64; teeth 2, 4-4, 2. Body moderately elongate,
little compressed ; head moderate, rather broad and flattish above ;
snout moderate; mouth small, horizontal, sub-terminal, the lower
jaw included; barbel minitte but probably always present; upper
lip on level of lower part of pupil, maxillary not reaching nearly
to eye, eye small, nearly median; fins rather small; dorsal fin well
back, its insertion about midway between nostril and base of
caudal; scales quite small, somewhat embedded. Color, blackish
above, some of the scales irregularly darker; a black band
passing from snout through eye and along side of body; a paler
streak below this; belly silvery; males in spring with the lateral
band and the lower fins and sometimes the whole body, bright
crimson; males in late summer with the lateral band scarlet or
orange, the red color growing faint later in the season. Length
3 inches.

The specimens obtained varied in length from 1.06 to 2.55
inches. They differ in several respects both from the description
of the typical spscies and from the subspecies lunatus, in the range
of which the Lake Maxinkuckee region is included. The head
varies from 3f to 4, the depth from 4 to 5, eye from 3^ to 4,
usually 4, snout from 3 to 3, usually 3, scales 10 or 11 above lateral
line, from 60 to 67, usually 60, in lateral line, usually 7 below.
One example had scales over only of the body. In all examples
except one, the dorsal had 8 rays instead of 7.

32. RIVER CHUB

HYBOPSIS KENTUCKIENSIS (Rafinesque)

The River Chub is a species of wide distribution; from New
England and Pennsylvania its range extends westward to Wyoming
and southward on both sides of the Alleghenies to Alabama. It
is nearly everywhere abundant in the larger streams, but it does
not by preference so often frequent smaller streams or lakes. Like
all other familiar species of wide distribution it is favored with
many common names, among which may be mentioned hornyhead,
jerker, river chub, common chub, horned chub, Indian chub, and
red-tail chub.

At Lake Maxinkuckee where the streams are all small, the river
chub is not common. The only specimens (3 in number) obtained
by us were seined in Aubeenaubee Creek. They range in length
from 3.25 to 6 inches.

Like all other members of the family the Hornyhead spawns in

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 363

the spring, in northern Indiana in May and June. It builds a
considerable nest of relatively fine gravel, usually on a gravel bar
where the water is comparatively swift.

The food of the River Chub consists chiefly of worms, insect
larvae, small crustaceans, and small fishes. As a game fish it is of
some importance, especially to the small boy with whom all is fish
that comes to his net. It attains a length of 9 or 10 inches, a size
which appeals to the young angler who, with worm-baited hook, is
usually quite sure to meet with gratifying success with this fish.
It takes the hook greedily and fights vigorously and with the proper
spirit. It is never known to give up and sulk as some fishes do but
always continues the fight to the last.

River Chub (Hybopsis kentuckicnsis)

As a bait minnow, the River Chub is one of the best known and
most highly esteemed. It is par excellence the bait minnow for
all kinds of American freshwater game fishes. Hornyheads of
small size, say 2 to 3 inches in length, can not be excelled for
crappie, calico bass, rock bass and medium-sized large-mouth and
small-mouth bass. Those of somewhat larger size can not be sur-
passed for the larger bass and wall-eyed pike; while for him who
desires to capture large pickerel, great northern pike, or the wily
muskallunge, an 8 or 10 inch River Chub is just the lure to use.

The Hornyhead is unusually tenacious of life, and when on the
hook is exceedingly active, fighting with a vigor, viciousness and
persistency which justly entitle it to rank with the game fishes.

An expert angler, speaking of this minnow, says it is especially
fine for trolling. The best sizes for Maxinkuckee are those from
2 to 4 inches long. It is tough and wily and will endure much pun-
ishment in the water. Its good qualities are its toughness and ac-
tivity on the hook. It is a fine bait for wall-eyed pike and both
species of black bass. A dozen river chubs of assorted sizes are
worth double that number of any other species.

364 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Another feature which particularly commends this minnow in
the upper Mississippi Valley is the ease with which a supply can
be captured. Not only can they be secured in the usual way with
the minnow seine, but they also readily enter the minnow trap, and
in the absence of other means, a sufficient supply can often be taken
by means of a small hook baited with grub or angleworm.

Head 4 in length; depth 4-| ; D. 8; A. 7; scales 6-41-4; teeth
1, 4-4, 1, or 1, 4-4, 0, sometimes 4-4. Body rather robust, little
elevated, not much compressed ; head large, rather broadly rounded
above; the snout conical, bluntish; mouth rather large, subtermi-
nal, little oblique, the lower jaw somewhat the shorter; upper lip
rather below level of eye; maxillary not reaching to front of eye^
eye small, median, high up ; barbel well developed ; suborbitals very
narrow; preorbital large; fins moderate; the dorsal rather pos-
terior, slightly behind insertion of ventrals; caudal broad, little
forked. Scales large, not crowded anteriorly, 18 rows in front
of dorsal. Lateral line somewhat decurved. Color, bluish-olive;
sides with bright green and coppery reflections; a curved dusky
bar behind opercle ; scales above with dark borders ; belly pale, but
not silvery, rosy in spring males; fins all pale orange, without
black spot; males in spring with a crimson spot on each side of
head; adults with the top of the head swollen, forming a sort of
crest, which is sometimes a third of an inch higher than level of the
neck and is covered with large tubercles ; young with a dark caudal
spot. Length 6 to 9 inches.

33. COMMON EEL

ANGUILLA ROSTRATA Le Sueur

The Common Eel is an abundant and well-known fish all along
our Atlantic coast from Maine to Mexico. From the ocean it as-
cends all rivers south of Canada and east of the Rocky Mountains,
and is resident throughout the Mississippi Valley. It does not ap-
pear to be common in Indiana and is not well known to Indiana
anglers generally. At Lake Maxinkuckee it seems to be rather
uncommon, although it is occasionally caught on set-lines at night,
especially during the spring. Only a few examples were actually
seen. On August 19, 1899, Mr. Thomas Large found floating far
out in the lake an Eel 43 inches long and weighing 6^ pounds. On
May 15, 1901, one 22 inches long was caught on a set-line in Out-
let Bay, during the night. Besides these, reports were heard of
several having been caught about the same time. About the last
of June, 1907, Mr. S. S. Chadwick got a very large Eel at his pier.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 365

He saw it under his pier 2 or 3 different mornings, then shot it. It
had been crippled some way and had a wound on the belly 3 or 4
inches long. The fish was at least 40 inches in length. There
seemed to be a general impression about the lake that they were
rather common and could be obtained in numbers by any one who
took trouble to fish for them, but the logic by which this conclu-
sion was reached ("there must be a good many eels in the lake, be-
cause nobody has ever taken many out") .is not particularly con-
vincing. No eels were ever seen in the Outlet, although it was
watched pretty closely for migratory fishes. Lampreys were oc-
casionally taken in the Outlet by fishers with minnow seines and
were usually thought to be young eels. The eelskin is in good local
repute as a remedy for rheumatism and sprains, the dried skin
being placed over the affected parts as a bandage.

Common Eel (Anguilla rostrata)

Nothing was observed at the lake concerning the habits of the
Eel. They are said to be carnivorous and voracious and very fond
of crawfishes. Specimens kept in the aquariums at the Bureau
of Fisheries are affected by fish lice more than any other fishes
except the toad fishes.

The Eel can be distinguished at once from the lamprey by the
presence of jaws and fins, the single gill-opening and embedded
scales. It could not be confounded with any other species of fish
in the lake.

Body elongate, compressed behind, covered with embedded
scales which are linear in form and placed obliquely, some at right
angles to others; lateral line well developed; head long, conical,
moderately pointed; the rather small eye well forward and over
the angle of the mouth ; teeth small, subequal, in bands on each jaw
and a long patch on the vomer ; tongue free at tip ; lips rather full,
with a free margin behind, attached by a frenum in front; lower
jaw projecting; gill-openings rather small, slit-like, about as wide

366 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

as base of pectoral and partly below them; nostrils superior, well
separated, the anterior with a slight tube; vent close in front of
anal ; dorsal inserted at some distance from the head, confluent
with the anal around the tail; pectoral well developed; distance
from front of dorsal to vent 1.16 to 2 in head; pectoral 2.83 to
3.4 in head ; head 2 to 2.5 in trunk. Form rather robust. Brown,
nearly plain, often tinged with yellowish ; paler below, the color
extremely variable. Length 4 or 5 feet.

34. MUD MINNOW

UMBRA LIMI (Kirtland)

(Plate 17)

The Mud Minnow is a common fish from Quebec to Minnesota
and southward to the Ohio valley ; it is especially abundant north-
ward throughout the Great Lakes region in weedy streams and
ditches and in the smaller muddy lakes. At Lake Maxinkuckee it
is fairly abundant in Norris Inlet, Aubeenaubee Creek, Culver
Inlet, in the Outlet above Lost Lake, and in the small ponds in
Green's marsh. Specimens were also secured in Lost Lake and its
outlet. It delights to dwell in small creeks, ditches or ponds where
the water is cool, the bottom muddy and aquatic vegetation abund-
ant. There were a good many in a ditch two miles or so west of the
lake. Mud minnows were frequently seen under the clear ice in the
Inlet and in the ponds in Green's marsh, and they were quite active
during the winter.

Professor Baird says of this species that "A locality which,
with the water perfectly clear will appear destitute of fish, will
perhaps yield a number of mudfish on stirring up the mud at the
bottom and drawing a seine through it. Ditches in the prairies
of Wisconsin or mere bog-holes, apparently affording lodgment to
nothing beyond tadpoles may thus be found filled with Umbras."
The same remarks apply equally well to such places in northern
Indiana. The little streams, ponds and ditches everywhere are
apt to have the Mud Minnow as one of their inhabitants. The
abandoned Wabash and Erie Canal is a favorite place for this fish,
and old mill-races that have grown full of Myriophyllum, Cera-
tophyllum and other aquatic plants are sure to be the home of this
species.

One of the writers recalls many visits to the old Dillen mill-
race and the cold, boggy Armstrong pond near Camden, Indiana,
many years ago, when he had his first experiences with this curi-
ous fish. The race was literally filled with ditch moss (Philotria

Lake Maxlnkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 367

canadensis) and any mass of this vegetation that might be raked
out was sure to contain one or more mud minnows. They were
also common in and about the Armstrong pond; they sometimes
would be found in the mud at the bottom of cow tracks some dis-
tance from water.

These are oviparous fishes, the sexes similar, small in size,
carnivorous in 'their habits, feeding upon small crustaceans, insect
larvae and the like. One specimen examined contained an Asellus,
and they are also said to feed to a large extent on the minute
duckweed, Wolffia. They are extremely tenacious of life and will
live a long time in the mud in the bottom of a pool which has en-
tirely dried up. When dug out of the mud and placed in water
they usually seem normally vigorous and active. They can be kept
indefinitely in minnow buckets or old rain barrels without change
of water.

They are frequently used by anglers as bait for pickerel and
wall-eyed pike, but they are chiefly valuable on account of their
great tenacity of life. Anglers who have tried this bait at Lake
Maxinkuckee, however, have not found them a very killing lure.

The Mud Minnow is familiar to almost everyone who ever goes
seining for minnows ; but, as it bears a superficial resemblance to the
dogfish, Amia calva, the young of which are rarely seen, they are
usually supposed to be young dogfish. The interesting remarks
by Charles Halleck regarding the young of the dogfish as bait
doubtless refer to the Mud Minnow.

Various anglers at Lake Maxinkuckee to whom specimens of
the Mud Minnow were shown pronounced them young dogfish.
The two species are not at all related, however, and may be easily
distinguished by the much larger dorsal fin of the dogfish, in which
there are about 48 rays while in the Mud Minnow there are but 15
dorsal rays.

Specimens of Mud Minnow examined on April 9, appeared to be
nearly ripe, and they probably spawn about the middle of April.
The eggs are 1/20 of an inch in diameter and varied from about
425 to 450 per individual.

Head 3.5 to 3.75 in length; depth 4.5 to 4.75; eye 5.5 to 6 in
head; snout 4.5 to 5; dorsal 15; anal 10; pectoral 14; ventral 6;
scales about 37,-13; branchiostegals 6. Body oblong, somewhat
compressed, covered with rather large, cycloid scales; head rather
short, bluntly conic, little depressed; caudal peduncle deep, com-
pressed; eye moderate, high up; mouth rather large, slightly ob-
lique, lower jaw projecting, maxillary reaching vertical of an-
terior part of pupil ; cheeks, opercles and top of head scaled ; dor-

2417618

368 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

sal fin posterior in position; caudal rounded. Color, dark olive-
green, mottled with darker and coppery or brassy blotches, and
with about 12 irregular dark crossbars; a dark postocular spot
and a large dark blotch on opercle ; a broad dark band in front of
eye; a broad black vertical bar on caudal peduncle at base of tail,
and a narrow dark band on base of caudal rays ; caudal beautifully
marked with fine crossbars ; under parts paler, sometimes rosy
coppery. Length 3 to 5 inches.

Almost all of the specimens obtained at Lake Maxinkuckee
were considerably undersized, ranging in length from 1| to 3.55
inches, only 12 in the 84 individuals examined being 3 inches or
over in length. The numbers representing the proportions are
smaller throughout, the head being usually 3^ in length; depth
ranging from 4^ to 5, usually about 4^; eye 3| to 5i, frequently
4 ; snout 3-i to 5, usually a little over 4 ; it will thus be observed that
the Maxinkuckee specimens have a somewhat larger head, greater
depth, larger eye and longer snout than is given in current de-
scriptions.

35. GEASS PIKE

ESOX VERMICULATUS Le Sueur

(Plate 5)

The Grass Pike occurs abundantly throughout the middle and
upper Mississippi Valley and in streams tributary to Lakes Erie
and Michigan. It is not known from east of the Alleghenies nor
from Texas. Throughout most of its range it is generally com-
mon in all ponds, bayous and small sluggish streams in which there
is much aquatic vegetation.

At Lake Maxinkuckee only 86 specimens were secured during
the seining operations, and the greatest number taken in one haul
was 17. It is, however, quite a common fish, and it is probable
that the alacrity with which this fish gets out of the way at the
first sign of danger accounts for the small number taken. It is
frequently found basking near shore in shallow weedy places. In
late autumn they bask in considerable numbers in the neighbor-
hood of the Outlet. During the latter part of October and the
first part of November, 1904, considerable numbers of these fishes
were seen close to the Outlet. On October 28, about 10 were seen,
and two days after about 40 or 50 were seen at the same place at
noon. They were also seen in late autumn on various occasions
basking in the region of the Inlet and along the bayous of the Out-
let. When basking they usually lie perfectly still, and look so
much like a stick that they are not seen until an arrowy streak

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 369

in the water marks where they have dashed from shore. They
were occasionally seen under the clear ice. In December, 1904,
they were observed hiding under the ice-fringes along the edge of
the Outlet. A good many of them about the same time went into
the lagoons in Green's marsh and some froze there. On one oc-
casion about a dozen dead ones were seen at that place. As soon
as the ice melts in spring and the melting snows and early rains
raise the waters over tht flats and fill the little rills, the grass pikes
may be seen pushing their way out into even the shallowest places.
The tiniest rill that runs into the lake is ascended to its very source,
and it is surprising how far they will manage to wiggle up some
tiny thread of a brook. They scatter out over the flats and
bayous, and are common in the ditches. In 1901 the spring run
began about April 1, and they were frequently seen in shallow
lagoons and ponds in Green's marsh until April 30. Even earlier
in the spring before the ice has gone off, they may be seen through
the* ice in the shallow water of the bayous and along the lake
shore. And a little later, when open places in the ice begin to ap-
pear, Grass Pike may often be seen in such places and in open
places in the ditches. One may sometimes kill them in such situa-
tions by striking them with a stick.

Ordinarily the Grass Pike is not sought by anglers; its small
size and disinclination to take the baited hook preclude its becom-
ing a game-fish of any importance. It will, however, take the hook
and is sometimes seen on the small boy's string. The flesh is
white, firm, flaky, and of delicious flavor.

Like other species of the genus, the Grass Pike is a voracious
fish which preys largely on other fishes. An example six inches long
contained a small straw bass.

Distomid parasites are often found in its stomach.

The spring invasion of the shallow, reed-covered places is for
breeding purposes. A few fish were examined about April 4, and
the eggs appeared to be nearly mature, about 15 to the inch, and
one example caught contained about 1,896 eggs.

Head 3 ; depth 5 to 6 ; eye large, 2^ in snout, about 6 in head.
Branchiostegals 11 to 13; D. 11 or 12; A. 11 or 12; scales 105.
Body moderately stout, somewhat compressed; head rather short,
the eye being exactly in the middle of the head; middle of eye
nearer tip of chin than to gill-opening ; snout 2 in head ; caudal well
forked.

The following are life colors of a female example 10.5 inches
long captured at Green's marsh, April 4, 1901 : Back olivaceous,
lighter along median line, bounded on each side by a series of ir-

370 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

regular darker spots; side olive green, mottled and blotched with
darker, and with more or less brassy in thin close lines ; opercle and
cheek greenish, blotched with dark; a broad dark line downward
from eye; upper part of head dark olivaceous, a narrow paler
median stripe ; under jaw pale, darker at tip ; lower fins pale red-
dish ; dorsal and caudal light olivaceous, tip of dorsal blackish, belly
white.

36. COMMON PIKE

ESOX LUCIUS Liniueus

The Common Pike has a remarkably wide distribution. It is
the only member of the family found outside of America, and is
found in the fresh waters of the northern parts of Europe, Asia
and North America north to Alaska and Siberia; in the eastern
United States south to New York and the Ohio River; and in
Europe south to Italy and Greece, and is generally abundant

Common Pike (Esox lucius)

throughout its range. It is not at all common in Lake Maxin-
kuckee. One was obtained some years ago 3 feet long and weigh-
ing 1(H pounds, and another was caught on July 20, 1900, which
weighed 3f pounds. It appears to be rather common in waters
not far distant from the lake. The largest of which we have any
record was seen at Round Lake, 4 miles west of Bass Lake. It
weighed 32 pounds and had died trying to swallow a large bass.
One of the best streams of which we know for pike fishing is the
Kankakee. In November, 1892, a fisherman caught one there
weighing 26^ Ibs. On August 4, 1906, one 40 inches long and
weighing 16 Ibs. was caught in the Yellow River, a branch of the
Kankakee.

Head 3^; depth 5; eye 6.^ in head, 3^ in snout; snout 2f in
head; branchiostegals 14 to 16; D. 16 or 17 (developed rays) ;
scales 123. Body moderately elongate, the back little elevated;
head rather long, the eye exactly midway in its length, middle of
eye midway between tip of chin and gill-opening; cheeks entirely

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 371

scaly ; lower half of opercles bare. General color bluish, or green-
ish gray, with many whitish or yellowish spots, which are usually
smaller than the eye and arranged somewhat in rows ; dorsal, anal
and caudal fins with roundish or oblong black spots; young with
the whitish spots coalescing, forming oblique crossbars; a white
horizontal band bounding the naked part of the opercle ; each scale
with a grayish V-shaped speck. Length 4 feet.

37. GRAYBACK

FUNDULUS DIAPHANUS (Le Sueur)

(Plate 18)

Fundulus diaphanus is represented in Lake Maxinkuckee by
the subspecies menona, the range of which extends from northern
Ohio to Mississippi. It is a northern fish, not found far south of
northern Illinois.

At Lake Maxinkuckee this is .known as the Grayback or Grey-
back Minnow. It was formerly very abundant, frequently swim-
ing in considerable schools near shore, especially in late autumn
after the water had become chilled. They remained rather near
shore the whole year round, but were not bunched up so much in
schools during the summer as during the winter. In 1899 and
1900 these fishes were taken in considerable numbers in the seining
operations, the total catch amounting to 1,197, and in the autumn of
1900 great schools were observed near shore. It was quite abund-
ant during the spring and summer of 1901. Of late years they
appear to be decreasing in numbers. In 1906 and 1907 they did
not appear to be nearly so abundant as formerly. This is probably
due to the fact that this is the most desirable fish in the lake for
bait, and as it stays near shore, it falls an easy prey to people who
seine for minnows. In looking over a haul, people usually pick up
the graybacks first and sort them out quite thoroughly.

The Grayback is a handsome, somewhat chubby fish. Although
not strikingly colored the silvery bars make it quite attractive,
and it is this, combined with its hardiness, that makes it so
valuable as a bait minnow. It will live under all sorts of condi-
tions and endure much cold without injury.

On November 30, 1900, a number of fishes small catfishes,
straw-colored minnows, etc., were found in a small pool near
Farrar's. The sand had washed up, cutting the pool off from the
main lake, and it was frozen almost solid. Most of the fishes, es-
pecially the straw-colored minnows, were dead; among the fishes
in the pool were 13 graybacks, all females which, on being thawed

372 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

out, revived and were lively as ever. The longest measured 2f
inches in length, and the shortest 1^ inches. In raking up weeds
through the ice in winter, small graybacks were frequently brought
up along with Iowa darters, mad toms and crawfishes.

The Grayback subsists chiefly on small animals; the stomach
examined contained insect larvae and some entomostraca. The
stomach of another 2.1 inches long, examined July 3, contained
several small snails, several small mites, 1 Bosmina and a few
Cypris. It also contained several distomid parasites.

On June 24, 1901, a number of this species were observed at
a boat landing north of Long Point and appeared to be mating.
They were in pairs, and the male, the paler of the pair, kept swim-
ming along below the other, see-sawing back and forth and rising
until their noses touched. He followed her about like a shadow,
leaving only to chase away other fishes that came near, but always
returning to her. She occasionally dashed her nose at the base of
some growing Chara obtaining a mouthful of material, working her
mouth and allowing sand and pebbles to drop out. On June 27,
one examined contained large roe. Some were observed spawning
July 14, 1899. On July 22, 1906, some of these fishes appeared
to be ripe, but had not yet spawned. On subjecting them to
slight pressure masses of light yellow eggs oozed out.

Head 3f in body; depth 5; eye 3^ in head; D. 12; A. 10; B.
5 ; scales 48-12. Body rather slender, not elevated, compressed
posteriorly ; head moderate, quite flat above, teeth pointed, curved,
the outer not much enlarged ; fins not large ; dorsal and anal rather
low; ventrals scarcely reaching vent in females, somewhat longer
in the males. General color olivaceous, sides silvery; males with
about 20 silvery vertical bars, narrower than the dark interspaces ;
female with 15 to 20 dark transverse bars shorter than the silvery
bands of the male. Dark bands very distinct, somewhat irregular
in position ; the back always spotted ; the dark bands often replaced
by about 16 shining silvery, vertical bands, which are narrower
than the dark interspaces; the interspaces broadest behind; fins
plain. Length 3 inches.

38. TOP-MINNOW

FUNDULUS DISPAR (Agassiz)

(Plate 18)

This little fish is to be found in lakes and sluggish streams from
northern Ohio to Missouri and south to Mississippi. In many of
the waters in this area it is not to be found; in others it is quite

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 373

abundant. It is rather common in Lost Lake and the Outlet, but
none was found in Lake Maxinkuckee. During the seining opera-
tions of 1899-1900, 101 specimens were secured, the greatest num-
ber taken in one haul being 25.

This is a very prettily marked little fish, the fine stripes of the
female, and the combination of bars and stripes on the male mak-
ing the species one of the most handsome fishes of the lake. The
contrast in markings of the different sexes is quite striking, and
makes a pair of these fishes especially interesting ; they hardly look
like the same species.

The characteristic bars of the male seem to be assumed quite
early in life, although this seems to differ considerably in different
individuals; one specimen 1$ inches long showed the bars quite
plainly, while others If inches long showed them rather faintly.
The shortest specimen obtained was about an inch long, and the
longest 2J inches. These fishes prefer shallow waters, and usually
swim about the surface two or three together, and not in great
schools. The dark patches over the eyes of these fishes remind
one somewhat of the markings on the head of the wood frog.

Head 3.75 in body; depth 3.5; D. 7; A. 9; scales 35-10; body
short and deep, much compressed ; head short and very broad, the
flat interorbital space being of its length, and barely twice the
diameter of the eye; the; distance between the eyes above greater
than the distance between them below ; snout broadly rounded ; fins
moderate; dorsal much smaller than anal; outer series of teeth
somewhat enlarged. Coloration, pale olive, bluish in life; a very
distinct brownish line along the edges of each row of scales, ap-
pearing wavy or serrate, as it follows the scales; about 10 of
these longitudinal stripes present ; males with the lines interrupted,
appearing as a series of dots, and further marked by about 9 dark
crossbars ; adults with a black blotch below the eye, sometimes con-
fluent with it. Oviduct free from anal. Length 2\ inches.

39. SPOTTED TOP-MINNOW

FUNDULUS NOTATUS (Raflnesque)

This pretty little fish is quite common in ponds and canals from
Michigan to Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. It is usually seen
swimming about, singly, in pairs or small schools, at the surface of
the water. It does not appear to be common in Lake Maxinkuckee.
The only specimen in the collection is an example \\ inches long,
caught in the Culver Academy lagoon, April 4, 1901. It is not
rare in Lost Lake, however ; individuals were often seen swimming

374 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

along on the surface in shallow water near shore. The Top-min-
now is a tantalizing little fish; it looks like the easiest thing in
the world to catch one by closing the hands together under it and
gently lifting it out of the water as it swims unconcernedly along.
It generally manages to escape somehow, and the experiment can
be tried time and again on the same fish.

On July 23, 1906, a good many of these fishes exceedingly vari-
ous in size, some quite small, some medium sized, and some full
grown, were seen together in the shallow water among the weeds of
Lost Lake. They had apparently spawned and hatched before this
time. A good many of these fishes were seen in Bass Lake on
August 14, 1906, and they were very abundant at Twin Lakes
when visited August 31, 1906.

The Top-minnow can be recognized in the water by the trans-
lucent spot on the head, along with its habit of swimming about
slowly at the surface.

Head 4 ; depth 4.5 ; eye large, less than snout, about 3 in head.
D. 9 ; A. 11 ; scales 34-11. Body rather slender, compressed be-
hind; head low, depressed, and rather elongate; the snout some-
what produced, the lower jaw scarcely projecting; interorbital
space broad, its width about half length of head ; fins moderate, the
dorsal and anal elevated in the males; teeth in a broad band, the
outer series considerably enlarged and canine like. Coloration,
brownish olive, with a broad dark, purplish-black lateral band run-
ning from tip of snout through eye to base of caudal, darker in
males than in females ; young specimens have the edges of the band
serrated; a few series of small black dots along the sides of the
back; dorsal, caudal and anal fins dotted with black; top of head
with a conspicuous translucent spot in life; concentric striae on
scales strong. Length 2 to 3^ inches.

40. BROOK STICKLEBACK

EUCALIA INCONSTANS (Kirtland)

(Plate 17)

The Brook Stickleback is found in small creeks and lakes from
New York westward to Kansas, northward to Saskatchewan, and
southward to central Ohio and Illinois, the southernmost record
being Decatur County, Indiana. It is abundant in the Great Lakes
region.

At Lake Maxinkuckee it does not appear to be rare. Through-
out the summer, however, they appear to stay in rather deep water
in the lake. Only one specimen was taken in the net during the

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 375

seining operations. Specimens could almost always be obtained
however, any time of year by dredging in rather deep water for
them, in which case they would become entangled in the long water-
weeds among which they appear to dwell. Specimens were ob-
tained by dredging up Vallisneria at the Sugarloaf bar in water
from 13 to 16 feet, and by dredging at the Kettlehole. The best
place for them, however, was the Weedpatch, where by dredging
up the long Nitella from a depth of 18 to 23 feet, specimens could
almost always be brought up. They were raked up in weeds from
the same region during the winter.

