Biological Survey — Erie-Niagara Watershed 



159 



common bullhead and tlie muskalong-e. Younjj^- of the yellow pike 

 and black bass, amonti- others, do not limit themselves to a weedj' 

 environment but are seldom found far from shelter. 



A sheltered lagoon at the mouth of Cattaraugus creek — a productive 

 place for young fish 



(Jbviously, these centers are important as it is here that young- 

 of many food fish are reared. Ilere also, are producing centers 

 for the minnows and other smaller species that are important food 

 resources for predacious fish. In many cases, when the young- be- 

 come of sufficient size to leave sheltered conditions, they appar- 

 ently migrate to more open situations in the lake. 



Migrations of Lake Erie FisFi. — It would be difficult to make 

 detailed studies of the migrations of fish, and only a few facts in 

 regard to this problem were gathered. It was quite apparent from 

 experience in collecting along the lake shore and in the creeks 

 that there is a definite, inshore migration of many lake species for 

 the purpose of spawning, occurring' in spring and early summer. 

 Along with this there are feeding migrations as in late June, when 

 the inshore, spawning- run of trout-perch, spot-tailed minnows, 

 Notropis deliciosus and such small species brought yellow pike, 

 saugers, perch and other predacious fish close inshore where they 

 were found to be feeding on these smaller fish. Large quantities of 

 food washed into the lake by heavy rains seemed to be responsible 

 for an inshore movement of perch and others at several times dur- 

 ing the summer. Such migrations are of a temporary nature and 

 it was noticed that with a return to low, clear water in entering 

 creeks, relatively few fish could be found close to shore, although 

 a few^ carp, catfish, stonecats, as well as smaller species could often 

 be found feeding inshore at night where they could not be found 

 by day. An important type of migration is that of the youns' 



