82 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



this species are the smallest, upon an average, among the white-fish 

 tribe, and they are, moreover, inferior to those of the other two species. 

 The third species, and the one most common in the lakes of this part of 

 Canada, has a common-sized head, and a regular and symmetrical body. 

 The fish of this species average in weight about three pounds, although 

 some are caught which go as high as ten pounds. In the lakes of the 

 back country they are said to be generally larger, averaging as high as 

 five pounds. In Lake Ontario white-fish are caught in the early spring, 

 at some considerable distance from shore, and in about 200 feet of water j 

 but about the 1st of June, as the summer approaches, and the weather 

 gets warmer, they approach the shore and are then caught in great 

 numbers, upon their favorite feeding grounds, which consist of a sort of 

 a honey-combed rock, in about 30 feet of water. Their food consists 

 chiefly of small worms, obtained from the porous rock of the bottom, and 

 different kinds of aquatic insects. About the 1st of August, as the water 

 begins to be uncomfortably warm for them, they retreat precipitately 

 toward the deeper and cooler portions of the lake, and it is at this time 

 that we find them in their best condition. About the middle of October 

 they return toward the shore for the purpose of spawning, arriving at 

 the proper locality about the middle of i^ovember, or from that until the 

 1st of December, depending upon the severity or mildness of the season ; 

 for they do not deposit their spawn until the water has reached a certain 

 temperature, which must be something near 40° F. The fish, like some 

 others, eat nothing during their spawning season, after which they retire 

 to the deep water until the next spring. 



The specimens of white or any other kinds of fish which inhabit our 

 waters, as well as any information relating to their habits and varieties, 

 will be cheerfully sent to you, when required. 



You requested me to send a bill of any costs or expense incurred in 

 sending you specimens of fish. I beg to state that there is no expense 

 whatsoever on our part. 



I have the honor .to be, sir, very respeetfally, your obedient servant, 



PETER KIEL, 

 Fishery Overseer. 



Professor S. F. Baird, 



Washington^ D. C. 



Wolfe Island, January 16, 1873. 

 Sir : I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 10th 

 ultimo, which came to hand in due time, but which I did not answer im- 

 mediately, in hope that the weather* would moderate and that some 

 white-fish might be taken, from which I could procure for you better 

 defined specimens than those previously sent, which were the best I 

 could obtain at the time, the weather being exceedingly cold and 