In the winter they appear to come near shore, and stay among
the weeds in shallow water. During the winter of 1904 a good
number of specimens were raked up in weeds near shore, both in
Outlet Bay and in the Inlet region, along with Iowa darters, young
bluegills, mad toms and the like.

During the autumn of 1900, some of these fishes were caught
and kept in jars as aquarium fish. They lived throughout the win-
ter and proved very interesting; they fed eagerly on the red
Chironomus larvae raked up in mud. They also fed on Cladocera
and Copepods taken in the towing net, darting after them and
swallowing them with great avidity. It was hoped they would
nest and spawn in the jars used as aquariums, but with the ap-
pearance of warm weather they became restless and finally died
(May 15), the water having evidently become too hot for them.

The Stickleback is carnivorous, subsisting mainly on small ani-
mals of the lake. A full grown example obtained June 27, 1901,
contained insect larvae and Entomostraca ; a half-grown one cap-
tured the same time, contained Copepods. Of those examined in De-
cember, one 1.81 inches long containef a small beach flea, Cyclops,
Daphnia, Bosmina and insect larvae; one 1 inches long con-
tained Cyclops, Daphnia and beach fleas; one 1.69 inches long con-
tained insect larvae and Cladocera; one 1.94 inches long contained
2 beach fleas, some Ostracods, Cyclops, water fleas (Daphnia) and
insect larvae; another If inches long contained Cyclops, and an-
other of the same length contained 1 Ostracod and 2 Daphnias.

This little fish with its elegant form, slender caudal peduncle,
and handsome speckled coloration, is one of the prettiest fishes of
the lake.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Stickleback is a very spiny
object, it is sometimes eaten by other fishes. One was found in the
stomach of a yellow perch in June, 1901, and in the summer of 1906
a small straw bass 1^ inches long was found dead with a Stickle-
back lodged in its mouth.

376 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Sticklebacks are occasionally found dead along shore. On May
22, 1901, sixteen examples were found dead drifted up in a pile
of drift near Murray's. This was the largest number obtained
at one time, and appeared to indicate either an epidemic or some
crisis connected with the breeding season. One of the specimens
of the lot was examined and contained a good number of medium-
sized yellow eggs.

41. SKIPJACK

LABIDESTHES SICCULUS (Cope)

(Plate 19)

This graceful little fish is widely distributed in ponds and slug-
gish streams from Lake Ontario and southern Michigan to Iowa,
Florida and Texas. At Lake Maxinkuckee it is, with the possible
exception of the straw-colored minnow, the most . abundant fish.
During the summer these fish are pretty well distributed
throughout the surface waters of the lake, where they can fre-
quently be seen jumping out of the water in low horizontal curves,
a whole school sometimes jumping at the same time and forming a
very attractive spectacle. Usually they appear to be jumping to
escape some enemy beneath, but sometimes seem to be jumping
for mere sport. On July 31, 1899, a school of very small fry were
seen at the surface near the buoy in 85 feet of water, and on Sep-
tember 21 several schools were seen far out in the lake.

During the seining operations, most of which were carried on
during the summer when these fishes are not especially crowded
near shore, great numbers were caught and thrown back without
counting. Record was kept of 1,206 specimens captured, and on
July 17 over 500 young were taken at one haul.

The skipjacks swim near the surface, and a few can be seen
along shore almost any day the year round, and people seining for
minnows during the summer usually get a few of these fishes every
haul. With the coming of cold weather in autumn, especially after
the water begins to get chilled, they come near shore first in
the evenings, and their presence is manifested by a great
deal of lisping. On September 10 and 11, 1906, much of this
characteristic sound was heard near shore, and the towing-net was
taken out on the pier and an attempt was made to collect the
surface plankton found there at the time to discover if any par-
ticular abundance of plankton was related to the habits of these
fishes. The gentle dipping of the net sounded somewhat like the
lisping of the skipjacks, and they gathered around, apparently
either to satisfy their curiosity as to the cause of the noise, or in

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 377

the hopes of finding better feeding grounds. A few were caught
in the towing-net, and the stomachs found to contain Entomostraca.
They also appeared to be attracted, or at least undisturbed, by
the light of a lantern held close to the water. Single individuals
would lie perfectly still poised in the water almost precisely like
pickerel or the gar-pike, disappearing with a sudden dart, prob-
ably after prey. Later in the year they come up along shore in
great numbers and remain there most of the day, sometimes alone,
sometimes in company with various species of minnows, especially
the straw-colored minnow, Notropis blennius. ' When they are with
the straw-colored minnow, the latter usually form the lower layer
of the school, while the skipjacks form the upper part near the
surface. On November 11, 1900, in 2 hauls along shore with a
15-foot seine about 2 gallons of these fishes, most of which ap-
peared to be adults, were taken, and they appeared to be equally
numerous on various other occasions. When the fishes thus
crowded along the shore, are approached, they will make for deeper
water, heading in one direction, and swimming with rapid lateral
flexions of the posterior part of the body. If suddenly frightened,
however, they scatter in every direction. They appear to remain
near shore all winter, as they can be seen in great schools under
the clear ice during the winter, and are seen along shore in large
numbers in spring. They are sometimes seen in considerable
schools in the Outlet near the wagon or railroad bridge in the
winter. They are often seen running in schools and jumping out
of the water as if pursued by some enemy. On September 12,
1907, a black bass about a foot long was observed to come up
nearly to the shore for them. In the winter of 1901 a grebe
(Podilymbus podiceps) was seen swimming along under water
near shore, and a number of small fishes, probably these, were seen
jumping out of the water ahead. The Skipjack is perhaps the
most persecuted fish in the lake, and it is a wonder how they keep
up their numbers, feeding at the surface in large conspicuous
schools as they do. They are attacked by the pike, bass, and other
carnivorous fishes, as well as by the helldiver from below, and
darted at by the terns, gulls and kingfishers and other birds of
prey from above, so that they are somewhat in such desperate
plight as the ancient Britons whom the barbarians drove down into
the sea, and the sea threw back on land. They certainly serve a
useful purpose in furnishing much food to fishes of the lake.

The stomach of a black tern examined August 14, 1900, con-
tained 19 young of this species. They appear to escape the water-
dog. During the winter, because of their activity, or the fact that

378 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

they stay near the surface, occasionally they, like other small
fishes, fall victims to cold, as the water, on chilling, benumbs them
somewhat, and rough water in Autumn is likely to wash some of
them ashore.

The Skipjack probably spawns during the latter part of June
and through July. On June 13, 1901, some were examined and
found to contain eggs which were clear, of a yellowish cast, and
about 1/27 inch in diameter. On the next day 3 or 4 were seen
coming up the Outlet in arrowy dashes. They seemed to be mat-
ing, 2 pairs were seen swimming about together a good deal, and
they chased each other considerably.

In the seining operations of 1899, frequent mention is made of
getting many, mostly young, (they may have been young of the
year before) about July 8 to 31. On July 20, 1906, a few of these
fishes used for bait had not yet spawned ; they were so ripe that
the eggs extruded while placing them on the hook. Two days
after this they were seen sporting about as if ready to mate.
. No use is made of the Skipjack at the lake. Perch and red-eye
will bite at them, but they die too easily to be used as bait for game
fishes. It is quite probable that its flesh would prove to be well-
flavored and firm, as many of its larger relatives, which are found
usually near the coast in temperate and tropical seas, are famous
for their excellence. Its small size, however, has prevented any
attempt to use it for food. Of 200 examples measured, the longest
(2) were 3.25 in. long. The shortest was 2.25 inches long, and
the average 2.67. They are, moreover, quite slender fishes.

Their food consists chiefly of insects and Entomostraca. One
caught September 9, 1906, contained Bosmina and Diaptomus; 2
captured September 10, mature insects and quite large masses of
Bosmina; 2 others contained several mature insects, and several
Daphnias. One contained a small parasitic round worm ; 4 caught
October 20, contained large insects and Copepods, and one exam-
ined June 26, contained insect larvse. The Skipjack is also abund-
ant in Lost Lake and in Culver Inlet. It is a particularly hand-
some fish in the water, the changeable colors glowing opal and
enhanced by the transparency of the body.

Head 4|; depth 6; eye 3-J-; D. IV-1, 11; A. I, 23; scales 75.
Body elongate, very slender, compressed; head long, flattened
above, narrow below; snout slender, conic; premaxillaries broad
posteriorly, very protractile, produced forward; snout longer than
the large eye. Edge of upper jaws strongly concave; teeth very
slender, mostly in one series, forming a narrow band in front;
scales small, thin, with entire edges; spinous dorsal very small;

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 379

soft dorsal short; anal fin long; caudal forked; pectorals moder-
ate; first dorsal inserted somewhat behind the vent. Pale olive
green, translucent; lateral silvery band very distinct, scarcely
broader than the pupil, bounded above by a dark line ; back dotted
with black. In the black waters of the lowland swamps, the sil-
very is underlaid with black. Length 3i in.

42. CRAPPIE

POMOXIS ANNULARIS Rafinesque

(Plate 20)

The Crappie occurs throughout the Great Lakes region, west to
Nebraska and Kansas and south throughout the lowlands of the
Mississippi Valley to Texas. It is rather rare northward, but in
the lower Mississippi basin and the coastal region of Texas, it is
generally abundant. It prefers the sluggish waters of ponds,
bayous, lagoons, and lowland streams. It attains a length of about
a foot, and a pound in weight. Examples weighing 3 or 4 pounds
have been reported in the south, but such weights must be very
unusual. The examples of this species obtained in the north rarely
weigh over three-quarters of a pound.

The true Crappie is very rare in Lake Maxinkuckee. During
the summer and fall of 1899 when we were doing our most thor-
ough collecting of the fishes of this lake, a few specimens of the
Crappie were obtained. These were all young fish 1 to 3 years old
and were seined in shallow water. No specimens were seen in
1900. A great many of the fish which the anglers call "crappie"
were examined but they all proved to be the calico bass (Pomoxis
sparoides) . The 2 species are entirely distinct, though difficult to
distinguish except by an examination of their technical characters.
The most evident and most reliable differential character is found
in the number of dorsal spines. The dorsal fin in the Crappie has
5 or 6 sharp spines, while the calico bass has 7 or 8. In the
Crappie the anal fin is usually plain and the anterior profile is
strongly curved, while in the calico bass the anal fin is strongly re-
ticulated or marbled, and the anterior profile is more nearly
straight. The calico bass is also a deeper fish than the Crappie,
its depth being half its length, while that of the Crappie is only
f its length.

Within the last 11 years the United States Fish Commission
has planted in this lake 3,200 so-called "Crappie" but it is prob-
able that the majority of these were really calico bass. 1 But as

1 See p. 280.

380 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

they all came from the ponds along the lower Illinois River it is
likely many of them were crappies.

In habits the Crappie does not differ greatly from the calico
bass. It is more southern in its distribution, a fact doubtless de-
termined largely by its ability to thrive in warmer water than the
other species; and intimately associated with this is its apparent
preference for shallow water and mud bottom, 'conditions nearly
everywhere found in the overflow ponds, lagoons, lakes and bayous
of the lower Mississippi Valley. Among the small lakes of north-
ern Indiana, the Crappie is more numerous in the shallow, warmer
ones (such as Bruce, Fletcher, Bass and Eagle) than in those of
greater depth and colder water.

Very little seems to be known regarding the game or food
qualities of this species as distinguished from those of the calico
bass. Its habits being essentially the same, it probably does not
differ greatly in other respects. Owing to the warmer water in
which it is usually found it is apt to be somewhat less gamy and
may not be as delicately flavored.

In different parts of its habitat it bears different vernacular
names. In the Ohio Valley it is called Bachelor; in Illinois, Indi-
ana, West Virginia and Kentucky it is the Newlight, Campbellite or
Lamplighter, names given to it by the irreverent during the great
Campbellite movement in the Ohio Valley in the early part of the
Nineteenth Century ; in the Southern States it is called Sac - a' -
lait and Chinquapin Perch. Other local names are Tin-mouth,
Paper-mouth, Bridge Perch, Goggle-eye, Speckled Perch, Shad, and
John Demon. Most of these names are also applied to the calico
bass. The only place where we have heard the name "John
Demon" was at a small lake in northeastern Indiana, and the
species meant was more likely the calico bass than the Crappie.

Among the Louisiana anglers, especially about Lake Pont-
chartrain, the Crappie is a prime favorite, for it will take a min-
now bait as promptly as a black bass. It is not very pugnacious,
however, and will not fight as long as the bass, and it is more
easily frightened, requiring greater caution on the part of the
angler.

A correspondent of the American Angler 2 describes the fishing
in Cedar Lake, Indiana. Angling is carried on from little flat-
bottomed skiffs and from sail-boats, with bait minnows, worms
or pieces of fish. In 5 hours 2 men caught 57 bass and 82 crap-
pies. Trolling is a favorite mode of fishing among the people who
live near the lake, who, using 2 lines with spoon bait or "whirl",

2 American Angler, II, 87.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 381

and fishing from a sail-boat, frequently take 200 or more Crappie
in a day, besides occasional pickerel, perch, and bass. Two men
fishing for pleasure, took, in June, 1882, in the course of 3 days, a
thousand crappies, weighing from 4 to 24 ounces each. Of course
any two men who can be satisfied to destroy fish in that way, and
who find pleasure in it, are game hogs of the most conscienceless
kind.

Another correspondent of the same journal writes entertain-
ingly concerning Crappie fishing near St. Louis. "Our Crappie,
the greatest pan-fish of the West, is highly esteemed by us for
the table. We have seen a monster crappie this spring, weighing
over 3 pounds, taken at Murdock Club Lake, near St. Louis, on
the Illinois side. We consider one of U to 2 pounds a large one.
They are taken about logs and fallen tree-tops, on the water's edge,
in our rivers and sloughs. They are greedy fellows, but as soon as
hooked, step right into the boat without a struggle for liberty.

"A gentlemen of this place, a member of one of our old French
families, who turned the scale at about 300 pounds, was noted for
his success in crappie fishing. He would have his large flat towed
to a tree ; when tied to a limb, he would settle himself for the day,
on a pillow, placed in a large split-bottom chair. Hauling his
live-box and minnow-pail alongside, he would bait 2 hooks attached
to a strong line, using a weak snell, so that in case the hook should
foul, he could break it loose. He used a float and short, stout
bamboo rod and, shaking the bushes a little, 'to stir up the fish',
would select an opening and carefully drop in the minnow, 2 feet
below the surface, pass the ends of the rods through rings in the
side of the boat, light his pipe, and wait for something to happen.
It was not long, and after the fun began, it was the same monot-
onous lifting out of fish, and dropping them into the live-box all
the day long, and was continued on the next, until he had brought
to creel over three hundred.

"I have always associated in my mind the crappie, and the love
of ease and quiet of our old French inhabitants. Nothing could
more truly represent contentment and ease than the picture of this
simple-minded old gentlemen on his annual crappie fish at King's
Lake."

Head 3; depth 2^; eye 4; D. V or VI, 15; A. VI, 18; scales
7-36 to 48-14, 4 or 5 rows on cheek ; body rather short, greatly com-
pressed; head long, the profile strongly curved owing to the pro-
jecting snout, depressed occipital region, and very prominent
thickened antedorsal region ; mouth very wide. Color, silvery-olive,
mottled with dark green, the dark markings chiefly on the upper

382 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

part of the body and having a tendency to form narrow vertical
bars; dorsal and caudal fins marked with green; anal fin pale,
nearly plain ; fins very high, but lower than in the calico bass.

43. CALICO BASS

POMOXIS SPAROIDES (Lacepede)

(Plates 21 and 23)

This fish is found through the Great Lakes region and south to
New Jersey and Texas. Among the Great Lakes and throughout
the upper Mississippi Valley it is an abundant and well-known
species. As to choice of habitat, it prefers lakes, ponds, bayous and
sluggish lowland streams. At Lake Maxinkuckee it is quite com-
mon, and is frequently seen and caught. Although a relatively
shallow water fish it does not frequent the shore very much except
on special occasions, but seems to inhabit the zone of 8 to 14 feet
of water. For this reason only a few (12 or 13 specimens) were
taken during the seining operation. It sometimes basks near the
surface in relatively deep water. On April 29, 1901, a great num-
ber of fishes were noted splashing in the region of the deepest
water of the lake. The fishes would be lying on the side and go
under with a splash when the boat came near. On cautiously ap-
proaching the school it was possible to get close enough to recog-
nize the species, and it proved to be the Calico Bass.

In Lake Maxinkuckee it is far more abundant than the Crappie,
Pomoxis annularis. It is, however, usually mistaken for that
species and called "Crappie" by most of the anglers who know it
from this and other lakes of northern Indiana. There are a few
who are able to distinguish the 2 species, and they usually speak
of this as the Strawberry Bass, Paper-mouth or Tin-mouth. The
first of these three names has reference, of course, to the color of
the fish; "Paper-mouth" was doubtless given because of the great
ease with which the mouth tears, releasing the hook and allowing
the fish to escape ; and the name "Tin-mouth" has reference to the
thinness as well as the color of the jaws. Occasionally a visiting
angler will speak of this fish as the "Silver Bass", or sometimes
as the "Campbellite".

As a game-fish the Calico Bass does not hold a high rank,
though there are many anglers who find that catching it is full of
pleasure and satisfaction and not without excitement. It is a fish
which can be caught any month in the year; in the early spring
shortly after the ice goes off, it, along with other sunfishes, bites
well from piers, and a number were caught near the Ice-houses

Plate 23

CALICO BASS (Pomoxi* sjiaroidcs)

ROCK BASS (Amhli>i>lit<-N riii>nttrit)

These photographs were taken from life at Lake Maxinkuckee by A. Radcliffe Dugmore for Jordan and Ever-
mann's "American Food and Game Fishes," published by Doubleday, Page and Company.
2517618

384 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

about the end of April. Very good fishing is also had in October.
We have records of good catches made on October 18 and 30, and
on November 3, 4, 7 and 9 ; also in January, February, June, Aug-
ust and September. The largest catch of which we have a note
was made late in October or early in November, 1894, and con-
sisted of 42 pounds, representing not fewer than 100 fish. It is
fair to say that this catch was made by a party of several persons.

It is said that the Calico Bass will bite readily at spawning
time, but that only the males will do so. They will take a worm,
small minnow, or a piece of fish. In the winter and late fall they
bite readily at a small minnow, such as the straw-colored minnow
(Notropis blennius), the blunt-nosed minnow (Pimephales no-
tatus) or the skipjack (Labidesthes sicculus) .

This fish will take not only a small live minnow, but it will
take a dead minnow, a worm, a piece of fish or a grub. It is often
taken with a small trolling spoon and we have occasionally taken
it with a small artificial fly. And we recall one instance when it
was taken in Lost Lake on the Harris floating meadow-frog.

Ordinarily during the summer months not many of this species
are caught, but in September they begin to bite more freely, and
by October, one who seeks them in their proper haunts is quite
sure to meet with reasonable success. The species is usually taken
by still fishing, though at times it may be gotten by trolling. Dur-
ing the summer months it frequents the deeper parts of the lake,
coming on to the edges of the bars and into shallow water near
shore in the night. In September and early October it remains
about the edges of the bars where the water is 8 to 20 feet deep.
Late in October it generally moves down into deeper water until
the lake freezes over. It can most readily be taken at a depth of
from 30 to 40 feet. The largest October catches that we recall
were at a depth of 40 feet. About the middle of November, 1906,
a great school of this species, averaging about 6 inches in length,
collected under the Merchants pier at Culver. They presented a
beautiful spectacle shining up through the water like a great flock
of guinea fowl. When the lake freezes over, the Calico Bass leaves
the deeper water and comes out upon the bars where the water is
6 to 25 feet deep. Its favorite haunts are the small channels be-
tween the bars, leaving more shallow ridges between. The cool-
ing of the temperature has a markedly paralyzing effect upon them.
When first seen under clear ice they attempt to swim away, but in
a cramped fashion. They are unable to swim faster than one can
walk and,. instead of warming up and becoming more active, they
soon become exhausted, give up trying to swim and lie on their

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 385

side among the weeds and appear to be actually panting. It is
in the shallow channels that they are caught when fishing through
the ice.

In fishing for Calico Bass one must be careful not to select too
large a hook. For this lake the best size is No. 1 or No. 2 hook,
and a hook with a long barb has advantages, as it is not so easily
thrown out when the mouth tears, which it is very apt to do on
account of its extreme tenderness.

While it is true that this fish will take several' kinds of bait,
it takes some of them only rarely or reluctantly. As already
stated, it has been taken with the fly, and in Lost Lake with the
artificial frog, but for lakes like Maxinkuckee such lures are not
recommended. Trolling with a small spoon late in the evening or
in the early fall is usually fairly successful. They will also now
and then take a small live minnow that is being slowly trolled, but
they are best taken by still fishing, and the best bait is a small min-
now, the more silvery species, such as the Straw-colored minnow
(Notropis blennius) , the Red-nosed minnow (N. rubrifrons) or the
satin fin (N. ivhipplii) being preferred. A small minnow should
be selected, and 2 very small ones put upon the same hook will often
prove quite attractive.

Sometimes the Calico Bass is a greedy biter, taking the hook
much as does the straw bass, but after a short quick run it is
apt to drop the bait unless it is well hooked. Usually it bites less
vigorously than the straw bass, and does not make much of a
fight until it is brought near the surface, when it turns upon its
side and flaps quite vigorously until brought to net; and it should
be mentioned that the landing net is an essential with this fish ; for,
owing to its delicate mouth it is not safe to attempt to lift it
out of the water by the hook.

As a pan-fish the Calico Bass is far superior to the rock bass
but not equal to the bluegill or yellow perch. Its flesh is white,
flaky and firm, but rather coarser than that of the bluegill ; it is,
however, sweet, and is, by most persons who are familiar with it,
highly esteemed.

The following, written by Professor Jared Potter Kirtland more
than half a century ago, though placing somewhat too high an es-
timate upon the food value of this fish, is a reliable and interesting
account of its habits.

"The 'Grass Bass' has not hitherto been deemed worthy of con-
sideration by fish culturists ; yet, from a long acquaintance with its
merits, I hesitate not to pronounce it the fish for the millions. It
is a native of our western rivers and lakes, where it usually resorts

386 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

to deep and sluggish waters; yet in several instances, where it
has found its way into cold and rapid streams, and even small sized
brooks, by means of the constructing of canals or by the hand of
man, it has adapted itself to the change, and in 2 or 3 years stocked
to overflowing these new locations. As a pan-fish for the table it
is surpassed by few other freshwater species. For endurance and
rapidity of increase it is unequaled

"The Grass Bass is perfectly adapted to stocking ponds. It
will thrive without care in very small ponds of sufficient depth. It
will in nowise interfere with the cultivation of any number of
species, large or small, in the same waters. It will live harmoni-
ously with all others, and while its structure and disposition re-
strain it from attacking any other but very small fry, its formid-
able armature of spinous rays in the dorsal and abdominal fins
will guard it against the voracious pike."

The operations of the United States Fish Commission and those
of some of the state commissions have considerably extended its
range by its introduction into waters which it did not previously
inhabit.

Its spawning time is usually during .the last half of June, though
some individuals may begin spawning a little earlier and occasion-
ally the spawning season will be prolonged into July. The place
selected is on the tops and near the edges of the bars in 8 to 10
feet of water or shallower. The particular place selected is apt to
be on a small ridge in a clean patch .of sand surrounded by short
Chara which abounds on most of the bars at these depths. It is
known to spawn in considerable numbers on the bars off Long
Point and it probably spawns on all such bars in the lake. The
nest is usually somewhat circular in form and is about 8 or 9
inches in diameter. The nest is composed usually of coarse sand
and fine gravel, with occasionally a few dead shells of Vivipara
contectoides. So far as observed the nests are not very close to
each other, but are usually separated by a distance of 5 or 6 feet,
thus giving each nest or pair of fish from 6 to 8 square feet of
space.

We have not, as yet, been able to make any satisfactory obser-
vations as to the number of eggs which this species lays or the
period of incubation, nor are we aware that these facts have been
determined by any one.

The Calico Bass reaches an average size of f pound in the lake
and rarely exceeds 1^ pounds . in weight. One 12 inches long
weighed 1 lb.' 1^ oz., and one 10^ inches long weighed 94 oz. The

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 387

greater number measured were 10, 11 and 12 inches long. Most
of the stomachs examined were empty; one contained many flies.

Like the bluegill, the Calico Bass dies in considerable numbers
in the spring.

Head 3 ; depth 2 ; eye 4 ; snout 4$ ; D. VII or VIII, 15 ; A. VI,
17 or 18 ; scales 6-40 to 45-15, 6 rows on the cheek.

Body oblong, elevated, and much compressed; head long, its
profile not so strongly double-curved as in the Crappie proper, the
projection of the snout and the antedorsal region and the depres-
sion over the eye being less marked; mouth smaller than in the
Crappie, the maxillary reaching about to the posterior edge of
pupil, the mandible shorter than the pectoral ; fins very high, anal
higher than dorsal, its height 4 to 5 times in length of body.

Color, silvery-olive mottled with clear olive-green, the dark
mottlings gathered in small irregular bunches and covering the
whole body; vertical fins with dark olive vermiculations surround-
ing pale spots ; anal marked like the dorsal ; dusky opercular spot.

The Calico Bass and the Crappie resemble each other very
closely and are not always differentiated by anglers and fishermen.
They are, however, perfectly distinct and may be easily distin-
guished by means of the number of dorsal spines, the Crappie
having only 5 or 6 while the Calico Bass has 7 or 8. The differ-
ences in coloration, particularly of the anal fin, is also an important
diagnostic character.

44. ROCK BASS

AMBLOPLITES RUPESTRIS (Rafinesque)

(Plates 22 and 23)

The Rock Bass is one of our best known and most familiar
fishes. Every angler in the upper Mississippi Valley began an
intimate acquaintance with it during his boyhood days when a
water-beech or iron-wood pole, a cotton line, a limerick hook and
a can of fish-worms were all the outfit the boy found necessary to
insure a goodly string of "red-eyes" and "pumpkinseeds". From
Vermont to Manitoba, and southward west of the Alleghenies to
Louisiana and Texas, this fish is found; "rock bass" in the north,
"goggle-eye" in the south, and "red-eye" with the boys wherever
he is known. This fish is found in all sorts of waters ; it is abund-
ant in all the Great Lakes and their tributary streams. In the
small lakes of the upper Mississippi Valley states it is one of the
most common species, and in the rivers, creeks and smaller streams
it is equally common. It prefers clear, cool water and is therefore

388 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

not so abundant in sluggish lowland streams and bayous, or in
the shallow, warmer lakes.

In Lake Maxinkuckee it is abundant and well known. People
living about the lake, and most of the anglers who visit it, know
this fish as the "goggle-eye" or "red-eye". The name "rock bass"
is not so often heard and is used chiefly by those who speak by the
book or who are from further north.

As a game fish the Rock Bass is, in most places, regarded with
considerable favor, though at this lake it is usually regarded
merely as a good fish to get when all the gamier species fail. It
is a fish which can be captured at almost any time and with any
sort of bait. They begin biting in the early spring as soon as the
ice goes off, and can be taken at any time until the ice forms
again ; indeed, it is often taken through the ice. Perhaps August
is usually one of the best months. They bit phenomenally in the
latter part of April and the first half of May in 1901. In 1899, not
many were taken in July, but during August many fine catches
were made. Any one who cared to fish for redeyes seldom failed to
get a good number. In 1900, perhaps the largest catches were
made in August, but July fishing met with better success than in
the previous year.

