Biological Survey — Erie-Niagara Watershed 151 



illustrations, as well as valuable data regarding distribution of 

 many species. 



General Nature of the Region. — The New York state part of 

 the Lake Erie watershed, together with the Niagara river drainage, 

 comprises an area of 2,440 square miles, lying entirely within the 

 glaciated territory of the State. The highest points of the watershed 

 are toward the south and east where all of the longer tributary 

 streams -have their sources. The greatest elevations are at the 

 headwaters of Cattaraugus creek, tributaries of which have their 

 sources at points over 1,900 feet above sea level. The lowest point is 

 at the mouth of the Niagara river, at an elevation of 246' feet. Near 

 the lake shore, the slope is uniformly gentle, the hills being remote 

 from the shore. However, at the western border of the state the 

 hills are closer to the shore, and at the vicinity of Westfield the 

 streams are precipitous and very short. 



Fish Distribution. — In the region studied 94 species (includ- 

 ing sub-species) of fishes were found by the survey party. Previous 

 records, mainly from other parts of Lake Erie, bring the total 

 list up to 116 species. These will be found listed, and briefly dis- 

 cussed, in the annotated list.^ 



Considering the subdivisions of the drainage area, fish are dis- 

 tributed as follows: Lake Erie 95 species. Lake Erie tributaries 

 73 species, the Niagara river 49 species and Niagara river tribu- 

 taries 51 species.^ 



It may be of interest to discuss, briefly, the relationships of 

 the fish fauna of the area under consideration with that of other 

 watersheds. Lake Erie resembles the Great Lakes west of it in 

 having many Mississippi drainage species, examples of which are 

 the white bass, Storer's chub and the white carp. Still others of 

 its fishes are species of northern distribution, such as the ling, 

 whitefish and fine-scaled sucker. Lake Erie tributaries show re- 

 lationships with streams west of them, especially in such Missis- 

 sippi drainage forms as the rainbow darter, and the big-eyed chub. 

 The upper Niagara river has practically the same species as Lake 

 Erie, while the lower Niagara river is much like Lake Ontario 

 having, in common with it, a few distinctive Atlantic coast fishes, 

 as the sawbelly and two-spined stickleback. Niagara river tribu- 

 taries are closely related in respect of fish fauna to Lake Ontario 

 tributaries, but have one or two western species. At present there 

 is opportunity for species to extend their ranges eastward or west- 

 ward by means of the Barge canal. 



A glance at the geological history of the Great Lakes throws 

 light on the problem of the present distribution of the fish of these 

 waters. Before glaciation the area was drained by the great 

 Laurentian river flowing to the Atlantic and following much the 

 same course as the present drainage, except that there were no 



^See page 166. 

 ^ See page 164. 



