Evermann and Clark — Lake Cicott, Indiana. 215 



Fletcher Lake (12 miles north of Logansport), and are covered 

 with hard- wood trees. 



At the west end is a long, marshy tract, several acres in 

 extent, formerly all under water, but now simply marshy. It 

 is said that it was much drier some years ago and much of it 

 was cultivated in corn . This marsh is bounded by high ground , 

 and doubtless represents the earlier and maximum extent of the 

 lake in that direction. 



At the east end the ground is dry, but only 4 or 5 feet above 

 the lake and without any higher ground farther back. The 

 lake now has no permanent outlet, but it is said at times to 

 overflow at this end, the water finding its way eastward into 

 Crooked Creek which flows into the Wabash River. Evidently 

 the lake was formerly considerably larger that it now is; espec- 

 ially was it much longer than at present. The north and south 

 limits have not greatly changed. 



It is said that the water-level of the lake is a little higher now 

 than it was a few years ago. Evidencing the probable truth of 

 this belief is the presence of a clump of willows growing in the 

 water 10 to 20 feet from shore in the southeast corner. A 

 curious belief held by some inhabitants of the region is that the 

 lake changes in seven-year cycles — that it rises for seven years, 

 then falls for seven years; but data bearing on this question are 

 lacking. 



The lake is fed wholly by surface drainage, and, possibly, by 

 springs. There are no streams flowing into it, and the catch- 

 ment basin is not greatly larger than the area of the lake itself 

 plus the marsh ground at its head . 



While the shore entirely round the lake is dry and firm, 

 except at the west end, there is in the edge of the water along 

 the shore a strip of varying width of spatter-dock (Nymphasa 

 advena), water-lily (Oastalia odorata), water-shield (Brasenia 

 purpurea) , and a few pickerel weeds (Pontederia cordata)] and 

 mixed in with these is a dense growth of hornwort (Ceratophyllwrn 

 demersum), water star-grass (Heteranthera dubia), a small 

 amount of ditch moss (Philotria canadensis), Chara, a small 

 amount of cattail (Ti/plta latifolia), and various alga?. The 

 bottom on which these plants grow in this lake is of soft muck. 

 Somewhat farther out and in deeper water was considerable 

 water milfoil (Myriopliyllum < spieatum) , hornwort, and fine Chara. 