In the spring of 1901, from about April 28 to the middle of
May, they bit ^ almost everywhere in shallow water. One of the
favorite places was off the Ice-houses, and here a considerable num-
ber of men, women and boys congregated with long cane poles
and pulled out Rock Bass almost continuously. On April 28, 7
boys who had been fishing only a little time had 79, and the fish-
ing continued in that manner for some time. These Rock Bass
also bit well in various other places in the lake. Two men camping
near Murray's and fishing from boats got considerable numbers.
A favorite fishing place for them was the rock pile off Lakeview
Hotel. The fishes hid among the crannies in the rocks and bit
eagerly at worms. Most of those got here were rather small. A
number were caught on set-lines about the same time.

The Rock Bass can be taken on any kind of bait. Perhaps
the most attractive baits are small minnows, white grubs and
angleworms, all of which are best used in still-fishing. Grass-
hoppers, pieces of mussel, pieces of fish, in fact, almost any ani-
mal substance, will prove effective. Trolling with live minnow,
phantom minnow or spoon at times proves very successful, and they
have been taken on the artificial fly and the artificial frog.

It is a voracious fish and will bite viciously even when its stom-
ach is filled with crawfishes or other food.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 389

Though not one of the greatest of game-fishes, it nevertheless
holds a respectable rank in that category. Its manner of taking
the hook is full of energy, and the fight which it begins has in it
the promise of better things, but it soon wholly or partially sub-
sides and does not renew the fight until brought near the surface
of the water, when it fights very prettily until landed.

Using light tackle and casting with the fly, the Rock Bass will
afford the angler a great deal of genuine sport.

It can be taken at any time of day, and there are records of some
very good catches made late at night and others early in the
morning.

Although the Rock Bass is pretty generally distributed through-
out the lake, it is usually found in greatest numbers about the
patches of Potamogeton in 5 to 15 feet of water, and in water some-
what more shallow than the bluegill frequents. In our seining
operations we usually found young Rock Bass in considerable num-
bers. The largest number taken at any one haul was 38. The
great majority were young-of-the-year, and were found in greatest
numbers in and about the patches of Scirpus and Eleocharis and
also among the depauperate Chara and Naias flexilis. Young Rock
Bass were also frequently raked up in winter near shore among
weeds.

The Rock Bass in this lake reaches a length of about 12 or 13
inches and a weight of a little less than one pound. The great
majority of those caught weigh i pound or less; occasionally one
of f of a pound is taken and still more rarely one weighing 14
or 15 ounces. The following are the measures and weights of in-
dividuals taken at various times: 11 inches, 13 oz. ; 10 inches,
10* oz. ; 8 in. 6 1 oz. ; 8^ in. 8i oz. ; 9 in. 8-] oz. ; 9] in. 9i oz.

The Rock Bass is a voracious feeder, and may usually be found
pretty well gorged with crawfishes, shells, insect larvaa, and occa-
sionally minnows. Its diet differs with age and somewhat with the
season.

Small examples 1.56 to 3.06 inches long raked up with
Chara near the Inlet in December, 1904, nearly all contained insect
larvae During the spring of 1901 the chief food of this, as well
as of bluegills, was a species of Asellus which was very abundant
in the Chara at that time. Beetles, minnows and a few leeches and
crawfishes were also found in the stomachs examined then. Most
of the large ones examined during the summer of 1906 contained
crawfishes. One contained a mad torn, a spine of which had pene-
trated the walls of the stomach.

The Rock Bass is afflicted with parasites, perhaps to a greater

390 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

extent than any other species of this lake. Parasitic Copepods
were abundant on the gills. Late in autumn the gills were fre-
quently well crowded with small free-swimming Copepods. Disto-
mids and Acanthocephali were frequently found in the stomachs,
and leeches were frequently found attached in the axils of the
fins.

The Rock Bass is one of the earliest spawners. They begin
about the middle of May and are usually done by June 15. They
come out into shallow water and make the nest among the rushes,
or by a stick, chunk, stake, rock or any similar object. The nest
resembles that of the calico bass, being made in clean coarse sand
or fine gravel, and 8 or 9 inches in diameter. The eggs of the
rock bass are about the size of small shot, and are very numerous.

The young Rock Bass is a quite handsome fish, the sides being
beautifully mottled and clouded with irregular patches of brown.
As it grows older the color markings become dark lines along the
rows of scales and it becomes much less attractive.

The young seem to grow quite rapidly. Young of the year
taken July 18, average 1.15 inches in total length.

Cold water has considerable influence in benumbing these fishes.
Some large examples seen in shallow water near shore seemed to
have lost the power of coordination ; they had a tendency to swim
on their sides.

As to the edible qualities of the Rock Bass, not much can be
said in its favor. In cold running streams or waters where better
fish are not common it will pass as a fairly good pan-fish, but in
a lake like Maxinkuckee where so many better fish are found, it
is not held in high esteem. Its flesh is white and flaky, but rather
soft and insipid and sometimes tastes of mud. Next to the war-
mouth it is the poorest of the food-fishes of this lake.

Head 2.75 in length; depth 2 to 2.5; eye 3.5 to 4.5; snout 4;
maxillary 2.3; D. XI, 10; A. VI, 10; scales about 6-39-12, 6 to
8 rows on cheek ; gillrakers 7 to 10 ; creca 7 ; vertebra? 14 -|- 18 ;
body oblong, moderately compressed; head large, profile in adult
somewhat depressed above the eyes; mouth large, the maxillary
reaching middle of pupil ; gillrakers developed only on lower part
of arch ; preopercle serrate near its angle.

Color, olive-green, conspicuously tinged with brassy, and with
much dark mottling; the young irregularly barred and blotched
with black and with very little brassy, the adult with a dark spot
on each scale, these forming interrupted black stripes; a black
opercular spot ; dark mottlings on the soft dorsal, caudal and anal ;
eye more or less red.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 391

The following are life color notes made on an example 8 inches
long, caught at the Weedpatch September 12, 1907 :

Back light olive mottled with darker; side olivaceous above,
more brassy below, the olive of middle of side in 9 broken bars;
belly white, dusted with brassy; breast and under part of head
finely speckled with dusky ; opercle dark ; side of head brassy with
a darker bar downward from eye; dorsal, anal and caudal oliva-
ceous yellow, the dorsal and anal spotted with darker ; ventral pale
lemon, the tip of the first ray and all of last ray white; pectoral
pale lemon.

45. WARMOUTH

CHJENOBRYTTUS GULOSUS (Cuvier & Valenciennes)

(Plate 24a)

The Warmouth is found throughout the eastern United States
in suitable waters, chiefly west and south of the Alleghenies, from
the Great Lakes, Iowa and Kansas, south to Florida and Texas. It
is a fish of the warmer, shallower lakes, and the sluggish lowland
streams, ponds and bayous. In the small shallow lakes with mud
bottom and abundant vegetation, particularly among the spatter-
dock, Potamogetons and lily-pads, the Warmouth abounds. We
know it from lakes such as those in northern Indiana, Illinois and
Iowa, southward in the overflow ponds along the lower Wabash,
Ohio and Mississippi, to the bayous and shallow lakes of Missis-
sippi, Louisiana and Texas. It is not a common fish in Lake Max-
inkuckee ; this lake is too clean and there is not enough mud bottom.

In seining entirely around the lake between July 4 and July
27, 293 hauls were made, in only 3 of which were Warmouth taken.
One of these was in the Outlet just above the railroad bridge where
6 were gotten. The other two hauls were between the Outlet and
the Ice-houses, and only one Warmouth was gotten in each. A few
were seined in Culver Inlet. Occasionally one is caught on a hook,
but not often. Two or 3 were caught in the summer among the
Potamogetons off the Gravelpit and 2 or 3 in Outlet Bay ; and each
winter a few are taken through the ice at these 2 places, minnows
being the bait used. We have a record of only 6 or 8 so taken in
the winter of 1899-1900. Although the Warmouth is uncommon
in Lake Maxinkuckee it is rather abundant in Lost Lake, into which
Lake Maxinkuckee empties. It is particularly abundant in the
channel connecting the two lakes where from one to 10 were
caught at each haul with a 15-foot seine. It loves to bask in the
dense weeds along the edge of the lake, and it can be sometimes
raked out in a bunch of tangled vegetation.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 393

This fish is not well-known to many of the anglers who come
to Lake Maxinkuckee. Only those who wet a line occasionally in
Lost Lake or who fish through the ice there are apt to know much
about it. Knowledge of it is therefore practically limited to the
local fishermen who call it "Indian Fish" or "Mud Bass".

Its game qualities are not unlike those of the rock bass. It is
most easily taken with a live minnow and it bites with considerable
energy. It fights vigorously, after the manner of the rock bass.

As a food-fish the Warmouth is inferior even to the rock bass,
though when caught in the winter its flesh is firm and sweet and
entirely devoid of the flavor of mud which it may possess in sum-
mer. If it could be kept in clear, cold water its flesh would doubt-
less lose all its objectionable qualities.

The Warmouth, with its rich coppery color, is easily distin-
guished from the other fishes of the lake. It resembles the rock
bass more than any other fish of the lake, and can be distinguished
by the following description:

Head 2 to 2f ; depth 2 to 2 ; eye 4 to 4 ; snout 4 to 41 ; D. X,
9 or 10 ; A. Ill, 8 or 9 ; scales 6-40 to 46-11 or 12, about 40 pores, and
6 to 8 rows on cheek; gillrakers 8 or 9 besides rudiments. Body
shaped very much as in the rock bass; head and mouth large,
maxillary reaching posterior edge of orbit ; opercular spot about as
large as eye; dorsal spines low, the longest equal to distance from
tip of snout to middle of eye ; pectoral not reaching anal fin ; ven-
trals reaching anus.

Color, dark olive-green, or sometimes rich brick-red and brassy,
clouded with darker, usually with red, blue and brassy; a dusky
spot on each scale; ventral fins mottled with dusky; a faint spot
on last rays of dorsal bordered by paler; 3 oblique dusky or red-
dish bars radiating from eye; belly yellowish or brassy. Length
8 to 10 inches.

46. BLUE-SPOTTED SUNFISH; GREEN SUNFISH

APOMOTIS CYANELLUS (Rafinesque)

(Plate 24)

This beautiful little sunfish is found wholly west of the Alle-
ghenies and from the Great Lakes to Mexico; it is usually abund-
ant in all suitable waters from central Ohio and Indiana to the
Rio Grande. It is not often found in lakes or large streams but
in the smaller streams, brooks and ponds it is an abundant and
well-known little fish.

It is very rare in Lake Maxinkuckee, and the statement by

394 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Evermann and Jenkins in "Notes on Indiana fishes"* that it is
"very common" in Lake Maxinkuckee appears to be no longer the
case; only a few individuals were obtained in the two seasons de-
voted to the study of that lake, and not exceeding 6 or 8 were
seen in Lost Lake. It is probably the rarest member of the fam-
ily in these waters. On September 11, 1906, two examples, each
about 2.5 inches long were seined in the Outlet of Lost Lake near
the old mill-site. These are the only specimens recently obtained
by us.

The Blue-spotted Sunfish does not attain a greater length than
6 or 8 inches and a weight of 4 or 5 ounces, but it is a sprightly
little fish and excellent for the pan. Like the pumpkin-seed, it is,
where common, a favorite with the small boy. It takes readily a
hook baited with grub or angleworm, and would make a vicious
fight for liberty if it were only larger.

A specimen at hand from Bruce Lake is quite different from
the specimens of Lepomis and Eupomotis in the collection. It is
characterized by the large number of scales, the large number of
rows of scales on the cheek, the low fins and a conspicuous black
spot on the posterior base of the dorsal and anal fins.

Head 3; depth 2$; D. X, 11; A. Ill, 9; scales small, 6 or 7-45
to 55-16, 40 to 48 pores, 8 rows on cheek; gillrakers moderate,
X -f- 13. Body rather elongate, moderately compressed, becoming
stouter with age; head large, the snout projecting; mouth quite
large, maxillary broad and flat, reaching middle of eye; a small
supplemental maxillary above; lower jaw projecting; dorsal spines
quite low; pectoral short, not reaching anal, 1| in head; ventrals
not reaching vent.

Color variable, the prevailing shade green, with strong brassy
luster on sides which becomes nearly yellow below; each scale
usually with a sky-blue spot and more or less of gilt edging, form-
ing pale lateral streaks, dusky or obscure vertical bars often pre-
sent and the sides sprinkled with dark dots; vertical fins marked
with blue or green, the anal edged with pale orange in front;
usually a conspicuous black spot on posterior base of dorsal and
anal fins, these often obsolete; iris red; cheek with narrow blue
stripes; opercular spot smaller than eye, broadly margined with
bronze, the black confined to the hard or bony part of the opercle,
a character which readily distinguishes this from all other species
of sunfishes.

* Proc. U. S. N. M. XI, 55.

w
w

Z
en

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Z

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 395
47. LONG-EARED SUNFISH

LEPOMIS MEGALOTIS (Rafineaque)

This is another of the small sunfishes that abound in all suit-
able waters in the Mississippi Valley and southwestward. From
Minnesota and northern Ohio it ranges southward to Florida,
Arkansas and Texas.

It is subject to great variation and has been described as new
no fewer than 14 times. Although it occurs in lakes and large
streams, it most delights in the smaller creeks and brooks. In
Lake Maxinkuckee it is more common than the blue-spotted sunfish,
but it is not by any means abundant, only a few examples having
been obtained by us. In Lost Lake, however, it is more numerous
and was frequently taken in the seine.

Long-eared Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)

In these waters it does not seem to reach a greater length than
5 or 6 inches and a weight of 2 or 3 ounces. It is, however, a
sweet pan-fish, and in game qualities it is not particularly different
from the green-spotted sunfish and the pumpkin-seed.

Head 3 (without flap) ; depth about 2, varying with age; eye
3 to 4; D. X, 10 to 12; A. Ill, 8 to 10; scales 5-36 to 45-14, 31
to 40 pores, about 5 rows on cheek ; gillrakers X + 8 or 9 ; pectoral
1 : \ to li in head. Body short, deep, and compressed, the back very
strongly arched in the adult, the profile steep, usually forming an
angle above the eyes; mouth small and oblique, the premaxillary
rather below the eye, the maxillary reaching middle of eye; gill-

396 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

rakers very short and soft, weaker than in any other species;
dorsal spines very low, the longest little longer than snout, 3 in
head; opercular flap in the adult very long and broad, with a broad
or narrow pale blue or red margin, the flap half or more longer
than the eye in the adult, much shorter in the young, its develop-
ment subject to much variation.

Color, brilliant blue and orange, the back chiefly bluish; belly
entirely orange, the orange on the sides in spots, the blue in wavy,
vertical streaks ; lips blue ; cheek orange, with bright blue stripes ;
blue stripes before eye; soft parts of vertical fins with the rays
blue and the membranes orange ; ventrals dusky ; iris red.

One of our most brightly colored freshwater fishes; extremely
variable, the young often elliptical in form, and the size at which
the characteristic ear-flap is developed varies greatly with differ-
ent individuals.

As compared with the other sunfishes of the lake, most of our
specimens are characterized by having the ventral fins very dark,
almost black, and, although this feature is probably not enough
to identify them with certainty, it is very helpful in making up a
preliminary assortment of species.

48. BLUEGILL

LEPOMIS PALLIDUS (Mitchill)

(Plates 25 and 26)

The Bluegill is one of the most abundant and widely distributed
of the sunfishes. It is known from the Great Lakes southward
throughout the Mississippi Valley and to Florida and the Rio
Grande. It is found in New York and Pennsylvania, the Caro-
linas, .and west to Minnesota and Kansas. It occurs in quiet
streams, but is, above all, the sunfish of the lakes, whether large
or small, though it is decidedly more abundant in the smaller ones.
It is very common in all the lakes of northern Indiana and of all
:the food fishes found in Lake Maxinkuckee, it is, next to the yel-
low perch, certainly the most abundant species.

In our seining operations along the shores we found it exceed-
ingly abundant. In seining around the lake in July and August
we sometimes used a 45-foot seine, but usually a 25-foot one, and
occasionally one only 15 feet long. In covering the entire peri-
meter of the lake the seine was hauled about 612 times, and the
Bluegill was the most abundant species caught. The total num-
ber caught exceeded 12,000. Occasionally a haul would be made
without taking any bluegills but usually there were from a few up

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 397

to many in each haul ; several hauls contained several hundred each,
the largest number being 419. Most of those caught in this way
were 1 or 2 years old; not many young-of-the-year were taken
and not many adults. A good many 3 years old were taken, but
by far the most abundant were those 1 and 2 years old. It is
scarcely necessary to state that only a few of these fish were re-
tained for specimens and that practically the entire catch was in-
variably returned to the lake.

The young-of-the-year are found in great abundance in shallow
water near shore but, except when the smallest seine was used,
they would pass through the meshes and we were thus unable to de-
termine their number.

In Lost Lake the Bluegill seems equally abundant. More than
2,000 were caught in 100 hauls with a 25-foot seine. At Lake
Maxinkuckee this fish is known almost exclusively as the "Blue-
gill"; Blue Bream, Blue Sunfish, Copper-nosed Bream, Dollardee,
and the various other vernacular names by which it is known in
other localities are never heard there.

In this lake the bluegills spawn during the last half of June,
their spawning beds being usually located on shallow bars where
the water is 4 to 8 feet deep. They clean off the rubbish from a
circular area 6 inches to a foot in diameter and, like the pumpkin-
seed, will defend the nest with much bravery.

The Bluegill is the "gamest fish for its weight in .the lake",
so says one of the most observant and successful of the anglers
who come to Maxinkuckee ; and not many who have had experience
with the large individuals in the clear, cold waters of this lake will
be disposed to question the estimate.

In the first place, the bluegills of Lake Maxinkuckee are un-
usually large; they reach a length of 12 to 14 inches, a weight of
a pound, and are broader than one's hand. Even their average
size at this lake is from a half to three-quarters of a pound, while
in Bass Lake, 10 miles west of Maxinkuckee, they do not average
more than 2 or 3 ounces. Then the water of Maxinkuckee seems
conducive to a high development of game qualities, not only in
the Bluegill, but in all other fishes the temperature, clearness,
depth, and quality and quantity of food all seem most favorable.

This fish can be taken at any time in the year. Excellent
catches can be made early in the spring, but during July and
August the largest catches are probably made, it being no unusual
occurrence in those months for two men in one boat to take 75 to
100 pounds in an afternoon. It bites well during the entire fall,
also, though it is not fished for so assiduously after grasshoppers

Plate 25

BLUEGILL SUNFISH (Lepomis pallidus)

RED-EARED SUNFISH (Eupomotis heros)

These photographs were taken from life at Lake Maxinkuckee by A. Radcliffe Dugmore for Jordan and Ever-
mann's "American Food and Game Fishes," published by Doubleday, Page and Company.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 399

begin to fail. And in the winter time the Bluegill is taken in con-
siderable numbers fishing through the ice.

The Bluegill can be taken with almost any kind of lure. Angle-
worms are probably the best, though grasshoppers are nearly as
good. White grubs, small minnows and pieces of fish or clam are
all good. The senior author has taken it also on small craw-
fish, with the fly, on the trolling spoon and with a small buck-tail.

It may be taken either by still-fishing or by trolling. The most
popular method at Lake Maxinkuckee seems to be to fish from an
anchored boat, using two long cane poles projecting over the stern
at a divergent angle. A cork or float is placed upon each line, its
position being determined by the depth of water, the hook being
made to hang about a foot above the bottom. More expert or
skilled anglers will use a rod and reel but will probably not catch
any more fish.

The Bluegill can be caught in various places, as from the piers
and elsewhere in shallow water near shore, from in and about the
bulrush patches in water 2 to 5 feet deep, from the Vallisneria
beds, or from the tops and slopes of the deeper bars where the
various species of Potamogeton abound. Probably the best places
are on the edges of bars where there are good growths of Pota-
mogeton amplifolius. The most noted place in the lake for blue-
gills is the well-known "Weedpatch". Other good places are in
the Potamogeton patches off the Gravelpit, off the Ice-houses,
and at the Sugarloaf .

The Bluegill is a dainty biter, taking the hook slowly and de-
liberately, sucking it in rather than biting it. Not until after the
bait has been sucked in and the fish starts away with it is the
angler aware of what is going on; but when once securely hooked
then the fight really begins, to continue without cessation or abate-
ment of energy until the fish is landed. The Bluegill rarely jumps
out of the water as does the black bass, but by turning his side
toward the angler he is able to offer a resistance which makes the
sport very fascinating.

Excepting the yellow perch, there is no other species in the lake
which is equal to the Bluegill as a pan-fish. The flesh is firm and
flaky and possesses a flavor of which one does not soon tire, and
the size of the fish is the ideal one for a pan-fish.

As to feeding habits, the Bluegill appears to be by all means
the most omnivorous fish of the lake. Its dietary never offers in-
deed such a violent juxtaposition of unrelated materials as ex-
hibited by the shark, bowfin or goat; and does not so much re-
mind one of a world's museum or valley of Hinnom as a biological

2617618

400 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

epitome of the lake. One is not likely to find as great an assort-
ment of food articles in its stomach as in a shark's; but there is
to be found in its stomach at various times bits of almost every-
thing found in the lake. Morover, it is not generally in the habit
of mixing its food, but generally feeds chiefly on one thing now
and another at another time. It is choicy, indeed, after a fashion
as to the quality of its food, insisting that what it eats be fresh
and wholesome, but cheerfully eating whatever is set before it and
asking no questions for conscience sake. This suggests that it
would be as easy fish to rear, not easy in the sense that it would
thrive in any place planted, but so far as food is concerned it
would thrive in small, well-kept ponds, not demanding wide range
or special crops of food.

A large number of stomachs were examined; more, probably
than of all the other species of the lake put together, and the re-
cital of the contents of different individuals one by one, while valu-
able as a matter of record, would be tedious reading. It will
suffice to say here that the food of younger individuals appears to
be mainly of an animal nature, consisting of various entomostraca,
such as Cypris, waterfleas, Cyclops, Bosmina and various insect
larvse. The adult fishes eat also various mollusks, such as Physa
and operculate mollusks, Sphserium and Pisidium. Among other
occasional elements of their food are water mites, beetles and
caddis cases with the larva?. During the spring of 1901, they,
along with the other sunfishes, seemed to feed almost exclusively on
the common isopod of the lake, Asellus. On August 12, 1906, the
stomachs of 21 specimens examined were all gorged with the tender
tips of weeds, either one of the narrow-leaved Potamogetons or
Heteranthera ; they seemed to be wholly vegetarians at the time.
Strangely enough, and much to the Bluegill's credit, we do not find
among our records ol the numerous stomachs examined, mention
of a single f?sh.

So far as our examinations go, the Bluegill is quite free from
animal parasites; its freedom from intestinal parasites is prob-
ably due in part to its abstinence from eating other fishes; carni-
vorous fishes in general appear to be more subject to such affec-
tions than others.

In spite of these advantages, however, the Bluegill is one of the
most delicate fishes of the lake and succumbs quickly to various
maladies. During the winter of 1900-1901, these fishes massed
in immense numbers in Culver Inlet and most of the winter through
could be seen packing that stream almost as close as they could
be crowded. The reason of their crowding into this particular

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 401

spot was in all probability because of the warmer temperature of
the water there. For some reason, partly perhaps because of sub-
aqueous springs, and possibly because of exhaust pipes from the
heating plant of the Military Academy, the water there was always
several degrees warmer than that of the lake, and did not freeze
at all.

It is barely possible that the bluegills which crowded into this
inlet were unhealthy individuals, and had chosen the warmer
waters out of a general sensation of discomfort or exceptional sen-
sitiveness to cold ; it was noted that all about the edge of the lake
where springs ran in and raised the temperature of the water,
that fishes which usually appeared more or less sick crowded
about ; at any rate, Saprolegnia soon broke out among the crowded
fishes and in a short time wrought great havoc, and before long,
fishes could be found dead and in all stages of disease. The fungus
attacked especially the tail and eyes.

Even healthy bluegills exhibit in a marked degree the paralyz-
ing influence of cold water. While cold water appears to benumb
all fishes more or less, the greater number are able to swim away
with reasonable speed when frightened. On December 21, 1904,
some bluegills, as fine and large as are usually seen at the lake, were
observed through the thin ice in Lake Maxinkuckee. Some simply
stuck their heads down into the Chara and tried to hide; others
tried to dart away, but appeared very numb, and moved with diffi-
culty. If chased they soon tired, often showing their sides upward,
and one soon lay down on its side and refused to move, although
attempts of all sorts to frighten it were made on the ice above.

During the early spring the young bluegills of the year before,
flock in rather large schools along shore. From April 26 to May
18 they wiere seen almost every day. The young frequently hide
among Chara and weeds near shore in shallow water during the
winter, and are among the most common fishes raked up with
weeds through the ice.

The Bluegill affords perhaps more sport and food to resident
anglers about the lake than any other species. It bites all the year
round, and is sometimes even taken on the set-line. One of the
best times to fish for it is during the early spring, when large
catches can be made fishing from piers with the ordinary bamboo
pole and cork bob. The crowd of anglers who lined the shore by
the Ice-houses from about the middle to the end of April, 1901, got
goodly numbers of these fishes. On April 16, one fisherman caught
54; on April 18, another got 23. In general, catches of from 25
to 40 in a day or less seemed rather common about this time.

402 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Later in the season they were generally caught from boats and fre-
quently bit freely. About the end of August, 1903, one fisherman
made a catch of 85, on worms. The next two days 2 men caught
56, and a few days after, they caught 42 in one day. Quite good
catches were made late in September, 1906.

In addition to the Saprolegnia, there is a periodical occurrence
every spring of some sort of malady which causes great morta'lity
among this species. In the spring of 1901, this contagion broke
out about May 19 and 20, when 16 of these fishes were found dead
along shore between Knapp's and Farrar's. On May 24, 26 ex-
amples, all of good size, were found dead on the shore of Outlet Bay.
On May 31, 40 large ones were found dead in a little strip on the
southwest shore of the lake. On June 4, 34 of good size were
found between the Fish Commission pier and Long Point, and on
June 5, 73 dead ones were found on the north side of the lake be-
tween the old Vandalia pumping station and Lakeview Hotel. No
certain cause could be discovered that would explain the deaths.
The smaller fishes seemed exempt. There was a general impres-
sion among the dwellers about the lake that it was due to gorging
on the great number of May-flies which appeared about that time.

The bluegills begin nesting early in June. Several nesting
fishes were found in Lost Lake June 8, and they were quite dark in
color. Their dark coloration may have been due to an abundance
of pigment characteristic of the mating season, or to the dark
waters of the lake; fishes of Lost Lake usually being considerably
darker than those of the same species in Lake Maxinkuckee.

The nests were very close together, the rims nearly touching,
and were found in black bottom in shallow water (4 or 5 feet) in
rushes southwest of the Bardsley cottage. They were shallow,
bowl-shaped depressions about a foot in diameter. They usually
contained several small gasteropod shells and often a larger mussel
shell, in the bottom. They were quite conspicuous. On June 12,
four days after the nests were first observed, a visit was paid to the
nests. The boat was anchored over a particularly large fine nest.
The fish were very shy and on the first approach of the boat left
in numbers. After some time they returned. The nest over which
the boat was anchored contained a very large dark mass full of
moving lively bright points the eggs well advanced toward hatch-
ing. The parent Bluegill, a large fine one, came and stayed on
the nest, moving its tail and fins. It would make dashes at and
chase away the other bluegills which seemed to have nothing to do
but visit ; they seemed inquisitive. No such dark mass was found

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 403

in any other nest, and it was thought that they were empty or
deserted. A closer investigation revealed a sort of granular bot-
tom, consisting of the eggs covered over by some silt raised by
the current caused by the parent's fanning. On account of their
being covered with silt the eggs were very inconspicuous. There
was a constant restless watchfulness on the part of the parent fish.
The bluegills did not look much worn by the labor of nest building,
though some of the caudal fins were frayed. Eupomotus gibbosus
nested with the bluegills, and elsewhere by itself nearer shore.

