Most yearling (I group) smelt in the Apostle 

 Islands region of Lake Superior were caught at 

 less than 10 fathoms, and older ones were most 

 c-ommon at 10 to 39 fathoms (Di-yer, 1966). 



SPOTTAIL SHINER 



The spottail shiner was more strongly limited 

 to shallow water than other common species; it 

 was the only species caught in the shallowest tows 

 of every series (table 6). The range was extended 

 into intermediate depths, however, in winter and 

 fall. Shiners were irregularly distributed from the 

 shallowest depths to 20 or 25 fathoms in February- 

 April ; numbers were greatest at 3 to 17 fathoms. A 

 definite shoreward movement was evident by May 

 5. None were caught deeper tlian 7 fathoms from 

 May 26 to August 21. For each of the six series in 

 May to August the average percentages of the total 

 catch that were taken at 3, 5, and 7 fatlioms were 

 42.5, 48.2, and 9.3 percent, respectively. In other 

 years, however, spottail shiners have occurred in 

 appreciable numbers as deep as 12 fathoms in sum- 

 mer, when very warm water extended on the bot- 

 tom to that depth. Catches in shore seines near 

 the trawling area indicated that they also may be 

 common at depths less than 3 fathoms. By October 

 14 spottail shiners had scattered into water as deep 

 as 17 fathoms; largest catches were at 12 and 15 

 fathoms. They were caught at depths of 3 to 15 

 fathoms on November 4, except for one taken at 25 

 fathoms; largest numbers were at 5 fathoms, but 

 all catches were small. 



Larger spottail shiners tended to be at the deeper 



end of the distribution throughout the year. The 

 average weight from tows whicli contained at least 

 10 individuals was 0.37 ounce (10.5 g.) in the shal- 

 lowest tow and 0.51 ounce (14.5 g.) from the deep- 

 est (unweighted mean of average for each series). 

 Si^ottail shiners taken on October 14 averaged 4.0, 

 4.4, and 4.7 inches (10.2, 11.2, and 11.9 cm.) at 10, 

 12, and 17 fathoms, respectively. 



TROUT-PERCH 



Trout-perch were restricted to shallow and in- 

 termediate depths. Most fish in the small catches 

 of February-April were at 12 to 17 fathoms, but 

 they were scattered from 5 to 30 fathoms (table 7) . 

 Trout-perch were concentrated nearer shore in 

 May, when most were at 5 and 7 fathoms, and none 

 were caught deeper than 17 fathoms. The depth 

 of greatest abundance of trout-perch continued to 

 be 5 to 7 fathoms in summer, and the maximum 

 depth at which they were taken was only 10 fath- 

 oms. In the summer of other years, however, they 

 have been caught in appreciable numbers as deep 

 as 15 fathoms when epilimnial waters reached the 

 bottom at that depth. Trout-perch had moved back 

 into deeper water by October 14, when they were 

 at 10 to 20 fathoms, and largest numbers were at 

 12 fathoms. On November 4 a few trout-perch were 

 caught at 3 and 5 fathoms, but most were at 10 to 

 20 fathoms. 



Average weights of trout-percli in each catch 

 suggest some segregation by size, but no clear-cut 

 size-depth relation. 



Table 6. — Number of spottail shiners taken per 10-minule trmvl low at various depths, February 13 to November 4, 7564 



' No spottail shiners were caught deeper than 25 fathoms. 



 No data. 



U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