On June 15, several bluegills about 10 inches in length greatly
distended with roe, washed up dead in front of the Fish Commis-
sion cottage. The eggs had a higher specific gravity than water,
were very numerous, clear in color, and 21 to the inch.

The Bluegill apparently bites while guarding the eggs and
young, and can be caught off the nest. This matter however re-
quires further investigation.

Head about 3J, without flap; depth 2 to 2]; eye 4 in head with-
out flap; snout 4; maxillary 3; D. X, 11 or 12; A. Ill, 10 to 12;
scales 7-46-14, about 44 pores, 5 rows on cheek.

Body short, deep and compressed, the young slender, the adult
more nearly orbicular; caudal peduncle rather slender, its "least
depth 2 in head ; head not large, the projecting snout usually form-
ing an angle above the eye; mouth quite small, oblique, the jaws
about equal, maxillary not reaching eye ; gillrakers moderately long,
nearly round, bent slightly downward; dorsal spines strong and
high, the longest about half head, usually longer than snout and
eye; ventral fins reaching origin of anal; pectorals pointed, longer
than head, reaching origin of anal; opercular flaps very short in
the young, rather long and broad in the adult.

Color, rich greenish-olive on back, becoming paler on sides;
belly sometimes coppery or brassy; top of head dark greenish;
opercle and cheek bluish ; opercular flap rich velvety black, without
pale border, a small whitish spot near its base above; side some-
times with 3 or 4 more or less distinct broad darker greenish
crossbars; fins all greenish, the pectoral palest, reddish at base;
a large dark blotch near base of last rays of dorsal, and usually
a similar blotch on anal; anal membranes darkish, a slight rosy
wash along base of fin.

404 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey
49. RED-EARED SUNFISH

EUPOMOTIS HEROS (Baird & Girard)

(Plate 25)

The Red-eared Sunfish is found from northern Indiana to Flor-
ida and the Rio Grande. It is an inhabitant of lowland streams
and ponds. Although usually regarded as rare, it is not especially
uncommon at Lake Maxinkuckee. Among the fishermen in gen-
eral it is probably confused with the other sunfishes, although one
of the fishermen of the lake pointed one out as "Green Sunfish" a
name generally applied to Apomotis cyanellus where that species
is well known. During the seining operations about the lake, in
the 612 hauls, 75 specimens were taken, the maximum number
in 1 haul being 8. Specimens were taken in 29 of the hauls. The
shortest specimen obtained was 2.25 inches long, from which they
varied in length to about 10 inches.

The habits of this species do not differ greatly from those of
other members of the genus. Its food consists of worms, larvae,
small crustaceans, small mollusks and the like. Its parasitic ene-
mies do not appear to be many. Only one example was examined
with parasites; these were found in the region of the vent and
resembled Gordius.

The spawning season of this sunfish is in May and June.

Little distinctive can be said as to its game qualities ; they are
essentially the same as those of the common pumpkinseed. It takes
the hook readily if baited with angleworm, grub or cut bait.
It takes hold cautiously but dashes away promptly and fights well
for so small a fish. It is a delicious pan-fish.

Our specimens disagree in some respects from current descrip-
tions of E. her OB; the maxillary does not reach fully to the eye,
the longest dorsal spine does not reach to the posterior border of
the pupil, and the pectoral does not reach beyond the middle of the
anal.

The following is a description of one of our specimens :

Head 3 in length ; depth 2.3 ; eye 4.5 in head ; snout 3.25 ; max-
illary 3.3 ; mandible 2.6 ; preorbital 6.2 ; interorbital 3.25 ; dorsal X,
11, the spines very stout, the longest, (6th) 2.5 in head, longest
ray 1.8 in head; base of dorsal 2.25 in "length, its base extending
over 25 rows of scales; anal III, 11, the spines, especially the third,
very stout and much longer than the others, 2.5 in head ; longest
anal ray 2 in head ; pectoral long, rather narrow and sharp, reach-
ing somewhat beyond origin of anal, and contained 1.1 times in
head; ventral rather acutely rounded, its stout spine 2.8 in head,

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 405

the length of the entire fin 1.6 in head, its tip reaching halfway
between vent and origin of anal; caudal lobes 1.5 in head; scales
6-41-11, with 38 pores in the lateral line; scales on the cheek
large, in 4 rows ; membrane of dorsal and anal scaled at base.

Color in alcohol, brownish, of a nearly uniform tint all over the
body, except the black opercular spot, the diameter of which is con-
tained 1.2 times in the diameter of the eye; color in Jife pale olive-
greenish, mottled with darker; cheek bluish but without lines; flap
blue-black, with a red posterior border, silvery anteriorly above and
below; some lemon wash.

50.' COMMON SUNFISH

EUPOMOTIS GIBBOSUS (Linmeus)

This handsome little fish, also frequently known as the Pump-
kin-seed and Butter-belly, is one of our best known fishes and is
found in clear brooks and ponds from Maine westward to the
Great Lakes and southward east of the Alleghenies to Florida. In
the Mississippi Valley it is found only in the northern portion,
being fairly abundant in Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and north-
ward, but it is said to be rare south of Virginia. At Lake Maxin-
kuckee it is fairly common ; out of the 612 hauls made during the
seining operations in and about the lake, one or more examples
were taken in each of 144 hauls ; 860 specimens in all were secured ;
the greatest number taken in one haul being 100.

It is found in both lakes, also in the short stream connecting
them. Favorite places which they frequent are the chutes and
piers at the Ice-houses, Outlet Bay and the Outlet about the bridges,
and under the piers at the numerous cottages. In such places as
these they may be seen, sometimes in considerable numbers, resting
quietly near some piling or other protection. Exceptionally fine
examples are sometimes caught at the Weedpatch, the Flatiron
and the Sugarloaf.

The Pumpkin-seed is one of the first, if not the very first, fish
that the average country boy in the Eastern States and the Upper
Mississippi Valley learns by name, and the ceremony of initiation
into the art of angling usually consists in landing a Pumpkin-seed
from a brook. It is one of those fishes which does not require a
complete angler's outfit and an exhaustive study of bait. A pin-
hook, a piece of string, any sort of pole, and a fishworm, are all
that is necessary.

Although fairly abundant at Maxinkuckee and possessing some
attractive qualities as a game-fish, the Pumpkin-seed is apparently

406 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

not caught in any considerable numbers by those who go a-angling.
A few are taken about the piers by children and other amateur
anglers, and one now and then by anglers who are fishing for larger
game. The greatest number and the finest examples are doubtless
caught by the long cane pole fisherman. The favorite places are
about the various bars where the bluegills congregate.

They usually bite quite well during April and May. From
April 16 to May 3, 1901, several people were fishing almost daily
at the Ice-house piers, and many good Pumpkin-seeds were taken.
One fisherman caught 26 on April 16, and 16 on the next day. On
April 24, a small boy fishing from a boat took 10.

Pumpkin-seed Sunfish (Eupomotis gibbosus)

Although the Pumpkin-seed reaches maturity at a small size in
Lake Maxinkuckee, good-sized examples are often taken. Per-
haps 6 to 8 inches is the usual size, but larger examples are some-
times taken. A fine male 7.5 inches long weighed 5.75 ounces.

Those caught in Lost Lake were very dark, almost black in
color, due doubtless to the dark color of the water and the bottom
of that lake. All the fishes of whatever species from that lake
seem in general to have a darker color .than those of the same spe-
cies from Lake Maxinkuckee.

The Pumpkin-seed is preeminently a boy's fish. It takes the
hook readily, and promptly begins a fight which bears much re-
semblance to the way a small dog handles a rat ; its movements are
rapid, erratic, and uneven, at times quite vigorous, then again life-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 407

less as if the fight were given up. Any sort of small bait will
answer but there is nothing else so good as the common angle-
worm.

As a pan-fish the Pumpkin-seed has no superior, and the mature
roe nicely browned is a tidbit that is not easily excelled.

The food of the Pumpkin-seed is nearly the same as that of the
other sunfishes. During the spring of 1901, the principal food
was Asellus the common isopod crustacean of the- lake. They
fed pretty largely also on small thin-shelled snails. Some con-
tained minnows and darters. The stomach of one 7.5 inches long
and weighing 5.75 oz. caught at the Weedpatch September 12,
1907, contained two leeches, fragments of Physa, a thin operculum
of some snail and one Pisidium. An example 2.5 inches long
caught August 3, 1906, contained what seemed to be fragments of
a freshwater sponge, the sponge spicules being abundant ; another
2.75 inches long contained insect larvae, 2 ostracods (Cypris) and
1 water mite; another 3 inches long contained the opercle of a
snail and a very small crawfish. Among other food elements (in
early spring of 1901) were dragon-fly larva?, minnows and one
darter.

This species begins nesting early in June and continues nesting
throughout the summer. Several nests were found in Lost Lake
June 12. They were first found near the shore south of the
Bardsley cottage and later others were found among those of the
bluegills at the north end of the lake. Those near the shore were
shallow, bowl-shaped affairs, worn out of the fibrous turfy bottom
and containing no shells, pebbles or anything foreign or trans-
ported. They contained great numbers of small clear eggs which
appeared to stick fast to the fibres projecting from the bottom of
the nest. The fish behaves much as the bluegill, fanning the water
over the eggs with its fins, and chasing away intruders. They are
braver than the bluegill, do not nest so closely together, and do not
flee at the approach of a boat.

Somewhat later, nests were found in the Outlet, just west of the
railroad bridge and in Lake Maxinkuckee. On June 23, two small
nests with the parent fish on were noted in the Outlet, and nests
were still noted in July in the big lake. In these latter locations
the nest consisted of a bowl-shaped depression scooped out of
the sand.

On account of its bravery while on the nest, the breeding habits
of this fish can be studied to good advantage. On July 7, 1901,
the actions of the parent fish at a nest at the head of the Outlet

408 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

were observed for some time. The young were quite minute,
transparent objects, the eyes being the most conspicuous part of
them. They hugged the bottom quite closely, but were pretty
active. Now and then one of them appeared to take a notion to
leave the nest, and would swim up toward the surface. Quick as
a flash the parent fish would snap it up, and it appeared at first
glance as if it were devouring its young, but it was soon discovered
that each time it had taken in a young fish it immediately went
down to the bottom of the nest, head downward, and spat the
young out into the nest near the ground.

In 1906, numerous nests were seen in shallow water near Chad-
wick's pier, with the parent fishes guarding, and two individuals
were seen mating.

The nesting fishes appeared to be remarkably small ; specimens
only 2.5 inches in length were fully mature.

Young of this species were frequently caught while seining for
minnows along shore. On June 19, 1901, examples 1.5 inches
long were caught, probably young of the previous year.

Head 3 to 3.25 in length; depth 1.75 to 2; eye 4 to 4.5 in head;
snout 4.5; D. X, 10 to 12 ; A. Ill, 10 or 11 ; scales 6-40 to 47, pores
35 to 45, 4 rows on cheek; body short and deep, compressed, the
profile steep, convex, usually an angle above the eye; head rather
small ; mouth small, oblique, the maxillary scarcely reaching verti-
cal with front of eye; dorsal spines rather high, the longest 2 to
2.5 in head, as long as eye and snout, the soft rays higher; pec-
toral long, as long as head ; scales large ; gillrakers short and soft,
smaller than in any other sunfish except Lepomis megalotis, X -|- 8
to 10 ; pharyngeal teeth all bluntly rounded, paved, the bones very
broad, somewhat concave. One of the most brilliant of our fresh-
water fishes, the colors somewhat variable. The following are
color notes taken from a specimen 7.5 inches long (male) and
weighing 5.75 ounces, caught at the Weedpatch September 12,
1907:

Back and upper part of sides with 8 vertical bars of dark blue
green alternating with the same number of lighter golden bars;
bars of each set, especially the latter, with scattered old-gold spots ;
cheek brassy or golden, with about 6 irregular pale blue oblique
bars; opercle jet-black, edged with blood-red; belly rich orange or
brassy; caudal and dorsal dusky with some iridescent green; anal
pale wine; ventrals pale orange; pectoral pale; colors exceedingly
brilliant.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 409

51. SMALL-MOUTHED BLACK BASS

MICROPTERUS DOLOMIEU Lacepede

(Plates 27 and 28)

The Black Bass is found in most suitable waters from Lake
Champlain westward to Manitoba and southward on both sides
of the mountains from James River, Virginia, to South Carolina,
and from the Great Lakes to northern Mississippi and Arkansas.
It has been planted in many places where it was not native, both
in this country, and in England, France and Germany, and has
usually thriven wherever planted. It is a fish of clear running
streams and of the clearer, colder lakes. In the southern part of
its range it is confined to cool flowing streams, but in the north
it is equally abundant in streams and in the larger, cooler lakes. It
is absent, however, from many of the smaller, shallower lakes,
such as Bass, Fletcher, Cicott, Manitou, and others in northern
Indiana.

In Lake Maxinkuckee it is a very abundant fish. In the sein-
ing operations of 1899-1900, 1,127 specimens were taken, the maxi-
mum number secured in one haul being 62. In the summer of
1906, the young of this and the straw bass were phenomenally
abundant ; and people seining for minnows along shore were usually
troubled by getting large numbers of young black bass and noth-
ing else. While seining for minnows near Murray's over a hun-
dred examples of this species were taken in two hauls.

Some idea of the rate of growth can be obtained from the fol-
lowing data: Numerous young of this species measured July 18
and 19, ranged in total length from 1.3 to 2.8 inches, the usual size
being 2 to 2.25 inches. Others examined August 1, measured 1.7
to 2.7 inches, the usual size being about 2.3 inches. All these were
probably hatched toward the first of June, as we have a number
of fry, just hatched, taken from a nest June 1, 1901. They are
each about one-third of an inch in length.

This is the fish most sought after by anglers who visit the lake.
It can be caught almost the whole year round, and minnows are
the best year-round bait. The best fishing, however, is early in
August, and again in October and November. During the sum-
mer they are usually caught in rather shallow water. The best
way to fish for them in August and early September is to use grass-
hoppers for bait, casting or trolling with a light oil line. In Oc-
tober and November, the best method is to troll with a live minnow,
fishing deep by means of a heavy sinker. It is about the only

a g
^ a

o _a;

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 411

kind of black bass caught in July and August, the large-mouth
not coming until September. Besides grasshoppers and minnows
the spoon, spinner and fly are occasionally used. Rarely the craw-
fish makes a good bait. Generally one does not anchor, but trolls
slowly with 75 to 100 feet of line out. Sometimes however, good
catches are made while still-fishing. Sometimes they are caught
through the ice; in the spring of 1901, just as the ice was going
off there were 2 or 3 days when this was the principal fish caught ;
generally, however, it was the straw bass that was taken in winter.
The usual weight of this fish as got in the lake is from 2 to
2.5 pounds; 3-pounders are occasional, and the maximum size
seems to be about 5 pounds. There is a record of an angler hav-
ing caught one which weighed 7 pounds (April 7, 1900) , but the
fish may have been wrongly identified. A large number were
measured, and a good number were measured and weighed. The
following table gives the lengths and weights of 21 specimens of
this species:

Length

Circumference

Weight

9.25 ounces

8.75 ounces

10.5 ounces

1 pound 1 ounce

13 ounces

1 pound 3.5 ounces

13 25 inches

1 pound 6.25 ounces

1 pound 6.75 ounces

1 pound 7.25 ounces

2 pounds

1 pound 15 ounces

15 5 inches

1 pound 15 ounces

1 pound 12.5 ounces

15.25 inches

1 pound 11.75 ounces

17 inches

2 pounds 8 ounces

17.5 inches

3 po :n 'a

18.75 inches
18.5 inches

12 inches

4 pounds
3 pounds 2 ounces

19 inches
20 inches

12 inches

4 pounds 8 ounces
3 pounds (very lean*

The Black Bass exhibits some variations in color, though not so
marked or striking as the straw bass. Some examples are irregu-
larly spotted. A marked variation is brownish rather than green-
ish, with reddish eyes. Some of the fishermen speak of these as
the "red-eyed bass".

By far the greater number of stomachs examined contained
crawfishes, and the indications are that these form the chief food

Plate 28

SMALL-MOUTH BLACK BASS (Micropterus dolomieu)

SMALL-MOUTH BLACK BASS (Microyterua dolomieu)

The same individual fish as above, showing the interesting changes in color markings occurring within a brief
time. Photographed at Lake Maxinkuckee by A. Radcliffe Dugmore for use in Jordan and. Evermann's "American
Food and Game Fishes," published by Doubleday, Page and Company.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 413

of this species. Crawfishes, however, do not make very good bait
as a usual thing. A few examples contained Vivipara contectoides.

The Black Bass begins spawning about the middle of May.
The nest consists of a bowl-shaped depression in sandy or gravelly
bottom. Most of those seen were in about 6 feet of water. The
fish appear to bite rather well while preparing the nests and per-
haps also while watching the nests. A fisherman was seen May 16
who reported that he had gotten 6 on the east side where they were
preparing their nests. A few were caught during the nesting
season and many were reported taken off the nests, but the reports
could not be verified.

Besides being more gamy, the flesh of this fish is regarded as
quite superior to that of the straw bass.

Head 2.5 to 3.5 ; depth 2.75 to 3 ; eye 5 to 6.5 ; D. X, 13 to 15 ;
A. Ill, 10 to 12; scales 11-72 to 85-25, 67 to 78 pores, about 17
rows on cheek. Body ovate-fusiform, becoming deeper with age;
mouth large, but smaller than in the large-mouthed black bass;
maxillary ending considerably in front of posterior border of orbit,
except in very old examples ; scales on cheek minute, those on body
small ; dorsal fin deeply notched, but less so than in the other spec-
ies, the ninth spine being about half as long as the fifth, and not
much shorter than the tenth ; soft dorsal and anal each scaly at the
base. General coloration, dull golden green, with bronze luster
often blotched with darker, especially on head; young with darker
spots along the sides, which tend to form short vertical bars, but
never a dark lateral band; 3 bronze bands radiating from eye
across cheek and opercle; a dusky spot on point of opercle; belly
white; caudal fin yellowish at base, then black, with white tips;
dorsal with bronze spots, its edge dusky. In some waters the
fin-markings are obsolete, but they are usually conspicuous in the
young.

"The little-mouth has little scales,

There's red in his handsome eye,
The scales extend on his vertical fins,
And his forehead is round and high.

"His forehead is round and high, my boys,

And he sleeps the winter through;
He likes the rocks in the summer time
Micropterus dolomieu."

414 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

52. STRAW BASS

MICROPTERUS SALMOIDES (Lacepede)

(Plates 1 and 29)

The Large-mouthed Black Bass is everywhere abundant in suit-
able waters from Canada and the Red River of the North, south-
ward to Florida, Texas, and even into Mexico. It prefers lakes,
bayous and other sluggish waters, and in the small lakes of the
Upper Mississippi Valley it is most abundant in those of moderate
or shallow depths. It is one of the best known game fishes and re-
joices in a great number of vernacular names, among which may
be mentioned bayou bass, slough bass, lake bass, cow bass, large-
mouth black bass and Oswego bass. In the south it is absurdly
called trout, green trout, chub and welchman.

At Lake Maxinkuckee it is very abundant and is the game-
fish most frequently caught by anglers. It is caught the whole
year round, and is the principal species taken in ice-fishing. Dur-
ing the seining operations in 1899-1900, 1506 specimens were
taken, the greatest number secured at one haul being 100. In
1906, the young of this bass were exceedingly abundant, so much
so that they crowded along the shores, and made up the larger por-
tion of catches obtained by fishermen seining for minnows. On
August 10 of that year people seining along the south shore of
Outlet Bay with a common minnow seine got 150 young straw
bass at one haul.

The Straw Bass is well distributed throughout the lake. Dur-
ing the summer the large ones are often seen near shore where
they spend their time over the shallow weedy bars. They are
also found on various bars out in the lake, the Weedpatch, the
Flatiron and Sugarloaf, being favorite fishing grounds. With the
approach of cold weather, after the water has cooled down con-
siderably, they may often be seen in shallow water not far from
shore. They come up to shore in considerable numbers at night
when the weather begins to get cold. There appears to be a slight
tendency in this fish to migrate down to Lost Lake during the win-
ter, and to return to the larger lake in the spring, as occasionally
schools of large fish may be seen usually late at night or early in
the morning drifting down stream in September and October and
coming up stream in the spring ; and there are almost always dur-
ing fall and spring good schools of young bass in the Outlet. This
migration is relatively unimportant however, when it comes to
considering the main mass of fish in the lakc v The schools of fish
in the Outlet are never so large nor continuous as to form what

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 415

might be called a run ; the movement down the stream in autumn
is an easy drifting, and the ascent in the spring has nothing in it
of a purposeful run or migration. Ice-fishing during the winter
is quite as good or better in Lake Maxinkuckee than in Lost Lake.
Frequently in Lake Maxinkuckee great schools of large bass may
be seen through the clear ice, that would cause the angler who has
fished through relatively fruitless days in the summer-time to
marvel at their size and abundance. These fish under the ice are
pretty lively and swim before one at a good rate of speed, in this
respect differing from many of the sunfishes.

Although the young Straw Bass are common along the shore
of the lake during the summer time, they are also distributed all
over the lake in the upper waters. On September 9, 1906, and on
a few other occasions, thousands of them were seen far out on the
lake sporting on the surface, swimming about in circles much like
whirligig beetles, and with the dorsal fin sticking up out of the
water. It was supposed that they were feeding on plankton at the
surface. A towing was made near where they were feeding and
the lake was found to consist mainly of Daphnias.

The food of the Straw Bass is quite varied, and so far as exam-
ined, appears to exhibit a much wider range than that of the black
bass, changing with the size of the fish and with the season. Of
5 small ones examined July 23, 1906, one 2-J inches long contained
one copepod ; one 3 inches long was empty ; one 2- inches contained
beach fleas; one 2 inches contained Cypris, great numbers of
Daphnia and one Chironomus larva; and another 2 inches long
contained entomostraca and a species of alga not identified; one
1^ inches long taken November 16, 1904, contained insect larvae.
The young bass of somewhat larger size (about 3 inches long) are
quite voracious, and frequently eat other fishes. On August 20,
a small one caught at Long Point had a small skipjack not much
shorter than itself halfway down. This, however, may have been
an accident, as in seining where fishes are crowded they may snap
at each other while gasping. On August 23, a young one was seen
to dash from shore with a silvery fish, apparently a young blue-
gill, in its mouth. The fortunate bass was followed by a crowd
of smaller ones, much as a flock of chickens chase one that has a
choice morsel. On the next day precisely the same phenomenon
was observed again. The food of the larger Straw Bass is quite
as varied as that of the young". Of 3 examples, weighing about
1} pounds each, examined April 28, 1901, one contained 4 craw-
fishes, one had 2 darters and 4 crawfishes, and the third contained
2 crawfishes. Numerous others contained crawfishes, which seem

2717618

416 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

to be the most important element of their food. One example con-
tained several darters ; another 19^ inches long contained the spines
of another fish; several contained Vivipara contectoides ; one 5
inches long contained a backswimmer; and another, a medium-
sized minnow. On August 7, 1906, a fisherman reported finding
a young musk turtle in the stomach of a straw bass; another ex-
ample contained a minnow, a johnny darter and several Sphserium
shells; another contained a grasshopper probably bait; and a
large bass 19 inches long was found dead on shore with a good-
sized bluegill lodged crossways in its mouth a victim of its own
greed. Although the bass bite eagerly in the winter, they appear
to eat very little then; all the stomachs examined caught by ice-
fishing being empty except for parasites.

The Straw Bass is the most abundant game-fish in the lake,
and one of those most frequently caught. They are considered a
good deal more loggy than the black bass and the flesh is coarser
and not so finely flavored. The best season for catching the Straw
Bass is in May and June, by trolling along the edge of bars; one
observant fisherman claims that only males are obtained at that
time. In fishing for the Straw Bass, almost all sorts of methods
are used except fly-fishing, which is not much in vogue at Lake
Maxinkuckee. In early summer the fish are caught on bars among
the weeds in from 3 to 8 feet of water; later in the year they are
often caught in deeper water; some were caught in 30 to 40 feet
on October 17. Minnows are the best all-year-round bait gray-
back and blue-nosed chub, etc., for warmer weather, and shiners
for cold weather. During late summer and early fall the grass-
hopper is favorite bait. Bass are also caught on the spoon, spin-
ner, artificial frog, meat-rind, pork-chunk, etc. A few anglers are
not ashamed to use the Dowagiac minnow, but the better sportsmen
regard it as a barbarous device, fit only to be used by a clumsy
fish-butcher.

This fish is the species most frequently caught by ice-fishers.

Just what might be considered a good catch at the lake depends
upon the circumstances, the fisherman, the methods of fishing, etc.
With the old methods of ice-fishing where there was no limit to the
number of hooks, more could be obtained than in summer fishing.
This varied greatly with the individual, as some men who fished a
great deal through the ice got very few fish, and for a just com-
parison it would be necessary to have the records of the same per-
son fishing both winter and summer, and having ample opportunity
to fish the whole season through. One of the best ice-fishers got
21 Large-mouth Bass in one day (January 15, 1901) ; another,

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 417

hardly so good an angler, fishing after the ice had gone, got 13 one
forenoon.

The true sportsman who comes to the lake, however, is little
concerned with the number of fish he catches. He would wish for
some probability not quite a dead sure certainty that he would
get a strike from some big gamy bass. He would wish that bass
so full of maneuvers and tactics as to test his skill to the utmost,
and make the issue of the battle uncertain. He would like per-
haps another boat in the distance, but not too near, to help tell the
story of the fight, and to tell it as a disinterested spectator. And
if a really big bass is landed, it is perhaps with a twinge of regret
that he finds it necessary to take the fish along as a proof of his
veracity instead of turning it loose with the hope that he or some
one else may meet it again in battle.

During the autumn the young bass can be caught in the Outlet
by the crude method of the old long cane pole and worm bait. On
October 22, a boy was seen fishing from the railroad bridge with
worms. He had caught 2 Straw Bass each about 5 inches long.

The Straw Bass begins spawning about the middle of May.
On May 30, 1901, about a dozen nests were found. They consisted
of circular depressions filled in with pebbles from about the size
of a hen's egg down; some of them being finer, others of coarser,
gravel, and they were from one foot to about 2| feet across in a
depth of about 6 feet of water. The nests were found off Kreutz-
berger's, in front of the Palmer house and east of Lakeview hotel,
also off the stone breakwater near the northeast shore of the lake.
At the time the nests were found they were filled with little black
young which looked much like carpet tacks scattered over the bot-
tom. It is claimed by some of the fishermen about the lake that
the bass will bite from the nest, and that during the nesting season
it is easy for one who knows where the nests are to go from one
to another and catch a number of fish.

The Straw Bass caught in the lake average from 3 to 3i pounds
or less. The largest specimen, so far as verified records go,
weighed 8 pounds. One fisherman in June, 1895, caught an 8-
pounder which weighed 5J pounds when dressed. Another fish-
erman, fishing from a pier, caught one weighing 8 pounds and just
24 inches long; one man claims to have got one of 8f pounds. A
great many fishes were weighed, and a number were both meas-
ured and weighed, occasional weights are 5, 5^ and 6^ pounds.
The following table gives the weights and measurements of a num-
ber of Straw Bass taken at the lake :

418 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Length

Circumference

Weight

Length

Circumference

Weight

8 oz

12 inches

4 Ib. 8 oz.

2 Ib 15 oz

2 Ib. 12X oz.

female; plump
12 oz

3 Ib. lYi oz.

2 Ib ]4,oz

1 Ib. 8 oz.

3 Ibs

4 Ibs

2 Ibs

14-

The following table taken from Report State Fish Commission-
ers of Penn., 1897, p. 159, may be of interest for weights and
measurements of smaller examples:

Inches

W'eight of each Fish in Ounces

51/

i
[

fti

, ?*

Si,

9 i 9 ,

2J4 2

ft,

2J$.

j 3,

?U 1

3, 3, 3

2, 2, 2}^.

1^,

^ 4

4, sy 2

4, 3^, 4, 3Ji.

i, 5

5J4 5

ft,

gy 2

, 7

8 <)

7 7

K
II

). 7
III

, 8, J
10 1

,8,8,
0, 9, 9

7,
11

7, 8, 8, 9, 8, 8, 8, 10, 9, 9, 8, 10, 9, 8, 8, 9.
, 11, 10, 11, 9.

11, 12

12, 11, 12, 11, 11, 12.

13, 12

The Straw Bass reaches a larger size farther south than here.

Mr. Willard Nye of New Bedford, has given us the following
note:

"On or about February 20, 1902, I caught a female Large-
mouthed Black Bass in the uppermost of a long chain of small
lakes in Pasco County, Florida. The fish weighed 11-J pounds,
measured 26^ inches in total length, 21^ in circumference, and
7^ across the mouth from side to side. The eggs were pretty
well developed, but not ripe ; the stomach contained one small fish
too far digested to be identified. The fish was caught trolling with
a phantom minnow of the blue-back variety, 3| inches long, which
is the best bait for all sorts of fish in the fresh waters of Florida ;
even very small bass and sunfish will take this lure."

The large bass referred to jumped once entirely free from the
water. Mr. Nye says that he has heard of other bass in Florida
weighing as much as 12 pounds, but this is the largest he ever saw.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 419

On another occasion he caught one not much shorter in length
than this, but weighing only 5 or 6 pounds.

As to rate of growth in the lake, this is found to vary a good
deal with individuals in the same waters. The young of the year
were about 1 inch long on July 5, 1899, and in September and
October, 1906, the smallest Straw Bass seen were about 2 or
3 inches long and were supposed to represent the young of the year.

The Straw Bass about the lake seem to be quite free from
parasitic copepods. leeches, etc. Internal parasites are not rare.
During the winter of 1900-1901, nearly all the stomachs examined
were empty of food but almost all contained a few distomids, one
lot examined averaging about 8 distomids apiece. The young are
sometimes afflicted with numerous parasites. Some examined
July 24, 1906, contained a few distomids; a small one examined
July 30, had one distomid; and of 3 small examples studied July
23, all contained parasites; one about 3 inches long, contained the
usual distomids, the second 2 inches long contained 1 Acanthoceph-
alus, and another 2^ inches long contained 4 different kinds of in-
ternal parasites.

Head 3 to 3 in length; depth 3 to 3] ; eye 5 to 6 in head; D.
X, 12 or 13 ; A. Ill, 10 or 11 ; scales 7-65 to 70-18, about. 58 to 67
pores, 10 or 11 rows of scales on cheek. Body ovate-fusiform,
becoming deeper with age, moderately compressed; head large;
mouth very wide, the maxillary in adult reaching beyond the eye,
shorter in the young; scales on body comparatively large; teeth
sometimes present on tongue; gillrakers longer than gill-fringes;
dorsal fin very deeply notched, its fifth spine 3{ in head. General
color, dark green above, sides and below greenish silvery; young
with a blackish stripe along the side from opercle to middle of
caudal fin ; 3 oblique dark spots above and below lateral line ; caudal
fin pale at base, then blackish, and whitish at tip ; belly white. As
the fish grows older the black lateral stripe breaks up and grows
paler and the color becomes more and more uniform pale dull
green, the back being darker.

53. WALL-EYED PIKE

STIZOSTEDION VITREUM (Mitchill)

(Plate 30)

The Wall-eyed Pike is a species of wide distribution. It is
found from Lake Champlain westward throughout the Great Lakes
region and to Assiniboia. It is native also to the small lakes of
New York and the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers, east of the

420 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

Alleghenies. In the Mississippi Valley it occurs in many of the
larger streams and small lakes as far south as Georgia and Ala-
bama. Though found in many streams, it is preferably a fish of
the lakes, and it reaches its greatest abundance in the Great Lakes,
particularly in Lake Erie. In different parts of its range it is
known by different names. Among the Great Lakes it is called
the Wall-eyed Pike, Yellow Pike, or Dore by the French-Canadians,
and Pickerel in the places where the true pike (Esox lucius) is
found. In the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers, and in the small
lakes of northern Indiana, it is known as Salmon or Jack Salmon,
names absurd and wholly without excuse. Southward in the Mis-
sissippi Valley it is the Jack. Elsewhere it is called Okow, Blow-
fish or Green Pike. In fish cultural books it is called Pike-Perch.

The Wall-eyed Pike is rarely seen in Lake Maxinkuckee, al-
though it is not uncommon there. During the warmer weather
they keep in deep water. When the weather first gets cold in the
fall they come in to shore in some numbers at night, doubtless to
feed on other fishes. Illegal fishermen who ply their work on dark
nights and chiefly during the autumn and spring, sometimes get
these fish. One man claims to have speared a two-bushel sack full
of these fish early in the spring near the Inlet, where they had
doubtless come to deposit their spawn. They do not appear to
stay near shore or in shallow water during the winter, for they
are not seen through the clear ice, and it is not known whether
they go in schools like the perch does or not. From the fact that
only one or a few are usually caught at a time, it would seem that
they are rather solitary.

The Wall-eyed Pike is never caught in large numbers; usually
only 1 or 2 are taken at a time. On October 27, 1900, one man
caught 4 large ones one forenoon, and on the next day he caught
3. This would be regarded as exceptionally good luck. On No-
vember 3, 1900, 2 fishermen fishing together got 5, and on May 26,
1901, two men fishing together caught 4 in the forenoon and 7 in
the afternoon; this would be regarded as quite remarkably good
success. A very good fisherman who visited the lake for a week
about October 16, 1905, got 10 of this fish in addition to a few
of other species. Another sportsman who visited the lake had
taken a particular fancy to this fish, and made it the special object
of his search. He caught about 21 in 3 weeks and regarded him-
self as having been quite successful.

The Wall-eye bites almost any time during the year, but the
best season is in June and during October and November. They
are occasionally taken through the ice.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 421

As to bait and manner of fishing, they take readily to both
grasshopper or minnow, and are sometimes taken trolling with the
spoon. They are usually caught slowly trolling with a live min-
now, the hook being sunk with heavy sinker to a depth of 25 to
50 feet. They are regarded as one of the most desirable game-
fishes of the lake. Perhaps one feels a greater pride in having
landed a good-sized "salmon" than with any other fish, not except-
ing even the small-mouth black bass.

In many respects the Wall-eye is one of the most desirable of the
fishes of the lake. The fact that very few are caught as compared
with the bass, makes it difficult to compare them with that fish-
as many who have fished for bass never caught these. They are
generally regarded by those who catch them as exceedingly gamy,
making a good fight and affording a great deal of sport. As a
food fish they are far superior to the bass, approaching their rela-
tive, the perch, in this regard, and greatly exceeding it in weight.
They are the largest game fishes in the lake. The average weight
is 3 to 5 pounds, and they are rareljdteeen under 1 pound in weight.
They have been reported up to 8^ pounds and there is an account
given by an old resident of the region of one obtained a good many
years ago which weighed 11 pounds.

The Wall-eye does not weigh as heavily for its length as the
bass ; one 19^ inches long weighed 3 pounds, another 20 inches long
weighed the same, and one 22 inches long weighed 3 pounds 12
ounces. We have the lengths of examples 8, 10, 12 up to 19
inches, measured but not weighed, and of examples from 2 to 6^
Ib. weighed but not measured.

Dr. G. Brown Goode in his "American Fishes" has the follow-
ing interesting remarks concerning the flavor of the pike-perch.

"Wherever the pike-perch is known it is very highly prized. In
the Great Lakes region, S. vitreum ranks next in value to the
white fish and lake trout."

He further says, "The flesh is hard, white, flaky and easy of
digestion, and has a distinctive flavor of its own, which renders
it especially available for boiling, though often stuffed and baked.
Its capabilities are equal to those of fresh-caught cod or turbot."

Concerning its gaminess and method of capture he says :

"A correspondent of the American Angler wrote sometime ago
to that journal that he had fished the streams and lakes of south-
ern Wisconsin for twelve years, and had found no fish which af-
forded him better sport than the pike-perch. It will take the fly
as readily as the brook trout or the black bass and while it will not
fight as long as the bass, it furnishes the fly-fisher with a fair

422 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

amusement, and as a table fish is infinitely its superior. With a
light rod, weighing from five to nine ounces, a four-foot leader, and a
bass-fly, this fish may be readily taken. The angler should whip
the white foaming water below a dam, on some frosty morning
using a dark fly or cast upon the same water toward evening with
a light fly. He will learn that there are new possibilities for him
in the way of sport with a rod."

One of the most interesting historical notes concerning the lake
relates to this fish. A resident of the place writes :

"As for the salmon (wall-eyed pike) they are a native to Lake
Maxinkuckee, also to Yellow River, Mr. - tells me he speared
them in both places 30 years or more ago. Other parties tell me
the same. I met a Mr. Cobin at Rochester in 1892, and he told
me that in 1838 or '39, he and Attorney Entline came by our lake
on a return trip from Illinois, and found a band of Indians camp-
ing on a hill west of the lake and that the bucks were killing fish
with clubs and bows and arrows ; that he never saw the like of fish,
and that the squaws were smoking and drying some for winter
use."

The Wall-eye is one of the principal fishes planted in the lake ;
they have been planted in large numbers on several occasions; on
May 14, 1902, 10,000,000 fry were planted in the lake.

A sudden chilling of the water seems to benumb these fishes
even more than the other fishes of the lake. In the winter of 1900
(December 10) when the first skirt of thin ice was formed about
the edge of the lake, a large Wall-eye was seen swimming along
under the ice on its side. It was easy to kick a hole through the
ice and take the fish out. It made very little resistance. On No-
vember 14, 1904, which was about the time the lake began to
freeze, while rowing to the Weedpatch a fine Wall-eye was seen
floating belly up. It was able only to flop feebly when lifted into
the boat.

The nature of the food of the Wall-eye can be best judged by its
sharp strong teeth. No other fish in the lake equals it in this
respect. Nearly all the stomachs examined, however, were empty
or nearly so; a few contained half digested minnows and some
contained crawfishes or their remains. One specimen contained 6
crawfishes. It is claimed that this fish while being brought
through warmer surface water during the process of capture gets
sick and disgorges its food.

Nothing was learned of their spawning habits at the lake. Its
habits are, however, well known in this respect, as it was one of
the first fishes experimented upon by American fish culturists.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 423

The following account of its spawn and spawning habits are
given in Goode's American Fishes (Revised edition) :

"The eggs are from 1 to 1 millimeters in diameter and light
golden yellow in color, and are adhesive like those of the sea-her-
ring, clinging to stones, roots, and the stalks of water plants where
they are deposited at a depth of from three to ten feet. They
begin to spawn when less than a pound in weight, and each female
deposits from two or three hundred thousand ova. This great
fertility is serviceable, for no freshwater species is more subject
to the fatalities incident to the spawning season. After storms
the shores of lakes are said to be often bordered by windrows of
the stranded ova of the pike-perch. Dr. Estes well describes the
destructive inroads of sturgeon, catfish and suckers upon the
spawning beds in Lake Pepin. He estimates that 'not one-fourth
of the eggs remain to be hatched.' He quotes Dr. Estes as say-
ing that 'Just as soon as the lake is well closed over with the ice,
they leave the deep water and resort to the sand-bars where they
remain until spring, it seems a fact that they select and take
possession of the spawning beds fully three months before they
are needed for use. I have carefully observed this habit for more
than twenty-five years, and each year's observation is confirmatory.
In the first place we do not take them on these bars in summer,
and again two-thirds of all that are taken from the beginning of
winter to spring are females, proving conclusively that they thus
early select these bars as spawning grounds. I have often visited
them as early as May (the spawning season in Lake Pepin is from
the first to the fifteenth of April or even earlier) but failed to find
the fish, while, from the closing of the lakes to March, they are
often found in great numbers/ "

Dr. Goode further says that "The pike-perches are never taken
in large numbers for use in commerce except during the spawning
season, or immediately before it, and like the perch, they are in the
finest condition when full-roed."

The Pike-perch is very free from parasitic copepods or fish-
lice, although a few examples contained Ergasilus on the gills. One
or two examples seen had leeches attached to the fins. They seem
to be nearly or wholly free from distomids and Acanthocephali.
They are, however, subject to infection with tapeworms to a re-
markable degree, and nearly all of the individuals examined had
the stomach and intestines swarming with multitudes of these
parasites.

Head 3.6 in length; depth about 4.5; eye shorter than snout,
4.5 in head; D. XII to XVI-19 to 21 ; A. II, 12 to 14; scales 10-110

424 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

to 132-25, 83 to 95 pores ; body slender, becoming compressed with
age ; the back somewhat arched ; cheeks and upper surface of head
nearly naked; dorsal spines high, more than half length of head;
dorsal fins well separated, the interspace between them greater
than diameter of eye; the last dorsal spine scarcely erectile; soft
dorsal nearly as long as spinous dorsal; anal longer than high;
pyloric creca 3, rather long. Color dark olive, finely mottled with
brassy, the latter color forming indistinct oblique lines; sides of
head more or less vermiculated ; lower jaw flesh-colored; belly and
lower fins pinkish; spinous dorsal with a large jet-black blotch on
the membrane of the last 2 or 3 spines, otherwise nearly plain ; sec-
ond dorsal and caudal mottled olive and yellowish ; base of pectoral
dusky, without distinct black blotch.

54. YELLOW PERCH

PERCA FLAVESCENS (Mitchill)

(Plates 31 and 32)

The Yellow Perch is found throughout the eastern United
States, chiefly northward and eastward. It is abundant in the
Great Lakes and in the larger coastwise streams and lakes from
Nova Scotia to North Carolina; also in most of the small lakes in
the upper Mississippi Valley, especially in northern Indiana, Illi-
nois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. It is also found
in some of the streams of this region, but is by preference a lake
fish. It is not known from the Ohio River nor from the lower
Missouri. In most of the New England lakes and those of New
York it is an abundant and well-known fish.

At Lake Maxinkuckee the Yellow Perch is the most abundant
and best known fish. It is simply called "perch" here, as there
is no other perch present from which it is necessary to distinguish
it. The Perch seem to be less abundant and of smaller size than
formerly. During the seining operations of 1899-1900, the total
number caught was 4544, one or more examples were caught in
each of 282 of the 612 hauls, and the greatest number taken in
one haul was 141.

Perch are found in abundance in all parts of the lake, though
they live by preference in the shallower water and about the weedy
bars. One of the pondweeds (Potamogeton americanus) of the lake
is known as "perch weed" from the fact that Perch are frequently
to be found in especial abundance where it grows.

In rowing about the lake this is the fish most often seen in the
shallow water, and it is frequently seen in large schools under the

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 425

clear ice. The Perch are quite lively under the ice and dart away
at a good rate of speed.

There is no other fish of Lake Maxinkuckee so well known or
held in such universal favor and esteem as the Yellow Perch. It
is known to, and appreciated by, every one who comes to the lake,
from the expert and professional angler to the casual visitor who
only sees the fishes in the clear shallow water as he saunters along
the shore. The angler does not disdain it because it will take the
fly and possesses some qualities of gameness; the amateur likes
it because it enables him to make good when better fish refuse to
bite; the novice is pleased with it because he can usually catch
more of it than he believed it possible for him to catch of any
species; the women and children are delighted with it because all
fish are good that come their way and they can catch them from
the ends of the piers ; it appeals to the farmer-fisherman with the
long cane pole because it shares with the bluegill the honor of
making up the bulk of the bushel of fish in the gunny-sack which
he usually takes home at the end of the day's fishing. It appeals
to everybody because it will bite when all else fails; because it is
gamy enough to suit anyone except the most exacting, and be-
cause there is none more delicious.

The Perch can be caught almost every day in the year and by
all manner of bait and methods of fishing. They can be caught
trolling, still-fishing or casting, and can be taken in great numbers
through the ice. In the matter of bait, th'ey will take fishworms,
mussels, minnows, the spoon, the fly, grasshoppers, cut bait, or
probably anything else offered. The Perch is a fearless fish and
by letting down a baited hook over the edge of the boat in clear
water, one can look down and see these fish come up and take the
bait. They usually take a small minnow with a dash and gulp and
in such cases are caught deep. If cut bait is used, especially if
it is large, they come somewhat with a dash and then nibble about
the edges of the bait, frequently catching hold of it and shaking
it as a terrier does a rat. In angling with the cork float, the
characteristic "perch nibble" consisting of a rapid bobbing of the
cork, separated by short intervals of rest and terminated by a long
pull when the fish is hooked, is easy to learn and recognize. The
Perch are usually in schools ; often several perch, especially if they
are small, can be seen wrestling with the same bait at the same
time.

The Yellow Perch is known in various localities by different
names, such as Yellow Perch, Red Perch, Ringed Perch or Ring
Perch, and Raccoon Perch. Wherever it is found it is the perch

g-i

bd T3

o 5
"

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 427

par excellence. It is one of the most abundant and best known
of freshwater fishes. Its usual length is 10 to 14 inches and its
weight | to 2 pounds. Examples of 3 and 4 pounds, however, have
been recorded. The largest examples of which we have a definite
record are one of 4} pounds recorded by Dr. Goode, caught in
Delaware Bay, by Dr. C. C. Abbott, and another reported to us
by Dr. F. A. Lucas, taken at Morey's Hole, Massachusetts, and
weighing 3 pounds and 2 oz. The Yellow Perch of Europe seems
to grow much larger, examples of as great as 8 and 9 pounds hav-
ing been recorded. The European perch is not so brightly colored
as ours.

As a pan-fish we do not know of any better among American
freshwater fishes. The senior author has experimented with the
Yellow Perch and several other species, including both species of
black bass, the bluegill, wall-eyed pike and rock bass, eating each
for several days in succession, and has found the Yellow Perch
the sweetest and most delicious of them all. One does not tire of
it so soon as of the other kinds. Several other persons who tried
the same experiment reached the same conclusion. In most parts
of its range it is highly esteemed, and in many places it is of very
considerable commercial importance. In the Great Lakes, the
Potomac River and the small lakes in the upper Mississippi Val-
ley, large quantities are taken, which always find a ready sale.

The diet of the Perch is exceedingly varied. In late autumn
when they come near shore they subsist almost entirely on craw-
fishes, and these form the greater portion of their food the year
round. They also were found to contain minnows, the larvaB of
May-flies, dragon-flies and caddis-flies, and quite frequently small
mollusks of various sorts, such as Physa and Sphaerium. They also
occasionally contain small worms, young of other fishes such as sun-
fishes, and one contained a stickleback. One was found dead
choked on a Johnny darter.

The Perch of Lake Maxinkuckee seem to be quite free from
diseases and parasites. One found dying on shore contained what
appeared to be cysts in the liver; this was the only diseased one
seen. A large number caught in the fall at the edge of Lake
Michigan in 1903 were examined, and nearly every one had one or
more white cyst-like objects imbedded near the eye, probably due
to Myxosporidia, but no such phenomenon was noted at Lake Max-
inkuckee. In some other lakes, particularly in New England, New
York and Wisconsin, the Yellow Perch are frequently infested
with tapeworms or other parasites which are found in the flesh.
This condition is most apt to occur in ponds in which the water

428 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

becomes rather warm and foul in the summer or early fall and in
which the fish are crowded. The presence of the parasites is
usually only temporary and need cause no particular annoyance,
and none whatever, if the parasites escape observation.

The spawning time of the Yellow Perch is early in the spring,
soon after the ice has disappeared. The egg-masses are among
the most remarkable among those of freshwater fishes. The spawn
is in a single piece or mass, a "much-elongated ribbon-like structure,
of a semi-transparent light grayish color. One end, corresponding
to the anterior part of the roe, is larger than the other, and is
bluntly forked. The spring is very long, but may be compressed
lengthwise by virtue of an arrangement into regular transverse
folds like the sides of a bellows or accordion. When deposited the
eggs are in a loose globular form, and after being fertilized and be-
coming 'water-hard', their mass rapidly becomes many times larger
than the fish which laid them. The length of the. strings is from
2 to more than 7 feet, depending on the size of the fish. One fish
in an aquarium at Washington deposited a string of eggs 88 inches
long, 4 inches wide at one end and 2 feet at the other, whose
weight after fertilization was 41 ounces, while the weight of the
fish before the escape of the eggs was only 24 ounces.

A cavity extends the whole length of the egg mass, its walls
being formed by the delicate membrane in which the eggs are em-
bedded. The cavity is almost closed, small apertures occurring
irregularly, which have the appearance of being accidental, but
may be natural, in order to permit the circulation of water on
the inside of the mass.

The egg-string is quite light and resilient or springy, the
least agitation of the water causing a quivering motion of the
whole mass.

The diameter of the egg is 1/13 inch. The quantity can not
be easily measured, but the number is approximately 28,000 to a
quart.

Head 3.25 ; depth 3.25 ; D. XIII to XV, 13 to 15 ; A. II, 7 or 8 ;
scales 7-74 to 88-17, 54 to 62 with pores ; back highest at origin of
spinous dorsal, which is more or less behind insertion of pectoral ;
profile convex from dorsal to occiput, thence concave anteriorly,
the snout projecting, a little longer than eye; mouth somewhat
oblique, maxillary not quite reaching opposite middle of orbit ; gill-
rakers x -(- 15, the longest -J to length of branchial filaments ;
cheeks closely scaled throughout, the scales imbricated; opercular
striae and rugosities on top of head well marked; first anal spine
longer than first dorsal spine; first dorsal spine inserted above

Lake Maxinkiickee, Physical and Biological Survey 429

or a little behind base of pectoral ; pseudobranchise quite small.
Back dark olivaceous; sides golden yellow; belly pale; side with
6 or 8 broad, dark bars, which extend from the back to below the
axis of the body; lower fins largely red or orange; upper fins
olivaceous; the spinous dorsal dusky, usually with a narrow color-
less triangle behind each spine, and with or without a distinct
black spot on its anterior or posterior part.

55. LOG PERCH

PERCINA CAPRODES (Rafinesque)

. (Plate 33)

The Log Perch is abundant almost everywhere in the Great
Lakes and streams of the south and west from Quebec to Lake
Superior and Iowa and south to Mississippi and the Rio Grande,
chiefly in swift gravelly streams of some depth.

This species, represented by the subspecies zebra or the Mani-
tou darter, was very abundant in the lake in 1899-1900. In the
seining operations one or more examples were obtained in 143 out
of the 612 hauls made 2,310 were obtained altogether, the great-
est number taken in any single haul being 310. During the prog-
ress of the work after 1900, however, not so many were obtained.
They ordinarily remain in shallow water near shore. They are
often seen during April and the early part of May. The first one
seen in 1901 was on April 6; this was found dead and was quite
full of eggs. From this time on till early May these fishes crowded
up in immense schools at the mouths of the various inlets of the
lake. Large schools were noted at the mouth of the ditch by Far-
rar's, at the mouth of Aubeenaubee Creek, and even at the mouth of
a tile by the depot grounds. When the fish were frightened they
darted rapidly up stream. On April 11, 1901, 29 were caught with
a dip-net at the mouth of Aubeenaubee Creek, and were measured.
The longest was 4.25 inches long and the shortest 3^ inches; the
greater number were 3f and 3| inches long. The females were
quite plump, and contained large numbers of eggs. The eggs were
rather pale in color, about 22 to the inch, and were very numerous ;
in one case the number of eggs in a single fish was estimated at
3,172. In darting up the streams they sometimes went with such
an impetuous rush that some would get stranded on the shore. On
April 29, a few were seen along the north shore and they were
abundant where springs entered the lake. Although they are not
ordinarily seen in small creeks, some were seen in the small creek
on the north shore of the lake west of the Palmer House on

430 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

May 3. Quite a number were seen May 17, resting on the top of
rocks in about 6 feet of water, and they were occasionally seen on
rocks in the bottom through clear ice during the winter of 1904. A
few were obtained while seining for minnows along Long Point
and the Gravelpit in 1906. They are quite active during the win-
ter, and not torpid as many fishes are.

This fish subsists chiefly on small animals. Five examples
from 2.5 to 3.75 inches long, captured August 3, contained the
remains of insects or insect larvae ; of two 2.25 and 2.75 inches long,
one contained several Bosminia, 1 Daphnia, Chironomus larvse, and
a beach flea, the smaller one contained 12 beach fleas.

The Log Perch is infested to some degree by trematodes which
form small black spots in the skin, but it is not so susceptible to
the attacks of these parasites as some of the other darters.

The Log Perch, although one of the largest of the darters,
probably never exceeds 9 or 10 inches in length. It is scarcely
large enough to be of any value as a food-fish. It will occasionally
take the hook, but its small size precludes the exhibition of any
considerable game qualities.

"The Log Perch is the giant of the family*, the most of a fish,
and therefore the least of a darter. It may be readily known by
its zebra-like colors. Its hue is pale olive, silvery below, darker
above. On this ground color are about 15 black vertical bars or
incomplete rings, alternating with as many shorter bars which
reach only halfway down the side. The hindmost bar forms a
mere spot on the base of the tail, and there are many dots and
speckles on the fins. The body is long and slender, spindle-shaped,
and firm and wiry to the touch. The head is flat on top and
tapers into a flat-pointed snout which is squared off at the end like
the snout of a pig, and this resemblance is heightened by the form
of the small mouth underneath it. From this pig-like snout has
come the scientific name caprodes. This is a translation of the
older name of 'hogfish', which Rafinesque heard applied to it in
his time and which is still used in the same regions. Percina
reaches a length of 6 or 8 inches and it may readily be caught on a
small hook baited with a worm. We often meet an urchin with
two or three of them strung through the gills on a forked stick
along with the 'red-eyes', 'stonetoters', 'hornyheads', and other
'boys' fish'. We find Percina usually in rapid and rather deep
water. We rarely find them small enough for ordinary aquarium
purposes ; and the living specimen before us, though wonderfully
quick and graceful in its movements, has shown little that is note-
dors*

Except the rare Percina rex, described after ttv '*: was written.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 431

worthy, save his courage, his fondness for angleworms, and a
possible disposition to bury himself in the sand. There is some-
thing in the expression of his face, as he rests on his 'hands and
feet' on a stone, that is remarkably lizard-like, suggesting the
Blue-tailed Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)." Jordan and Copeland,
1876.

Head 4 to 4.25 in length ; depth 6.5 to 7 ; eye 4.3 in head ; snout
3; maxillary 3.75; D. XV-14; A. II, 10; scales 9-90-9, the nape
naked, the middle cf the belly with a row of enlarged stellate scales
which are finally shed leaving a naked strip; body elongate, com-
pressed; head long and pointed, depressed and sloping above, the
interorbital space rather broad and concave; mouth small, quite
inferior, maxillary not reaching to the front of the eye; cheeks
naked or with a few rudimentary scales; nape naked; opercles
scaly; chest naked; fins rather low, pectoral somewhat shorter
than head; caudal truncate.

Ground color yellowish, with about fifteen transverse dark
bands from the back to about the lateral line, these usually alter-
nating with shorter and fainter ones; a black spot at base of
caudal ; fins barred. Length 6 to 8 inches.

56. BLACK-SIDED DARTER

HADROPTERUS ASPRO (Cope & Jordan)

(Plate 33)

The Black-sided Darter is found from the Great Lakes region
to the middle Missouri, northward to Minnesota and southward
through Missouri, Indiana and Kentucky to Arkansas, and is es-
pecially common in the Ohio Valley, and is usually abundant in
clear gravelly streams. It has not so far been found in Lake Max-
inkuckee or any of its inlets ; several specimens have, however, been
taken from the Outlet of Lost Lake.

In the summer of 1906, one of the fishermen residing near the
lake spoke of some queer fishes he had seen on several occasions
while seining in the Outlet, and which he regarded as of no value
for bait. It was thought from his brief description that the fishes
mentioned were probably the blob (Coitus ictalops) no specimens
of which had been obtained in the region.

The fisherman was therefore accompanied on his next seining
trip (September 11, 1906) and a number of the fishes were se-
cured. They proved to be darters of various species ; among them
were 11 which proved to be the Black-sided Darter. Associated
with these 11 Black-sided Darters were 7 of its near relative, H.

2817618

432 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

scierus. On a later visit to the same place (October 7, 1907),
two large fine darters were secured, one H. aspro, and the other
H. scierus.

The separation of these two species was made with some diffi-
culty, and the indications are that they intergrade; this indeed
was suggested long ago by Jordan and Gilbert in their description
of the subspecies Hadropterus scierus serrula. In nearly all the
features in which this subspecies differs from the species to which
it is assigned the smaller scales, the naked breast, and relatively
weaker serrulations of the opercle it approaches the general type
of H. aspro. S<? far as descriptions go it would be difficult to say
whether the subspecies in question belonged to aspro or scierus.
We have divided our specimens according to the presence or ab-
sence of stellate processes along the ventral line. This is a vari-
able feature, as these structures differ both in number and degree
of development. All other characters separating the species are
equally or even more variable. The fishes identified as H. scierus
seem in general to have the gill-openings more broadly united, al-
though this is not invariably the case. The scales s.eem somewhat
more regular along the dorsal line in aspro than in scierus. In
scierus there are frequently small rudimentary scales intercalated
along the sides of the dorsal fins, breaking up the diagonal series
and making it difficult to follow them. This does not appear to
be so pronounced in aspro.

The distinguishing character of the serrulate preopercle is
qualified in current 'descriptions by the expression "more or less"
and is said to vary with age. Our specimens of scierus vary con-
siderably in this respect. None is so distinctly or closely serrulate
as in the type; some are almost entire; some rather rough, the
roughness being rather crenulate than serrulate, and the preopercle
on one side may be considerably more roughened than that of
the other side in the same specimen. A pretty constant difference
between the species is the presence or absence of scales on the
breast; however, one of our specimens which on account of the
sum total of other characters we have placed with aspro, has the
breast scaled ; the mouths of our specimens average about the same
in both species; they may average somewhat larger in our aspro
lot ; however, both the largest mouthed and smallest mouthed indi-
viduals in the collection belong to those identified as aspro. The
dorsal fins are about equally separated in both species, or rather
about equally close together there is usually hardly the width of
a scale between them ; the two specimens which have these fins far-
thest apart belong to the aspro series.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 433

"The fine gentleman of the family is the Black-sided Darter
(Hadropterus aspro) . Him we may know by his colors.* The
ground hue is a salmon yellow ; the back is regularly and beautifully
marbled with black in a peculiar and handsome pattern. On the
sides, from the head to the tail, runs a jet-black band, which is
widened at intervals into rounded spots which contrast sharply
with the silvery color of the belly ; or we may say that on each side
is a chain of confluent round black blotches. Sometimes the fishes
seem to fade out ; these blotches grow pale and no longer meet, but
in an instant they may regain their original form and shade. This
latter change can be induced by the offer of food, and it is of course
due to muscular action on the scales which cover the darker pig-
ment. A male in our aquarium underwent almost instantly an en-
tire change of coloration upon the introduction of a female fish of
the same species recognized by him as his affinity. Although the
two have been together for some weeks, the novelty has not yet
worn off, and although his colors vary much from one hour to
another, he has never yet quite reverted to his original hues. The
form of the Black-sided Darter is more graceful than that of
any other, and his movements have little of that angular jerki-
ness which characterizes his relatives. The fins of Hadropterus,
like those of Percina, are long and large, the number of dorsal
spines being about 14. A notable peculiarity in both species is
the presence of a row of shields, or enlarged scales, along the
middle line of the abdomen. These may help to protect that part
from the friction of the stony bottom. They seem to be shed some-
times, but when or why this happens we do not know. Hadrop-
terus delights in clear running water and may be found in most
streams south and west of New York. It is especially desirable
for aquaria, being hardier than any other fish as pretty, and
prettier than any other fish as hardy, -and withal with 'a way of
his own,' as an Irish laborer, Barney Mullins, once said to us of
Thoreau." Jordan and Copeland, 1876.

57. DUSKY DARTER

HADROPTERUS SCIERUS Swain

No specimens seen in the lake; found only in Outlet Creek
below Lost Lake.

Attention has already been called to the close relationship of
this species and the preceding, and to the probability that they are
connected by intermediate forms. This opinion is the result of an

* This is no longer the case since H. scierus and H. maxinkuckiensis have been described.

434 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

examination of the type of H. scierus and a comparison of it with
numerous specimens both of H. aspro and H. scierus. The type of
H. scierus has faded so that little can be judged concerning its
colors. It is still in a perfect state of preservation, though some-
what soft.

The mouth does not differ greatly in size from those of our
specimens of both species. The maxillary extends almost to the
vertical of the anterior of the orbit, and the statement in the
original description "maxillary not reaching the eye by about the
width of the pupil", evidently does not refer to the vertical from
the anterior edge of eye, but to the width of the preorbital. The
statement that the "spinous dorsal [is] separated from the soft
dorsal by the length of the snout" is true only if the spinous dorsal
is supposed to end at the base of the last spine; the mem-
brane of the spinous dorsal is attached very nearly to the
origin of the soft dorsal, there being barely more than the width
of a scale between them. This is well shown in the very good
figure of Hadropterus scierus in Jordan and Evermann's Fishes
of North and Middle America. As has been said, the union of the
gill-membranes is a variable feature.

The following is a description drawn up from an examination
of 5 Outlet specimens:

Head 4 in length; depth 6.1; eye 3.9 to 4.8 in head; snout 3.9
to 4.6; maxillary 3.5 to 4 in head, almost or wholly reaching to a
vertical with anterior of eye ; mandible 2.5 to 3 ; interorbital 5.1
to 5.5, preorbital 7.1 to 9.1; dorsal XI to XIII-11 to 13; scales 6
to 9-62 to 69-10, 5 to 7 rows of minute scales on cheek; 6 or 7
larger scales on opercle; 12 to 15 rows of scales before dorsal; no
row of scales along median dorsal line, but a row along each side ;
scales small and crowded in front of dorsal, the scales in the lateral
line somewhat smaller than the other scales of the body, thus break-
ing the alignment of the diagonal rows; small intercalated scales
along base of dorsal, breaking up the regularity of the series;
snout and interorbital space naked ; occiput naked, this portion fre-
quently transparent so that the outlines of the underlying brain
can readily be seen; scales rather small, each scale with 2 or 3
fine concentric lines around the center, the whole margin of the
scale, about ^ of the way to the center, rough, the roughness con-
sisting of radiating faintly beaded ridges terminating in small
stout spines which project from the entire free circumference of
the scale, the scale somewhat irregularly beaded in front of the
center ; throat, chin and fin membranes naked ; breast with minute
embedded scales; one. to 3 large stellate chevron-like scales be-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 435

tween ventrals; median line of belly between ventrals and vent
with from a few to 14 stellate projections, these projections vary-
ing in degree of development and finely granular at base, the
granulations probably representing the beading of normal scales.
Distance between dorsals very short, from one to a few scales in
width; longest dorsal spine (one of the median spines, varying
in different specimens) 1.8 to 2.2 in head, base of spinous dorsal
longer than head, 3.75 in length and extending over from 21 to 30
rows of scales; longest dorsal ray 1.3 to 2.1 in head; base of soft
dorsal 1.4 to 1.75 in head, covering about 15 rows of scales; pec-
toral rather acute, with 12 to 15 rays, length 1.2 to 1.4 in head,
the tip not reaching tips of ventrals ; ventrals 1, 5, acute, spine 3.3
in head, longest ray 1.4 in head, reaching about ^ way to vent;
caudal lobes 1.3 to 1.6 in head, the fin slightly emarginate, the
lobes broadly rounded.

Color in spirits: Upper part of head to middle of eye dusky,
rather coarsely punctulate ; upper part of back with black bands of
uniform width (about 2 scales wide) arranged in regular festoons;
interspaces whitish or yellowish; under parts whitish, rather re-
motely punctulate under magnification, the punctulations somewhat
more crowded along ventral line, especially near the vent, and still
more so along the base of the anal fin and occasionally in spots
along the caudal peduncle, causing these portions to be somewhat
decidedly darker. A black band along middle of side, expanding
at intervals forming a row of about 7 round confluent blotches, the
largest of these being about 6 scales in width by the same distance
along lateral line; dorsals and anal dark at base with irregular
dusky mottling near margin; pectorals and ventrals somewhat
dusky; caudal with a marginal and 2 submarginal dusky bands
parallel with the edge of the fin and separated by similarly shaped
paler interspaces.

58. MAXINKUCKEE DARTER

HADROPTERUS MAXINKUCKIENSIS Evermann

So far as general appearance and coloration go, the Maxin-
kuckee Darter very closely resembles H. aspro and H. scierus.
There are, however, a few diagnostic marks that enable one to
distinguish it at once. The larger scales, the free gill-membranes,
the smooth preopercle and the united dorsal fins are all diagnostic
characters. The large mouth, with the maxillary extending back-
ward to the vertical of the anterior edge of the pupil, is the most
striking. In the color pattern, this fish differs from the species
mentioned in having the caudal irregularly mottled instead of

436 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

barred. It also has a distinct black line projecting from the eye
downward across the cheek, a feature sometimes hinted at by ob-
scure markings in the other species, but never as distinct and
broad.

Head 3.75 ; depth 6 ; eye 4 ; snout 4.2 ; maxillary 3.25 ; mandible
2.75; interorbital 6; pectoral 1.25; ventral 1.3; D. XIV, 13; A. II,
8; scales 7-61-10.

Body rather long, slender and subterete ; caudal peduncle some-
what compressed, its least width one-half its least depth; head
rather long, snout pointed ; mouth moderately large, oblique, maxil-
lary reaching past anterior part of eye, lower jaw included; pre-
maxillaries not protractile ; eye rather large, slightly above axis of
body; interorbital moderately wide, nearly flat; gill-membranes
free from each other and from the isthmus ; opercle with a rather
long flap and stout spine; fins rather large; distance from origin

Maxinkuckee Darter (Hadropterus inaxinkuckiensis)

of spinous dorsal to tip of snout slightly greater than base of
spinous dorsal or nearly twice base of soft dorsal; longest dorsal
spine 2.25 in head; soft dorsal higher than spinous portion, 2 in
head, the free edge gently curved; origin of anal under that of
soft dorsal, its base 2.1 in head; caudal rounded or slightly
emarginate.

Scales firm and strongly ctenoid; lateral line complete and
straight, beginning over opercular spine; top of head and an ob-
long area on nape naked, space in front of spinous dorsal with
small embedded scales ; opercle with about 7 rows of scales ; cheek
with a few small, embedded scales; breast naked, except 2 or 3
partially embedded scales on median line; one large scale between
ventrals; belly naked anteriorly, but with about 10 enlarged, stel-
late scales posteriorly; space between ventrals broad, equal to
width of base of ventral; preopercle smooth.

Color essentially the same as in H. scierus; mottled and ver-

GREEN-SIDED DARTER, D'ipleswn blennioides (Ratinesque)

JOHNNY DARTER, Boleosoma nigrum (Rafinesque)

IOWA DARTER, Etheostoma ioi>.'<e (Jordan & Meek)

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 437

miculated with light and dark brown or blackish, the middle line
of back with about 9 large roundish dark confluent areas each sur-
rounded by a wavy whitish line ; middle of side with about 7 large,
confluent dark spots, the anterior 2 largest and longest, the third
small, the fourth large and the remaining 3 progressively smaller ;
under parts yellowish white; top of head dark; a narrow whitish
line around upper, posterior part of orbit ; a broad black line down-
ward from eye, much more distinct than in related species; upper
part of preopercle and nearly whole opercle dark, each dusted on
lower part; cheek dusted with fine dark specks; an irregular pale
area at anterior end of lateral line; spinous dorsal ashy, the first
3 spines black on the middle portion, the other spines dark but
not so distinctly so, tips of last few spines dark; soft dorsal light
brownish or grayish, crossed near the base by a series of dark spots
and above by 2 series of whitish spots; caudal spotted or mottled
with white and brown, not barred as in related species ; anal white,
dusted with brownish; ventrals whitish, with fine dark dustings;
pectoral whitish, yellowish at base, followed by 2 alternating series
of dusty and whitish spots.

This species is related to H. scierus, from which it differs
chiefly in having the dorsal fins united, in having the maxillary
reaching beyond front of orbit, in the larger scales, the free gill-
membranes, and in the smooth preopercle.

Of this species we have but 2 specimens, the type, a specimen
3.5 inches long, taken in Aubeenaubee Creek about one-half mile
from the lake, August 4, 1899, and another, the locality label for
which has been lost, but probably from the same stream.

59. JOHNNY DARTER

BOLEOSOMA NIGRUM (Rafinesque)

(Plate 34)

This little fish is abundant almost everywhere in the eastern
United States, and is especially common in small streams among
gravel and weeds. At Lake Maxinkuckee it is not very abundant ;
occasional examples are seen lying on the bottom near shore or are
raked up with weeds. During the seining operations 127 examples
were obtained. One or more specimens were procured in each of
45 of the 612 hauls ; the greatest number gotten in one haul being
12. Occasionally people seining along shore for minnows catch a
few examples of this species.

Looked at from above while lying on the bottom, the Johnny
Darter, with his slender body and spread fins, ready to go at a

438 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

touch, reminds one of nothing else so much as a drawn arrow. His
long broad pectoral fins are the tense bow-strings, and at a touch
he darts through the water like a shot shaft; his motion through
the water resembles rather the leap of a frog than the swimming
of a fish.

The black on his back is arranged in about 6 short transverse
bars one a little distance in front of the dorsal, one about the
middle of the spinous dorsal, one between the two fins, one about
the middle, one at the posterior of the soft dorsal, and one at the
base of the caudal. These marks remind one of several other bot-
tom-lying fishes the black sucker, the blob, and one of the mad
toms (Schilbeodes exilis) . Looked at sideways a view one never
gets of him out in nature he shows a very short blunt nose, even
shorter and blunter than that of the green-sided darter. The ends
of the dorsal cross-bars are visible as a series of dark blotches,
and along the middle of the side is a row of blotches, irregular in
size and shape, but in general more like W's than anything else.

The stomachs of several examples showed that this species
feeds on small animals; beach fleas were found in an example 2
inches long, and another of the same size contained, in addition to
the beach flea, a Chironomous larva, and a parasitic distomid.

In spite of their spiny armament, darters are frequently found
in the stomachs of other fishes, and the Johnny Darter is quite ef-
fective for perch bait.

Head 3.75 to 4.5 in length; depth 5 to 7; eye 5 to 5.5 in head;
snout 3 to 3.5; maxillary 3.5; D. IX-11 or 12 (VII to X-10 to 14) ;
A. I, 7 to 9 ; scales 5-44 to 55-9, rarely 35 to 40 ; tubes of the lateral
line sometimes obsolete on the last 4 or 5 scales; body fusiform,
slender, not compressed, caudal peduncle slender, its least width
1.75 in the least depth ; head rather short; snout a little longer than
eye, decurved; mouth small, horizontal, maxillary reaching eye;
premaxillaries protractile; lower jaw included; interorbital space
rather wide ; gill-membranes rather narrowly connected, free from
the isthmus ; fins moderate ; origin of spinous dorsal nearer origin
of soft dorsal than tip of snout; origin of soft dorsal somewhat
anterior to that of anal; spinous and soft dorsals separated by a
space -| to f diameter of eye ; longest dorsal spines about 2 in head ;
longest dorsal rays 2 in head; longest anal ray 2.5 in head; pec-
toral large, pointed, nearly as long as head, reaching past tips of
ventrals; ventrals short, 1.3 in head, widely separated, the space
between them as wide as base of either fin ; caudal rounded. Scales
rather large, strongly ctenoid; lateral line never complete, usually
15 to 30 pores with 2 or 3 interruptions then a few scattered ones,

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 439

the line thus broken in several places, chiefly posteriorly; region
in front of spinous dorsal, cheeks and breast naked; opercles al-
ways partially, sometimes wholly, scaled ; middle line of belly with
ordinary scales, sometimes naked anteriorly; no enlarged humeral
scale; opercular spine small.

Color in life: Pale raw umber above, tending to olive, and
marked with dark brown along scale margins, darker and forming
distinct cross-hatching in 7 blotches; about 13 irregular patches
of dark brown or black cross-hatching along lateral line, separated
from the markings of the back by a narrow line of whitish ; nape
and back mottled and colored by minute black dots fading to brown
posteriorly; pectoral rays very faintly barred with brown; caudal
fin more distinctly black-barred, showing plainest in the closed
fin ; a black line downward and one forward from eye.

The Maxinkuckee representatives of B. nigrum differ from
typical specimens in some important particulars, the principal of
which are the following : The less complete lateral line, the naked
ante-dorsal region, the less complete squamation of opercle, and
the smaller fins.

This description is based on 19 specimens 40 to 44 mm. long,
taken on east side of Long Point in July and August.

The following is an interesting account of the habits of this
little fish :

"We never grew tired of watching the little Johnny (Boleosoma
nigrum Rafinesque). Although our earliest aquarium friend
and the very first specimen showed us by a rapid ascent of the
river weed how 'a Johnny could climb trees' he has still many
resources which we have never learned. Whenever we try to
catch him with the hand we begin with all the uncertainty that
characterized our first attempts, even if we have him in a two
quart pail. We may know him by his short fins, his first dorsal
having but 9 spines, and by the absence of all color save a soft yel-
lowish brown, which is freckled with darker markings. The dark
brown on the sides is arranged in 7 or 8 W-shaped marks, below
which are a few flecks of the same color. Covering the sides of
the back are' the wavy markings and dark specks, which have
given him the name of the 'Tessellated Darter', but Boleosoma is
a braver name and we even prefer 'Boly' for short. In the spring
the males have the^head jet-black, and this dark color often extends
on the back part of the body so that the fish looks as if he had
been taken by the tail and dipped into a bottle of ink. But with
the end of the nuptial season this color disappears, and the fish
regains his normal strawy hue. The head in Boleosoma resembles

440 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

that of Diplesion, but the habit of leaning forward over a stone,
resting on the front fins, gives a physiogomy even more frog-like.
His actions are, however, rather bird-like, for he will strike atti-
tudes like a tufted titmouse, and he flies rather than swims through
the water. He will, with much perseverance, push his body be-
tween a plant and the side of the aquarium and balance himself
on the slender stem. Crouching cat-like before a snail shell, he
will snap off the horns which the unlucky owner pushes timidly
out. But he is often less dainty, and seizing the animal by the
head, he dashes the shell against the glass or a stone until he pulls
the body out or breaks the shell." Jordan and Copeland.

60. GREEN-SIDED DARTER

DIPLESION BLENNIOIDES Rafinesque

(Plate 33)

Only 5 specimens of this handsome darter were secured; of
these, one, an example 3.25 inches long, was secured down the out-
let of Lost Lake near the old mill on September 11, 1906, and 4
others, ranging in length from 2.5 to 2.75 inches, were secured
about the same place, on October 7, 1907. The markings of these
specimens (in spirits) are quite contrastive, the dark markings
being jet black; this being probably partly due to the black bottom
of the stream in which they were found. The Y-shaped figures
mentioned in current descriptions as occurring on the lower part
of the side, are united in our specimens, so that the color pattern
of that portion of the body resembles a series of arches, usually
with a black spot underneath each arch.

The following description is from the largest of our specimens :
Head 4.3 in length; depth 5.6; eye 3.2 in head; snout 3.1 ; mandible
4.2; interorbital space very narrow, 7.1 in head, the eyes being
high up and close together; mouth small, horizontal, overhung by
the blunt heavy snout; physiognomy peculiar, the profile being
short and rounded, a condition best described by the expression
"bull-nosed" ; D. XII, 13 ; A. II, 9 ; scales 5-61-8. Body fusiform,
elongate, but stouter than that of many of the darters ; snout, occi-
put, throat and breast naked; gill-membranes broadly connected.
Spinous dorsal quite low, the longest spine 2.3 in head ; soft dorsal
quite high, the longest ray 1.6 in head; anal about as long as soft
dorsal but quite low; pectorals quite long and large, longer than
head and reaching to tips of ventrals; ventrals quite large, about
1.1 in head, well separated at base and reaching about f of the
distance to the vent.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 441

Color in spirits: Ground color pale straw-yellow, upper part
of sides irregularly splotched with black, the splotches tending to
form black spots along the dorsal line as follows : One small spot
just behind occiput, a large one just in front of origin of spinous
dorsal, an ill-defined one about the center and another about the
end of the spinous dorsal, two similarly placed in regard to the
soft dorsal, and one on the caudal peduncle; lower parts of side
with 'a series of black arches, and small spots in the center of
arches; belly unspotted; head dusky, irregularly blotched, a dis-
tinct spot above each eye and 3 blotches on occiput, these latter
forming a sort of trefoil or fleur-de-lis mark; dorsals somewhat
irregularly splotched ; in the spinous dorsal there is a tendency for
the black to aggregate in the membranes between the spines ; in the
soft dorsal this is definite, the interspaces between the rays being
black and the intervals between the forks of the rays being dusky ;
caudal somewhat irregularly blotched, the blotches tending to form
in bars ; pectorals with spots arranged in bars ; ventrals irregularly
spotted; anal with a few dark dashes. In -life this fish, especially
during the mating season, is one of the most beautifully colored
of our fishes ; the bright colors which are removed by alcohol seem
to be laid on over the ground colors just described. The follow-
ing is given as the life colors :

Color olive green tesselated above; side with about 8 double
transverse bars, each forming a Y-shaped figure ; these sometimes
joined above, forming a sort of wavy lateral band; in life these
markings are of a clear deep green; sides sprinkled with orange
dots; head with olive stripes and the usual dark bars; first dorsal
dark orange brown at base, blue above, becoming pale at tip ; sec-
ond dorsal and anal of a rich blue green, with some reddish ; caudal
greenish, faintly barred ; young and females more or less dull, but
the pattern is peculiar.

All our specimens of both sexes were very dark in color, a
feature probably associated with the black bottom of the stream
from which they were taken. Many of the specimens died in the
water and faded considerably ; the unfaded alcoholic specimens have
quite contrastive black and white markings. These specimens
were quite badly infested with leeches, which were attached to the
various fin-membranes; a number of the specimens had 2 leeches
attached.

This species is so very like //. scierus that the same general
description will serve for both, by bearing in mind the few points
in which they differ.

"One of the most simply beautiful of all fishes is the Green-

442 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

sided Darter (Diplesion blennioides) . He is not like the Etheo-
stoma cceruleum, an animated rainbow, but he has the beauty of
green grass, wild violets, and mossy logs. As we watch him in the
water, with his bright blended colors and gentle ways, once more,
with Old Izaak, 'we sit on the cowslip banks, hear the birds sing,
and possess ourselves in as much quietness as the silent silver
streams which we see glide so quietly by us.' During the ordinary
business of the year, Diplesion, like most sensible fishes and men,
dresses plainly. It is not easy to get time for contemplation when
the streams are low and food is scarce. Besides, a plain coat may
ward off danger as well as facilitate attack. At all times, how-
ever, he may be known by these marks : The fins are all large ; the
back is covered with zigzag markings, while on the lower part of
the sides are 8 or 9 W-shaped olive spots; these are more or less
connected above, and sometimes form a wavy line. The eyes are
prominent; the snout is very short and rounded; while the little
inferior mouth is puckered up as if for saying 'prunes and prisms,
prunes and prisms.' But when the first blue birds give warning
by their shivering and bodiless notes that spring is coming on,
then Diplesion puts on his wedding clothes and becomes, in fact,
the Green-sided Darter. The dorsal fins become of a bright grass
green, with a scarlet band at the base of each ; the broad anal has
a tinge of the deepest emerald; while every spot and line upon
the side has turned from an undefined olive to a deep rich green,
such as is scarcely found elsewhere in the animal world excepting
on the heads of frogs. The same tint shines out on the branch-
ing rays of the caudal fin, and may be seen struggling through the
white of the belly. The blotches nearest the middle of the back
become black, and thickly sprinkled everywhere are shiny specks
of clear bronze orange. In the aquarium Diplesion is shy and
retiring, too much of a fine lady to scramble for angleworms or to
snap at the "bass feed." She is usually hidden among the plants
or curled up under an arch of stones or in a geode." Jordan and
Copeland.

61. IOWA DARTER

ETHEOSTOMA IQW-fE Jordan & Meek

(Plate 34)

The Iowa Darter is a common species in the upper Missouri
Valley from Iowa and Nebraska north to Assiniboia, and eastward
to Indiana. It is found farther northward and farther westward
in the Missouri basin than any other darter. At Lake Maxin-
kuckee it is represented by a closely related species, the Aubee-

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 443

naubee Darter, which is there the most common of the darters ex-
cept Percina caprodes. Not a great number were obtained during
the seining operations, but nearly every rakeful of Chara brought
up during the winter through the ice contained 1 or more of these
fishes. This darter probably spends most of its time among the
Chara and thus escapes the net. It prefers hiding under weeds to
lying on open bottom, and is commonly not seen before being cap-
tured. In the short matted Chara found so abundantly in the
shallow water of the lake, it is doubtless abundant. In the open
places it may frequently be seen lying still on the sandy bottom,
or occasionally darting to cover.

The Iowa Darter probably spawns late in April or early
in May. Females taken April 27, 1901, were examined and found
to be full of spawn. The ovaries of the specimen examined were
each a club-shaped mass narrowed sharply behind, truncate and
concave in front, its anterior margin adjusted in outline to that of
the well-filled stomach, and surrounded by a firm membrane. The
length of the fish examined was 50 mm., the length of the egg-mass
10 mm. The mature eggs, which may have been shrunken some,
but probably little by the preservative, were bright yellow, 32 to
the inch, and 115 in number in one ovary; probably about double
that number in the whole fish. Mixed in with them was a large
number of minute ova, probably representing the next year's
product.

More than any other species of fish in the lake, except some
of the minnows, this fish is affected with the affliction known as
Diplostomiasis characterized by small round black spots in the
skin, each indicating the cyst of a distomid which is said to reach
its mature form in the stomachs of water birds.

The only food found in the stomachs examined consisted of in-
sects and insect larvae. These darters are occasionally found in
the stomachs of other fishes. The bass sometimes eat them.

On comparing our Lake Maxinkuckee material with specimens
of E. iowx, from Creighton, Nebraska, and with current descrip-
tions, the Maxinkuckee specimens appear to be less fully scaled on
the cheeks and opercles.

The squamation of these parts is exceedingly various as re-
gards degree of development as well as number of scales. The
skin of these parts may be entirely smooth or naked ; the scales in
their simplest form are represented by raised tubercles, which are
usually rather numerous and regularly arranged, which show well
on a wet specimen by reflections. In a more developed stage they
consist of embedded smooth circular scales which bear some re-

444 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

semblance to pores, and which show best when the specimen is
somewhat moist. Finally we have the more or less fully devel-
oped ctenoid scale, more or less free at the posterior margin and
inclined to curl up, which is best seen on the specimen when some-
what dry.

A specimen taken at random from our reserve series had the
scales on opercles and cheek 34-19, well developed and ctenoid.
The number found in the best developed of our specimens in this
respect, out of a series set aside for their special development in
this particular, was 23 on the cheek, and 11 on the opercle, from
which it varied to 8 on the cheek and 3 on the opercle, and the
scales on the cheek are always imbedded and hard to make out.
There is no correlation between the number of scales on the cheek
and those on the opercle.

62. AUBEENAUBEE DARTER

ETHEOSTOMA IOW1E AUBEENAUBEI Evermann

In making a critical study of the large series of darters which
in our preliminary studies were regarded as two distinct species,
E. iowse, and E. aubeenaubei, and now greatly augmented by later
collections, we find that the two extremes are connected by inter-
grading forms. In so far as the squamation of the cheeks, which
is one of the most important features, is concerned, they vary
from one extreme, the type of E. aubeenaubei, with wholly naked
cheeks and opercles, to a form with these parts moderately well
scaled ; although none of our specimens seems to be so distinctly or
heavily scaled on these parts as the specimens of E. iowse in our
reserve series, from Creighton, Neb.

The typical Etheostoma aubeenaubei differs from typical E.
iowse, in the almost naked cheek, the less complete scaling of the
opercle, the somewhat longer maxillary, more oblique mouth, the
general coloration and much closer approximation of the dorsal
fins.

In a series of 30 specimens examined critically in regard to
the points above enumerated, the number of scales on the cheek
varies from none to about 15 which could be definitely counted,
or, in some examples, to a good many small scales difficult to make
out satisfactorily. The scales on the cheek vary from none
through 2, 3, 5 to 15 or more, often imbedded and difficult to make
out. The squamation appears to proceed from above downward;
when these parts were only partly scaled the scales were on the
dorsal portion. The length of the maxillary varies from 3 through

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 445

various intermediate values to 4.4 in head, and the end varies from
reaching to the anterior edge of the pupil, and the tip of the upper
jaw was on various levels, from the lower edge of the pupil to
the lower edge of the orbit. The number of scales covered by
the space between the spinous and soft dorsals varies from 1 to
about 4, and the space varies from 2 in eye through many inter-
mediate values to a trifle larger than the horizontal diameter of the
eye. Among our specimens is one which has the spinous and soft
dorsals continuous, the membrane being quite high throughout.
The dorsal formula of this specimen is XI, 10, and the cheeks and
opercles are naked.

The color pattern is extremely variable; full notes on colors of
specific individuals are given below; the following general re-
marks will serve to call attention to the great diversity :

Aubeenaubee Darter (Ethcostoma aubecnaubei)

A dark line downward from the eye and a dark heart-shaped
occipital spot (which is so frequent among fishes in general), ap-
pear to be always present. The color pattern of the caudal fin also
appears to be constant, at least so far as general effect is concerned,
though a study of more material might show a number of vari-
ations in detail ; it consists of a series of dark blotches, arranged in
irregular broken zig-zag bars. These probably vary somewhat in
number and position, their irregularity making it difficult to cor-
relate them, giving thus a semblance to uniformity. The unit of
the pattern usually consists (in small, and presumably young, indi-
viduals) in its simplest form of a pair of parallel lines like the arith-
metical sign of equality a bar on each side of the rays, the whole
making an elongate blotch from 2 to 4 times as long as wide, fol-
lowed by a colorless space of about equal length. Where the rays
fork there are likely to be three parallel lines; in the next stage of
development a row of dots is intercalated between the parallel lines ;
these finally close up to form an entire line, and finally the whole

446 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

space between the lines becomes colored, making a solid rectangle.
In its simplest form the soft dorsal is colored similarly to the
caudal, but in most cases it is also more or less densely punctulate
with exceedingly minute and quite close punctulations on the mem-
branes between the rays. The spinous dorsal varies greatly in
coloration and may be simply blotched, something after the fashion
of the caudal, or may also have a distinct black bar at the margin,
at the base, or both places. It is probable that the latter differ-
ence is sexual and is accentuated during the breeding season. Of
two individuals contrasted in this particular, that with the ornate
dorsal proved to be the male, and the other the female.

The color pattern of the body is also an exceedingly variable
feature. In one extreme the back is a 'sort of uniform olivace-
ous brown above, with a very faint diffuse paler streak along be-
low the dorsal line, this general brown color breaking up below
into irregular blotches leaving the belly colorless except for a few
large irregular blotches along the base of the anal fin.

In addition to this general color there may be vague dusky bars
across the side, varying greatly in distinctiveness. They may be
so dim as to tease the imagination or in the extreme form they may
become so decided as to be the first feature to catch the eye, and
remind one strongly of the colorations of Perca or Percina. In
one set of examples these were distinct short blotches on a pale
olivaceous yellow background so that the fish bore some general
resemblance to Boleosoma nigrum. On a single example they
were a series of elongate lateral dashes, so that the fish looked
considerably like Percina caprodes. It was thought at first that
this was a sexual difference, but on examining two individuals rep-
resenting each extreme of color pattern both proved to be females
full of spawn.

Head 3.6 to 4 in length; depth 4.32 to 6; eye 3 to 4 in head;
snout 3 to 4 ; maxillary 2.66 to 3 ; dorsal VII to IX-10 to 12 ; anal
II, 6 to 8; scales 4-50 to 60-7. Body moderate in length, short
and stout, somewhat compressed; head long, snout blunt pointed,
not greatly decurved; mouth moderate, slightly oblique, maxillary
reaching eye; gill-membranes scarcely connected, free from the
isthmus; premaxillaries not protractile; caudal peduncle com-
pressed, rather long; dorsal outline abruptly arched at nape; fins
moderate; distance from snout to origin of spinous dorsal slightly
greater than length; dorsals well separated; spinous dorsal
rounded, the longest spines about 2.5 in head; soft dorsal also
rounded, the longest rays abou^ 1.9 in head; pectoral rather long,
1.3 in head, the tip reaching tips of ventrals; anal small, the rays

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 447

about equalling those of soft dorsal ; first anal spine stronger and
somewhat longer than the second ; scales strongly ctenoid ; top of
head naked, nape densely scaled ; cheeks and opercles only partially
scaled, sometimes naked; breast nake'd; median line of belly with
ordinary scales ; ventrals close together, the space separating them
scarcely as wide as base of fin ; lateral line incomplete, usually 20
to 30 pores. Color of male, in life, light yellowish brown above,
with broad bars of pale olive brown; side with alternating blotches
of bright vermilion and pale bluish green, the vermilion follow-
ing the margins of the scales and giving the effect of cross-hatch-
ing, the green bars deeper and more distinct below lateral line
on the caudal peduncle but anteriorly they are most distinct above
middle of body; a small clear vermilion spot at base of pectoral;
opercle golden and greenish iridescent; dorsals and caudal with
series of dark spots on membranes; other fins pale; a dark line
downward from eye and one forward. Color of female in life,
light olivaceous above, side with about 10 rather distinct, irregular
vertical green bars or blotches, narrower than the interspaces,
which are rusty straw-color ; caudal barred with white and 5 light
brown bars; pectoral similarly barred but more faintly; spinous
and soft dorsals with small brownish spots in irregular series, the
spinous dorsal narrowly green-edged; back olivaceous, with about
8 indistinct greenish blotches alternating with the green lateral
bars; head light brownish; under parts whitish; a small darkish
spot on base of last dorsal spines.

There is considerable variation in the coloration, some showing
considerably more red than others. We are not now able to recog-
nize E. aubeenaubei as a distinct species. If distinguishable at all,
it must be merely as a subspecies of E. iowse,, with which it seems
to intergrade. Typical specimens of the Aubeenaubee Darter were
found only in Aubeenaubee Creek.

This discussion is based upon numerous specimens each about
36 to 44 mm. long collected on Long Point, August 11, 1900, and
several from Aubeenaubee Creek.

63. RAINBOW DARTER

ETHEOSTOMA CfERULEUM Storer

This gaudy little fish is generally abundant in gravelly streams
of the Mississippi Valley. At Maxinkuckee it is not very common
in the lake itself, only a few having been obtained. They were
more common in the Outlet, particularly near the railroad bridge,
where there was a pebbly bottom and swift current. Here several

2917618

448 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

could be observed, especially in the spring. Here they live in the
crevices between some boards which form a dam. They may also
be found about the wagon bridge. One was captured near Farrar's
on July 6, one was caught at Long Point June 2, 1901, and another
was found under a board in shallow water near Murray's, Novem-
ber 12. They are also found in the outlet of Lost Lake, 3 being ob-
tained about 2 miles down the outlet on Nov. 7, 1907. These, like
the other fishes obtained in the vicinity, were very dark, almost
black.

"Gayest of all the Darters, and indeed the gaudiest of all fresh-
water fishes, in the Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma cceruleum) .
This is a little fish, never more than 3 inches long, and usually about
2. Everywhere throughout the northern parts of the Mississippi
Valley it makes its home in the ripples and shallows of the rivers
and in the shady retreats of all the little brooks. The male fish is

v
Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caruleitm)

greenish above, with darker blotches, and its sides are variegated
with oblique bands alternately of indigo blue and deep orange,
while the expanded fins are gorgeous in scarlet, indigo, and crim-
son. The female, as is usually the case when the male of the
species is resplendent, is plainly colored a speckly green, with no
traco of blue or orange. When the war of the rebellion broke out
there were some good people who were anxiously looking for some
sign or omen, that they might know on which side the 'stars in
their courses' were fighting. It so happened that in a little brook
in Indiana, called Clear Creek, some one caught a Rainbow Darter.
This fish was clothed in a new suit of the red, white, and blue of his
native land, in the most unmistakably patriotic fashion. There
were some people who had never seen a Darter before and who
knew no more of the fishes in their streams than these fishes knew
of them, by whom the coming of this little "soldier fish" into their

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 449

brooks was hailed as an omen of victory. Of course these little
fishes had really 'always been there.' They were there when
America, was discovered and for a long time before, but the people
had not seen them. The warblers lived, you remember, in Spald-
ing' s woods at Concord, but Spalding did not know that they were
there, and they had no knowledge of Spalding. So with the
Darters in Spalding's brooks. Still, when the day comes when his-
tory shall finally recount all the influences which held Indiana to
her place in the Union, shall not among greater things, this least of
little fishes receive its little share of praise? The Rainbow Darter
is a chubby little fish, as compared with the other Darters. In its
movements it is awkward and ungraceful, though swift and sav-
age as a pike. One of the mildest of its tricks, which we have
noticed, is this: It would gently put its head over a stone and
catch a water boatman by one of its swimming legs, release it,
catch it again and again release it, until at last the boatman, evi-
dently much annoyed, swam away out of its reach. It will follow
to the surface of the water a piece of meat suspended by a string.
It is more alert in discovering this than a hungry sunfish or rock-
bass, and it can be led around like a pet lamb by a thread to which
is fastened a section of a worm." Jordan and Copeland. -

Head 3f in length ; depth 4 ; eye 4 to 4i in head, little shorter
than snout; D. IX to XII-11 to 14; A. II, "7 or 8; scales 5-37 to
50-10, usually 5-45-10, pores 18 to 35 ; body robust, rather deep and
compressed, the back somewhat elevated; head large, compressed;
mouth moderate, terminal, oblique, the lower jaw somewhat in-
cluded, the maxillary reaching front of orbit; opercular spine
moderate; gill-membranes not connected; palatine teeth in one
row; cheeks naked or nearly so; opercles scaled; neck and breast
usually naked ; fins all large ; dorsal fins usually slightly connected ;
anal spines subsequal or the first a little the longer; caudal
rounded ; pectoral nearly or quite as long as head. Males olivace-
ous, tesselated above, the spots running together into blotches, back
without lengthwise black stripes; sides with about 12 indigo-blue
bars running obliquely downward and backward, most distinct be-
hind, separated by bright orange interspaces; caudal fin deep
orange, with deep blue in front and behind; soft dorsal chiefly
orange, blue at base and tip; spinous dorsal crimson at base, then
orange, with blue edgings; ventrals deep indigo; cheeks blue;
throat and breast orange; females much duller, with little blue or
red, the vertical fins barred or checked ; young variously marked ;
no dark humeral spot. Length 2^. inches.

450 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

64. LEAST DARTER

MICROPERCA PUNCTULATA Putnam

This pigmy among fishes is common in clear, cold, weedy
streams and ponds of the Northwestern States from Indiana,
Michigan and Minnesota, south to Arkansas. It is not well known
except to collectors and naturalists as it usually escapes observation
on account of its small size. It is occasionally found in Lake Max>
inkuckee, usually in the neighborhood of Norris Inlet, where sev-
eral specimens were raked up through the ice. It is still more
abundant in Lost Lake, and is quite frequent in the Outlet between
the lakes. Specimens were taken in the outlet of Lost Lake at
various places, some of them a mile or so below the lake. Those
raked up in Lake Maxinkuckee were associated with the Iowa
darter, from which they could be distinguished at once by their
smaller size, comparatively larger scales, absence of lateral line,
and general coloration.

Least Darter (Microperca punctulata)

This interesting little fish most delights to dwell where the
water is cold and quiet and the bottom of that loose material which
accumulates on the floors of small lakes and sluggish streams from
the disintegration and slow decay of aquatic vegetation. In such
situations the water is apt to be vegetable stained to the appear-
ance of very weak coffee, and the vegetable debris black in color
and with a specific gravity but little greater than the water which
permeates it. Here the Least Darter is at home quietly resting on
the surface of the unstable mass and ever ready to burrow in it on
the least alarm. A favorite place for these pigmies was in the
Outlet well down toward Lost Lake.

We have in our collection 81 specimens, ranging in length from
| to 1.44 inches. Of these, 21 were obtained in Lake Maxin-
kuckee at various places, 47 in Lost Lake, and in the outlet of Lost
Lake. The 4 specimens in our reserve series were obtained in
Lake Maxinkuckee in 1890. All appear to be adult.

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 451

The following is the description of a specimen 1.31 inches long
raked out of the weeds near Norris Inlet, December 12, 1904 :

Head 3.6 in length ; depth 5 ; eye 4 in head, snout shorter than
eye; mouth moderate, the cleft reaching to anterior of orbit, and
somewhat oblique, upper lip on a level with lower margin of orbit;
under jaw somewhat the shorter; D. VI-8; A. I, 5; scales 10 in
transverse series, 36 in longtudinal series; no lateral line, but the
head with a well marked series of mucous pores in 2 rows, be-
ginning each side near tip of snout and passing up over eyes and
terminating a little above top of gill-cleft, each giving rise to a
short branch projecting upward along the posterior margin of the
occiput; body rather deep and compressed, resembling that of the
yellow perch or species of Etheostoma ; fins rather high but with a
narrow base, the slender ventrals reaching beyond the origin of
the anal; pectorals reaching to vent.

Ground color yellow, each scale more or less punctate with
rather large punctulations so that each scale stands out distinctly,
giving the whole fish a checquered appearance ; punctulations gath-
ered into a row of about 10 small elongate dots along middle of
side; a dark line downward from eye; upper fins checked and
barred; caudal finely barred; lower fins plain.

The Least Darter varies considerably in intensity of coloration,
but the pattern remains about the same. The specimens obtained
in the outlet of Lost Lake are generally considerably darker than
the others. These fishes are affected, to a very slight extent how-
ever, by the immature trematodes which produce small round black
spots in the skin.

452 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

THE MAMMALS

INTRODUCTION

Very few local lists of the mammals occurring in the different
counties of Indiana have ever been published ; even brief published
notes and references are rare, and as a consequence, the geographic
distribution within the State of the species found within its borders
has not been carefully worked out. Indeed, data are wanting for
the correct identification of several of the forms inhabiting the
State.

During the survey of Lake Maxinkuckee no special effort was
made to collect or study the mammals native to the region, any ob-
servations made or notes taken having been entirely incidental to
the regular work of the survey, except with those species whose
habits bring them in relations more or less direct with the life of
the lake. Among these are, of course, the muskrats, minks, otters
and coons; and observation of the habits of these naturally led
to recording any chance observations concerning the other species
of the region. No trapping was done by us, except on one occasion
when a few deer mice were caught. The present list is therefore
far from complete, especially as to the bats and mice and others
of the less conspicuous species, but it is believed it may prove use-
ful and interesting. It will serve as a nucleus around which addi-
tional data may be gathered and it will prove helpful to the cot-
tagers about the lake who take an interest in nature and who wish
to know the animals that they meet.

Great changes have doubtless taken place as regards the abund-
ance and species of mammals of this region since the country was
first settled. The deer, wolf, wildcat, fox, otter, and beaver were
doubtless then abundant, and most of the species were more com-
mon than now. Many of these are now practically exterminated,
and others, as the wolf and otter, are found only very rarely and
in the wilder region west of Maxinkuckee and in the Kankakee
marshes. Such species as the muskrat, rabbit and coon have
probably not been seriously affected by civilization, albeit they are
hunted and trapped incessantly.

Besides the 30 native species listed in this paper, at least 2 in-
troduced species the common rat (Epimys norvegicus) and the
house mouse (Mus musculus) are all too common.

None of the native mammals is so abundant as to be a pest and
none should be killed except the rabbit for food, the muskrat for
its fur, and the mink and weasel for their fur and in the interest
of the poultry yard. The bats, moles, and shrews, are useful and

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 453

interesting and should never be killed ; and the squirrels should be
protected at least until more abundant.

In nomenclature and sequence of species we have followed Mil-
ler's "List of North American Land Mammals in the United States
National Museum, 1911," Bull. 79, U. S. Nat. Mus., 1912, except
in the name of the Wildcat, for which we have adopted Lynx rufa
Schreber, following Dr. Allen (Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. I,
No. 2, p. 91).

LIST OF SPECIES
1. COMMON OPPOSSUM

DIDELPHfS VIRGINIANA Kerr

According to old settlers the Opossum used to be common as
far north as northern Indiana, but disappeared from there many
years ago. In recent years they have been returning northward
and are now tolerably common throughout the northern part of the
State. About 1887 an old trapper near Fort Wayne caught one
and reported that it was the first he had seen for 20 years. No
more were seen in that region until about 1900, when they began
to be captured occasionally. In October, 1903, three were cap-
tured in Walley's woods southwest of Lake Maxinkuckee and three
others were trapped at Norris Inlet. It was not seen by us at the
lake until the summer of 1906, when on August 5, an adult ex-
ample was found dead on the lake shore just north of the Outlet.
On October 30, 1906, another was seen in the possession of a boy
at Culver, who reported the capture of three on the previous night.
One is reported to have stayed under the Barr Cottage on Long
Point during the winter of 1906-7. About September 3, 1907,
boys living in Culver got an old Opossum with a number of young
in her pouch. They did not count the young, but let her go.

The northward movement of the Opossum seems to have been
general over the State. They are occasionally taken in Marshall
and adjoining counties. They are frequently seen at Fort Wayne,
Indiana, a few being captured every winter.

2. COMMON MOLE

SCALOPUS AQUATICUS MACHRINUS (Rafinesque)

The Mole is very common about this lake. Its burrows may be
seen in all suitable places. The loose, sandy soil is particularly
well adapted to their habits. They are usually abundant on Long
Point, also along the railroad, in the fields and open woodlands
about the lake, in the Academy grounds, and in fact in all situ-

454 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

ations in the country where the conditions are favorable. Their
burrows are often seen along the railroad, and frequently they are
seen to pass from one side of the track to the other, passing under
the rails between the ties. Several of their burrows were noted in
various places about the lake in September and October, 1913.

Several were caught during our stay at the lake. When a cap-
tive mole is released it does not attempt to escape by running away
but at once begins to dig or burrow, and in an incredibly short
time it has sunk into the ground and entirely disappeared.

The popular prejudice against the mole based on the belief that
it is injurious to vegetation is entirely unjustified. Moles are in-
sectivorous in their habits and do not eat garden plants or vege-
tables at all. The only possible harm they cause is the slight in-
jury they sometimes do to lawns by their burrows. This, how-
ever, is infinitesimal in comparison with the great good done by
ridding the fields, gardens and lawns of noxious worms, insects
and larvse.

3. MOLE SHREW

BLARINA BREVICAUDA (Say)

On account of its nocturnal and underground habits the Mole
Shrew is not often seen and is therefore not very well or generally
known even to those living in localities in which it is really com-
mon. It is probably not uncommon about Lake Maxinkuckee. We
have records of 10 specimens, of which nine were found dead as
follows : One in road south of Arlington, in August, 1899 ; one on
lake shore October 20, 1900; one south of Arlington, October 9,
1906; one at ice-houses, October 22, 1906; one on Long Point,
October 29, 1906 ; one on Long Point, September 25, 1907 ; one in
road on Long Point, October 13, 1907. One was caught in a trap
on west side of lake, November 1, and another on Long Point,
October 22, 1906. One was caught by a cat, October 3, 1906.

Special search would no doubt have enabled us to find many
more specimens of this curious little creature.

The stomach of the one caught October 22, contained many
parasites resembling tapeworms. The one found October 29 was
lying at the edge of the water and was covered with leeches.

Why these little creatures are so often found dead is not well
understood. It has been suggested that the fetid odor of this ani-
mal, particularly the male, causes it to be rejected by animals which
would otherwise prey upon it, and that those found dead are in-
dividuals which have been caught by hawks or owls and dropped

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 455

after discovering the disagreeable odor possessed by the little ani-
mal which the hawk or owl at first thought would prove a delici-
ous titbit.

The carnivorous, bloodthirsty nature of the Mole Shrew has
been noted by many observers. On two different occasions we put
a Mole Shrew in a box with a white-footed, mouse and in each case
the shrew killed and ate the mouse. Others have recorded similar
experiences. One observer records the fact that a Mole Shrew
ate three times its own weight of meadow mice in 24 hours.

4. LITTLE BROWN BAT

MYOTIS LUCIFUGUS (LeConte)

The Little Brown Bat is quite common about the lake. They
first appear early in April and remain out at least until November.
We have definite records of April 10, June 23, September 17, Oc-
tober 9, and November 1.

On still evenings from May to October, just as the twilight
deepens and objects at a distance become indistinct, these little
creatures come out from their hiding places and may be seen cir-
cling in and out among the cottages and trees, and now and then
out over the lake in their search for food. Rarely are they seen
before sundown, but on moonlit nights we have seen them out
over the lake as late as eleven o'clock.

5. TIMBER WOLF

CANIS OCCIDENTALS (Richardson)

The Timber Wolf or Big Gray Wolf was doubtless very abund-
ant throughout the wooded portion of Indiana in the early days.
It still occurs in some numbers in the more wild regions. Mr.
Anton Meyer tells us that he got a few pelts each winter up to
1905-6, from the region northwest of Plymouth toward the Kanka-
kee marshes. During a visit to Starke County in 1906 we heard
statements to the effect that large wolves are occasionally seen and
heard in the vicinity of Knox. Dr. Hahn in his "Mammals of the
Kankakee Valley" states that the reports of the occurrence of the
Timber Wolf in that region are conflicting and that it may be that
only the Prairie Wolf is found there. Mr. Meyer, however, states
positively that he gets pelts of two different species, a "large gray
timber wolf" and a "smaller prairie wolf."

456 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

6. PRAIRIE WOLF

CANIS LATRANS Say

The Prairie Wolf, or Coyote as it is more commonly known in
the West where it is abundant, is not known to occur in the im-
mediate vicinity of Lake Maxinkuckee. It is a species of the
prairies, occurring in some abundance in the prairie counties in the
northwest corner of the State, particularly in Benton, Lake,
Newton, Jasper and Starke counties. Dr. Hahn records a large
number from these counties. He also states that a pack of mod-
erate size was seen near Leesburg, Kosciusko County, in the win-
ter of 1906-7. On May 16, 1906, two examples, a male and a
female, were killed near McCoysburg, Jasper County, by Mr.
Charles W. Bussel, who forwarded them to the U. S. National
Museum. This place is^bout 25 miles southwest of Lake Maxin-
kuckee. Mr. Anton Meyer of Plymouth, Indiana, already quoted,
informs us that he usually gets a few small prairie wolf pelts each
winter, chiefly from Starke and Jasper counties. As the prairie of
this portion of the State reaches Lake Maxinkuckee it is quite
probable that this wolf occurs there. Dr. Hahn expresses the be-
i; f that the Coyote has doubtless increased greatly in numbers in
recent years in the northwestern portion of the State and that its
range is gradually extending eastward.

7. RED FOX

VULPES FULVA (Desmarest)

Formerly common throughout the State but now not often seen.
A few burrows believed to be those of Foxes were observed in
Walley's woods and near the outlet, southwest of the lake. The
only Foxes actually seen by us about the lake were a family of
three young and their mother found April 18, 1901, in a den in
Green's field southwest of the lake. The old one was shot, and the
three young taken as pets. One of them promptly escaped, but the
other two were kept for several weeks when a second one escaped.
The remaining one for some unknown reason became paralyzed in
its hind legs. It was permitted to go about as best it could, and
finally took up its residence among the bushes in Green's marsh.
Here the dog would occasionally go to tease it, but the young fox
was always able to keep the dog off. Late in the summer it dis-
appeared and was not seen again.

On the morning of October 16, 1913, as the senior author of this
report was coming up the E ankakee River from the Warden's
Island, a fox was seen standing- on a soft maple tree that leaned out

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 457

almost horizontally from the bank over the river. As our boat ap-
proached the fox watched us a moment then turned about and
disappeared among the bushes on shore.

8. RACCOON
PROCYON LOTOR (Linnaeus)

The Raccoon appears to be somewhat common, especially in the
large stretch of heavy woodland east of the lake. It also occurs
west of the lake as well as north and south of it, as evidenced by
its depredations in the cornfields at roasting-ear time, and, later
in the year, by the piles of shells it leaves from its feasts on fresh-
water mussels, a habit it shares with the muskrat. In the spring
of 1901 they were often heard at night a shivering call not unlike
that of the screech owl. In January, 1904, one was caught near
Monterey and another was taken east of the lake in November. In
1906 one was seen on east side, October 30. On September 7,
1907, five young Coons about two-thirds grown were got from a
tree on the east side. The old ones escaped. Five days later
three others were caught.

Mr. S. S. Chadwick says that the largest coon he ever saw
weighed 18 pounds; this was in Pennsylvania.

In the Delphi Journal was recently noted the capture of a coon
near Russiaville, Howard County, Indiana, which weighed 34
pounds.

Raccoon tracks were seen on the south shore of the lake east of
the Farrar cottage October 5, 1913. Raccoons are said to be com-
mon along the Kankakee. In 1912 their pelts brought $1.50 to
$2.00 each. One trapper at Maxinkuckee secured two raccoons in
the winter of 1911, two in 1912, and one in 1913. The pelts sold
for $1.00 to $2.50 each. Another secured about 12 in 1911-12,
worth $1.50 to $2.75 each, 16 in 1912-13, worth $1.50 to $3.00 each,
and eight in 1913-14, which he sold at $1.50 to $2.50 each.

9., WEASEL

MUSTELA NOVEBORACENSIS (Emmons)

The Weasel is generally common throughout Indiana. It is not
rare about Lake Maxinkuckee, although it is not often seen.

August 3, 1899, one was found freshly dead at the edge of the
lake near Green's pier. An adult male was killed August 19, 1901.
on Long Point, where it had taken up a temporary residence under
the floor of a tent. Another fine large example was found dead
near the railroad, south of the lake, in December, 1904. In the

458 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

winter of 1912-13 one trapper got two pelts which he sold for 20
cents each.

About July 15, 1902, Mr. S. S. Chadwick saw a weasel chasing
a rabbit. The rabbit came out upon the road on Long Point,
turned back toward the lake, and then ran south. Just then a
Weasel came along on the rabbit's trail. When it reached the
road and saw that it was being watched it stopped a moment, then,
not at all frightened, started on after the rabbit. Losing the trail
the weasel came back and hunted about until it was recovered, then
again followed it by scent just as a dog would. The rabbit ap-
peared greatly frightened, its eyes popped and shining. The Weasel
was very quick and alert.

It is said to occur in limited numbers on the higher ground back
from the Kankakee River.

10. MINK

MUSTELA VISON LUTREOCEPHALA (Harlan)

The Mink is not common in the immediate vicinity of Lake
Maxinkuckee, but it is said to be more plentiful a few miles to the
westward and along Yellow and Tippecanoe rivers. One was
killed in February, 1898, near the Winfield cottage; others were
obtained about the lake December 1.8, 1899, January 19, 1900, and
November 9, 1900. On April 5, 1901, a skull of a female mink
was picked up near Lost Lake. A few were trapped in the winter
of 1903-4; three at Norris Inlet in October, and one at the ice-
houses December 14. On December 17, 1901, a mink dragged
three ducks from the ice on the lake to a hole under a stone wall
on Long Point.

In the winter of 1906-7, a mink track was observed on the shore
at the Shady Point cottage. The mink had gone south toward
Murray's until opposite the Gravelpit when it went out on the ice
several rods to an open place where it evidently fed for a time,
after which it returned on the ice to the shore and then followed
the lake shore on south nearly to Murray's, where it was found
under the edge of the ice and killed. It was in some respects
an abnormal mink, the head and shoulders being unusually heavy,
the body short and thick like that of a coon, and the color jet
black. The pelt sold for $3.50.

On September 7, 1907, a very large mink was seen in Outlet
Bay between Chadwick's Hotel and the north end of the icehouses.
It was watched for some time and was evidently feeding. It would
dive and remain under a few seconds, then come up not far from

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 459

where it went under. After remaining at the surface a minute
or two, swimming and turning about in a narrow area, apparently
eating what it had brought up, it would dive again. Often the
entire length from nose to tip of tail could be seen just above the
water surface. When it dived it humped its back, going under
head first, the entire length of the tail (except the tip) which
seemed to be quite long, often coming entirely out of the water.

After feeding for more than 20 minutes it swam to its burrow
on shore near the steamer slip. What it was feeding on was not
determined.

In July, 1907, Dr. J. T. Scovell found a family of young minks
on the Tippecanoe River, below Belong. They were on a mass of
drift in the stream. They were moving about on the drift from
one part to another. As the boat approached, the two old minks
swam out toward it, and as the boat floated by they made a wheezy
noise which they continued until the boat was some distance below
them when they returned to the drift, into which the young had
disappeared.

11. SKUNK

MEPHITIS MESOMELAS AVIA (Bangs)

The Skunk or Polecat is not common in this region, but it
is apparently becoming more frequent. We saw none in 1899 and
1900, but that the country was not wholly deprived of this inter-
esting animal was on several occasions made evident by the pres-
ence of the well-known diagnostic odor.

On September 16, 1906, the mangled remains of one were found
on the railroad track near the Gravelpit; it had evidently been
run over by. a passing train. On September 20, 1907, a freshly
skinned skunk was seen in the possession of a hunter at Culver.
The skin was 22 inches long, and the tail 10 inches. The roots of
the hairs show through the skin so that the skin looks black under
the black parts and white under the white dorsal stripe.

12. BADGER

TAXIDEA TAXUS (Schreber)

Never more than very rare in Indiana and now probably ex-
tinct in this part of the State. In 1893, Mr. S. D. Steininger, then
of La Grange County, reported that the Badger has been found
in Elkhart, La Grange, Steuben, De Kalb, Noble and Kosciusko
counties; that four had been caught in La Grange County within
the last 10 years, the last in 1887; that three were caught in the

460 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

northeast part of Elkhart County in 1888, and a black one in
Noble County in 1880. Various old residents say that it was for-
merly found in Marshall County.

13. OTTER

LUTRA CANADENSIS LATAXINA (F. Cuvier)

The Otter was formerly not uncommon in this region, but it
is now very rare. One was caught on the Tippecanoe River just
below Belong about 1895. Mr. Anton Meyer, a fur buyer of Ply-
mouth, Ind., tells us that he gets 10 or 12 Otter skins each year,
chiefly from the Tippecanoe and Yellow rivers.

14. WILD CAT

LYNX RUFA Schreber

The Wild Cat or Lynx was probably not uncommon in this
country up to about 1850. They are now rarely seen. We have
unauthenticated accounts of their occurrence west of Lake Maxin-
kuckee as late as 1870, or later. Dr. Hahn records the killing of
one near Oxford, Benton County, in 1905.

15. MICHIGAN WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE

PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS BAIRDII (Hoy & Kennicott)

This species is not as abundant as the Common White-footed
Mouse. It does not appear to venture into woodlands or swamps,
but seems to prefer dry, open situations such as the edges of fields
and grassy pastures. Its general distribution is more northern
than that of its near relative P. leucopus noveboracensis. It is
very abundant in the sand dunes that border Lake Michigan. At
Maxinkuckee it is probably not uncommon, though we have seen
only three examples. One was found dead on the railroad track
November 3, 1904. Another captured at the Gravelpit October
29, 1906, gave the following measurements: Length 118 mm.;
tail 48; hind foot 9; ear 10; girth 55. A third example was cap-
tured November 3, 1906, in a cornfield east of the lake.

The young of this mouse differ from the adult in being drab in
color instead of yellowish-brown. On one occasion when trapping
these mice for specimens it was observed that they were quite seri-
ously infested by fleas. The examples thus afflicted could usually
be recognized at once by their having the hair gnawed or scratched
out from about the root of the tail.

This mouse can be distinguished from its more common relative

Lake Maxinknckee, Physical and Biological Survey 461

(the Common White-footed Mouse) by its smaller size, smaller
ears and feet, and shorter tail, the tail being more thickly hairy
and more sharply bicolor. The adult is yellowish-brown, with a
sooty dorsal band; belly white; feet not quite white; tail bicolor.
Length 4- inches, tail 1 inches.

16. COMMON WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE; DEER MOUSE

PEROMYSCUS LEUCOPUS NOVEBORACENSIS (Fischer)

This is the common wild mouse of Indiana. At Maxinkuckee
it is abundant not only in the fields and woods but also about the
cottages around the lake. Any old pile of wood, boards, logs or
brush, stack of straw or hay, or shock of fodder, is almost sure to
contain at least one family of these beautiful and interesting little
animals. They may also be found in almost any old dead tree,
whether in open woods or dense forest, in which there are natural
hollows or deserted woodpecker holes.

Several examples were trapped in July at the cottage occupied
by us on Long Point. A male was captured October 20, 1906, at
the pond below Farrar's woods.

These mice feed largely upon beechnuts of which they often
store up considerable quantities for winter use. We have on vari-
ous occasions found more than a pint of beechnuts stored in a hole
in some old tree, evidently by these mice. They do not hibernate,
but remain quite active during even the most severe winters.
Their tracks may be seen in abundance in the snow. They also
feed on small snails and other small, delicate mollusks such as
Physa, LimnaBa and SphaBrium. We have frequently found shells,
with the apex bitten off, in and about the nests of these mice.

They breed probably several times each season, as we have seen
young as early as March and as late as November. Th number
of young produced in a litter ranges from four to six. We have
frequently caught old females with the young hanging to the teats
and carried them many rods before the young dropped off.

On two occasions when one of us put a shrew (Blarina brevi-
cauda) in a box with a Deer Mouse the shrew killed and ate the
mouse.

The Deer Mouse is readily distinguished from related species.
It attains a length 6.5 inches including the tail which is 3 to 3.25
inches long. In color it is yellowish brown, grayish, or fawn-
color ; belly and feet pure white ; tail less distinctly bicolor than in
the Michigan White-footed Mouse.

462 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey
17. FIELD MOUSE; MEADOW MOUSE; VOLE

MICROTUS PENNSYLVANICUS (Ord)

The Meadow Mouse is abundant in all suitable situations about
the lake. The extensive areas of semi-marshy grassy land supply
an ideal habitat for this noxious but interesting little animal.
Wherever there are meadows or marsh ground covered with
grasses there these mice will be found, their labyrinthine runways
forming an intricate network under the dead grass where their
nests are numerous and usually quite conspicuous. These run-
ways are very common in the low marshy meadows such as are.
usually submerged during the winter and spring, during which
time the mice must retreat to higher ground. They do not hiber-
nate but continue very active throughout the winter. In the spring
when the snow melts away their runways that were under it be-
come quite conspicuous.

This species is very destructive to grasses and other cultivated
crops. When the corn is cut and left in shocks in the field these
mice establish themselves in nearly every shock, building a nest
near the center and feeding destructively upon the corn. The
amount of damage done in this way to the average field of corn is
very considerable and far in excess of that done to the poultry yard
by the hawks which, if not destroyed by the farmer, would do
much to hold the Field Mice in check. The Marsh Hawk, Sparrow*
Hawk, Pigeon Hawk and Cooper's Hawk, as well as the various
owls all prey on these mice.

On October 24, 1904, a Meadow Mouse was found on the lake
shore, beheaded, possibly by some bird of prey. November 1,
1904, a cat was seen with one. December 11, 1904, one was seen
near a muskrat house in Norris Inlet marsh.

18. PINE MOUSE

PITYMYS PINETORUM SCALOPSOIDES (Audubon & Bachman)

Probably not common. We know of only one specimen taken
at the lake. It was secured November 29, 1913, and sent to the
National Museum where it was identified by Mr. N. Hollister.

19. MUSKRAT

ONDATRA ZIBETHICA (Linmeus)

The Muskrat is a familiar and well-known animal throughout
North America wherever there are marshes, ponds or streams.
Among the hundreds of small lakes and smaller ponds in northern
Indiana there is probably not one that is not the home of one to

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 463

several pairs of these interesting rodents. At and about Lake
Maxinkuckee it is quite common, albeit not often seen except by
the few elect who know when and where to look for it. In the
autumn and early winter, especially in the evening and early morn-
ing, they may be seen swimming about or heard splashing among
the weeds near shore. It is at this time that they begin to build
their houses, and day by day those who pass along the shores of
the lakes or about the ponds and marshes may notice the increase
in size of the piles of Chara and rushes of which they build their
winter homes. These homes or houses are built almost anywhere
along the shore in shallow water or even well out in small shallow
ponds wherever there is suitable building material conveniently at
hand. Every Scirpus patch is likely to contain one or more of
these houses. On the west side of the lake we usually found one
in a small pond by the side of the railroad just north of the Assem-
bly grounds, two or three in the edge of the lake between there
and Culver, one near the Winfield cottage, one or more in Outlet
Bay, two or three between Long Point and Murray's, six or more
from Murray's to Norris Inlet, a score or more about Norris Inlet,
several along Aubeenaubee Creek and perhaps a dozen in the
northeast corner of the lake and along Culver Creek. A great
many are seen each year about Lost Lake and along the Outlet
throughout its entire length, even to Tippecanoe River. Each of
the marshes and ponds west of the lake has its share of nests
and each old kettle hole that is not too dry will have one or more.

While these are the usual places where the muskrats build their
houses, now and then a house is found in some quite unusual and
unexpected place. Among them are the cross-timbers under the
piers at the cottages about the lake. December 24, 1900, a com-
pleted nest was found resting cosily on cross-timbers under the
pier at the Lakeview Hotel. Though not large this nest was com-
pactly built. It was composed almost wholly of Chara and was
a foot or more above the surface of the water. November 2, 1904,
another nest was found in a similar situation on cross-timbers at
the distal end of the Culver depot pier. This nest was quite large
and composed chiefly of Chara. When disturbed the owners of
these nests would drop quietly into the water and swim away.

Toward the last of October, 1904, a nest was found on the seat
of an abandoned boat near Murray's. This nest was newly built
and consisted chiefly of Chara and Scirpus stems. Later, when
the lake froze over it was deserted. Still another nest was found
on the top of a tree that had fallen into the lake, and yet another
on the boughs of a broken tree that extended into the water.

3017618

464 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

The most interesting and unique situation selected by a musk-
rat for its house ever seen by us was a large dry-goods box which
a duck-hunter had anchored in Outlet Bay for use as a blind from
which to shoot ducks. The box was anchored some distance from
shore with the open side toward the shore. Bushes with leaves
still on were stuck in the lake about the box to aid in concealing
the gunner and his boat, a half-inch manila rope being used to hold
the box at anchor. On visiting the blind one morning in October
more than a peck of fresh wet Chara was found in the box. The
amount was increased each night for the next few days until it
consisted of more than a bushel of material, almost wholly Chara.
One morning the box was missing and the next day it was found on
the eas-t side of the lake where it had evidently been drifted by the
wind. An examination of the anchor rope disclosed the fact that
it had been gnawed in two by the Muskrat itself which thus set
its own home adrift.

The materials which the Muskrat uses in constructing its winter
houses are chiefly various aquatic plants such as Chara, water
lilies (both white and yellow), Potamogeton, Myriophyllum, Cera-
tophyllum, Scirpus, Typha, Iris, and the like, and our observations
lead us to believe that they utilize at least some of this material
as food. Along with these various plants will often be found
stems and sticks of various sizes. In Lost Lake some of the
houses contain a considerable proportion of mud.

During the summer the muskrats appear to subsist almost
wholly on vegetable matter. In the early fall they sometimes make
foraging trips to nearby gardens where they commit depredations
on the carrots, parsnips, beets, turnips and other succulent vege-
tables. They also eat the seeds as well as the stems and roots of
the yellow and the white pond lilies. They gnaw the bark from
the roots and stems of Swamp Loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus)
and the Buttonbush (Cephalanth/us occidentalis) . Later in the
fall and during the winter animal food enters more largely into
their menu. We have found them feeding on dead coots and ducks
that had drifted ashore or which, wounded by some gunner, had
escaped among the weeds and sedges fringing the lake. They also
feed on turtles of various species which they find dead or which
they themselves may kill. On several occasions we have found
partly devoured turtles under circumstances which left no doubt
as to what had been feeding on them. December 11, 1904, several
dead painted turtles and a few musk turtles were found near Nor-
ris Inlet lying on their backs on the snow or ice, with the flesh
wholly or partly devoured, and Muskrat tracks leading to and from

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 465

them and all about. The most important element of the winter
food of the Muskrat, however, is the freshwater mussels or Union-
idaB. At various places along the shore, wherever an object pro-
jects out into the water, such as a log or pier, or fallen tree-top,
there will be found in autumn or early winter a pile of mussel
shells where muskrats have been feeding. These piles are fre-
quently of considerable size, containing sometimes a bushel or
more of shells. September 24, 1907, one of these piles on Long
Point was examined. It was off shore several feet and in water
18 inches deep. About one-half of the shells were examined criti-
cally and counted. There were 532 shells, representing 4 species
as follows: Lampsilis luteola, 358; Unio gibbosus, 167; L. iris,
6 ; and L. multiradiata, 1.

During the fall these operations are probably confined to mus-
sels which they find in shallow water near shore. In winter, how-
ever, when ice-cracks form and extend well across the lake, the
Muskrats go far out on the ice, dive through the cracks and bring
up mussels which they eat sitting on the ice. At such times they
get mussels at considerable distances from shore. In the first days
of January, 1905, a broad crack formed in the ice from Long Point
to the Norris boathouse. On January 4, a Muskrat was seen at
the edge of this crack about 1,000 feet from shore eating mussels.
It would dive through the crack and after a little while reappear
with a mussel. Sometimes it dived five or six times before secur-
ing one. It would then sit up on its haunches, holding the mussel
in its paws and, by much clawing and chewing, finally succeed in
opening the shell and removing the meat, which it usually licked
out quite clean. In some cases the muskrat failed to get the shell
open. Usually the shells are but little or not at all broken; even
the hinge still holds and the shells are scarcely injured. It is our
observation that the Muskrat, by inserting its claws or teeth be-
tween the valves succeeds in cutting or tearing loose the adductor
muscles so as to permit the valves to spring open. Another Musk-
rat was observed further out on the same crack, a long distance
from shore, and the ice along the crack between the two was pretty
thickly strewn with shells. The Muskrats apparently do not care
so much for mussel-gills filled with eggs or glochidia, as these are
usually rejected. The stomach of a Muskrat examined at Wash-
ington, D. C., late in the spring was found well-filled with mussel
remains. Muskrats also feed to a considerable extent on fish,
crawfish and frogs. We have on more than one occasion found
partly devoured fish at their feeding stations, and remains of fish,
frogs and crustaceans in their kitchenmiddens. We have never

466 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

seen a Muskrat catch a live fish, but have no doubt they do so.
They certainly pick up freshly dead fish which they chance to find.

At Lake Maxinkuckee the Muskrats raise at least two litters,
and probably three, each season, the first litter being born about
the first week in May. About the middle of June, 1901, young
muskrats about half-grown were seen swimming about or sitting
on their haunches on shore eating bits of lily roots. These were
probably of the first litter. On June 15, 1903, a nest with five
young was found in a pile of brush on marshy ground on Long
Point. The young were evidently not more than a few days old,
as their eyes were not yet open. On May 31, 1901, we caught one
about one-third or one-half grown on south shore of lake. Sep-
tember 5, 1906, saw two young not more than half grown. On
another occasion, a young one was seen on the shore near the Cul-
ver depot pier and was almost caught before it took alarm. On
another occasion, a young one was seen to dive in shallow water
south of Green's pier. Upon wading out to where it dived a hole
was seen in the bottom out of which the Muskrat soon came and
was captured. From these data it is evident that at least two
litters per season are raised in this vicinity.

In the early winter, after ice has formed some distance out
from shore, Muskrats are often seen swimming under the ice.
They move along quite rapidly, and present a peculiar appearance,
a bubble of air at each nostril expanding and contracting as they
breathe, and a number of small bubbles on the fur giving them
a silvery color. Apparently the Muskrat before diving fills its
lungs with air, portions of which it exhales and rebreathes again.
During the time the air remains as a bubble at each nostril it is
purified through its contact with the water and rendered fit for
breathing again. This peculiar habit would seem to account for the
ability of the Muskrat to remain under water so long. On one occa-
sion (in December, 1904) when standing on the ice a peculiar sound
was heard beneath our feet. Upon investigation it was found to
be caused by a Muskrat gnawing at the under side of the ice.
The sound was like that made by a rat gnawing under a floor.

At times the Muskrats make various noises. September 5,
1906, two half-grown young were observed chasing each other and
singing a long, shivering note, followed by mewings and squeak-
ings and other noises or calls. The shivering, singing noise was
heard on other occasions.

The Muskrat is the most valuable fur-bearing animal in the
Maxinkuckee region; indeed, it is the most valuable in the State.
Considerable numbers are trapped each year about the lake, the

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 467

best grounds being Norris Inlet and Lost Lake together with the
Outlet. We have been unable to obtain complete figures of the
catch, but have enough to show that it is important. In the winter
of 1896-1897 one trapper secured between 60 and 70 skins. One
who trapped only at Norris Inlet in the fall of 1900 had secured
30 pelts by November 9, and another at Lost Lake had 50 by the
same date. Up to November first, 1903, two men trapping chiefly
at Norris Inlet had secured 103 pelts. They got 28 one night.
Their entire catch for the winter was 264 Muskrats, 4 mink and
3 opossums. The muskrat pelts brought them 10 to 15 cents each.
The prices now are much higher, ranging from $1.50 to $3.50.
Black pelts, which constitute a small proportion of the catch, bring
much higher prices.

It has long been suspected that the Muskrat is the intermediate
host of certain parasites which are concerned in the production of
pearls in the Unionidse or freshwater mussels. The Muskrat
stomachs and intestines examined by us at Lake Maxinkuckee did
not enable us to demonstrate the truth of this theory. One stom-
ach examined contained no parasites of any kind. Another exam-
ined at Washington, D. C., contained a few parasites but none that
could be identified with the distomid which induces pearl-forma-
tion. A species of parasite, Monostoma affine Leidy, closely re-
lated to the distomids was described from the gall-bladder of the
Muskrat. It is the intention to examine a considerable number of
stomachs at the first opportunity with a view to determining the
facts in this matter.

20. JUMPING MOUSE

ZAPUS HUDSONIUS (Zimmcrmann)

This is another northern animal whose range southward
reaches northern Indiana. It is frequently reported from this part
of the state, particularly from the vicinity of Yellow River. It
is also said to be seen occasionally about Rochester a few miles
southeast of the lake. Our only definite records for the lake are a
weather-worn skull found on Long Point in 1906, and one found
dead near the ice houses on the west side of the lake August 26,
1906. This example gave the following measurements: length
of body, 80 mm. ; tail 108 mm. ; ear 5 mm. ; hind foot 28 mm.

21. PORCUPINE

ERETHIZON DOUSATUM (Linmeus)

According to accounts given by old settlers in Indiana, the
Porcupine was at one time not rare throughout the northern part

468 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

of the State. It was not uncommon for the inquisitive cow or the
dog to come home with its nose full of spines of the Porcupine. It
was the custom to hold the afflicted animal and pull out the spines
with pincers, as they stuck very tightly, while the suffering crea-
; ture announced to the neighborhood the discovery it had made that
day. Troubles like this caused the settlers to wage a war of ex-
termination on the Porcupine, with the result that it is now rarely
or never seen. We have only one record of its recent occurrence in
this vicinity. According to Mr. S. S. Chadwick one was killed a
short distance west of Culver in the fall of 1887.

22. GROUNDHOG

MARMOTA MONAX (Linnaeus)

The Woodchuck, Marmot or Groundhog as it is usually called
in Indiana, is fairly common in most parts of the State. It most
delights in the more hilly districts covered with open forests or
grassy meadows, particularly those near fields of red clover. It is
not rare about Maxinkuckee. One or more pairs can usually be
found on the hillsides about Lost Lake, others in or at the edges
of the fields along the Outlet, several north and east of the lake,
and a few in most other suitable situations. In 1900 one had its
home in a burrow under one of the buildings on Long Point. In
the fall of 1904 some burrows were observed in the middle of a
level field, the holes going vertically downward several feet. This
is rather unusual, as the Groundhog almost invariably selects a
hillside or bank in which to dig its burrow.

In May and early June, 1901, five were shot in Green's field
near the Gravelpit, two of which were old females, and three were
young. About the last of June, 1901, a half-grown young was
caught near Lost Lake. When pursued it ran until overtaken,
when it turned and showed fight. August 25, 1906, several were
noted in fields near the railroad south of the lake. They sat up
erect and watched us go by. September 13, 1906, one was killed
near Lost Lake. September 22, 1907, several burrows, evidently
of this animal, were seen along fences between the lake and the
tamarack swamp, and on September 25, one was seen near the
Gravelpit. On September 15, 1913, we saw one that had just
been killed near the lake, and on October 7 one was seen south of
the Gravelpit. It is said to occur in the high ground back from
the Kankakee River.

In the early spring, soon after the first warm days have come
and the only remaining reminders of the passing winter are a few
snow banks in protected places or occasional little flurries of snow,

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 469

and when the first green blades of grass are just peeping through
the matted dead grass of the previous year on warm hillsides and
along fence-rows, the first Groundhog of the season is apt to be
seen. He will most likely be found out in the open in some old
meadow, preferably a clover-field, and near his den. Here he ap-
pears early in the afternoon when the sun shines warm on the hill-
side. He comes out not only to feed upon the young and tender
stems and leaves of the clover and other early spring plants, but
he also delights to lie in the warm sunshine or to sit upright near
his burrow looking about over the fields and renewing his ac-
quaintance with the scenes which have remained only as a memory
since he went into winter-quarters the previous fall. Later in the
spring and in summer and fall, if you should be abroad in the
early morning when the sun is just showing and the dew still
hangs heavy and sparkling on the tender new grass, you will al-
most certainly be rewarded by seeing one or more Woodchucks in
any cloverfield you chance to pass. Then they come out for their
morning repast of red clover stems and leaves, and the tender
shoots of windflower and cinnamon fern. At this time they will
be quite busy. When done feeding they will return to their bur-
rows where they probably sleep until one or two o'clock when they
reappear, not so much for feeding as to bask in the warm sun or to
look about over the country. Again late in the evening, between
sundown and dusk, they come out again to feed. Then they
usually remain out until nearly dark when they are apt to retire
to their burrows. They are, however, to some extent nocturnal
and may remain abroad well into the night.

The Groundhog is a pretty strict vegetarian, his food consisting
chiefly of red clover and the tender stems of grasses and other
plants. He will sometimes do damage to the young corn plants and
will on occasion, feed upon the leaves of pumpkin, squash and bean
vines. They will sometimes visit the 'kitchen garden and do more
or less damage to the cabbage heads and celery. They have also
been known to visit apple orchards near their burrows and feed
upon such fruit as they could find on the ground. The only real
damage they do that is serious is that done to the clover-field; all
the rest is only occasional and may be regarded as negligible, ex-
cept perhaps the inconvenience caused by the holes they make in
the meadows and fields.

Dr. Merriam has observed that in the fall the Woodchucks tend
to leave the burrows in the open fields and go to those in the woods
in which they spend the period of hibernation, and our observations
lead us to the same conclusion. Certain burrows in Walley's and

470 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey

other woods which appeared to be deserted during the summer
showed evidences of being used early in the fall and those in the
fields had the appearance of having been abandoned in September
or early October.

On May 3, one was observed sitting at the mouth of his bur-
row, which was under a large stump. One of us slipped up from
the opposite side, and, looking over the stump, watched him for
some time at very close range. He was very quiet and seemed to
be looking out across the field. When a small object was dropped
upon his nose he quickly turned his head sidewise and looked up
with an expression of curiosity, if not astonishment, on his face.
Not until the observer moved did he become frightened, when he
quickly disappeared in the burrow.

The Woodchuck produces three to six young in a litter, usually
about the last of April, We have some evidence indicating that
two litters may be produced in one season. On September 10 a
young Woodchuck not more than one-third grown was seen on an
open hillside where it was feeding on fresh grass. When chased it
ran quite swiftly. When overtaken it would change its course
from time to time. Finally when tired out it crouched down in
the grass, apparently attempting to hide from its pursuers. Its
small size suggested that it was born not earlier than the middle
of July or later.

The Groundhog as yet possesses little or no economic value. Its
pelage is coarse and contains little fur. 'The hide is tough and
ought to make a good quality of leather. The flesh is abundant
in quantity, sweet, palatable and very nutritious; it ought to be
more extensively utilized as an article of food.

23. STRIPED GOPHER

CITELLUS TRIDECEMLINEATUS (Mitchill)

This gopher is an intrusion from the prairie fauna to the west-
ward of Maxinkuckee. It appears to be gradually extending its
range eastward. Thirty years ago it was very rare or entirely
unknown in Indiana except in the prairie counties along the west-
ern border of the State. During 1883-1885 the senior writer of this
report had exceptional opportunities to become quite familiar with
all parts of Carroll County, which lies some 50 to 80 miles south
and a few miles west of Maxinkuckee, and in those years he saw
a total of only three or four pairs of Striped Gophers within its
borders and they were all in the extreme western part of the county
where the land is largely prairie. During many years of almost
continuous residence in that county (1858 to 1885) the species

Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 471

was never seen east of the Wabash River, but recently it is said
to have appeared there. In Vigo County it was common from
1886 to 1891 and has so increased in abundance since then as to
have become a serious pest.

In 1899 when our field work began at Lake Maxinkuckee the
Striped Gopher was rare in that region; in fact, only one or two
pairs were seen during that season. They had their home at the
Gravelpit and were observed most frequently in August. In 1900
they were more numerous. Besides the colony at the Gravelpit,
one or more were seen occasionally further south along the rail-
road, several about the sandy hills southeast of the lake, and now
and then one was noted on Long Point. In 1904 they had still fur-
ther increased. On Ju