Biological Survey — Erie-Niagara Watershed 175 



part of the drainage, notably Ellieott creek. In Lake Erie it is uncommon, 

 but there is said to be good fishing for it at the mouth of Little Sister and 

 a few other creeks, in spring. 



7.>. Esox masquinoHfiy Mitchill. — Muskalonge. L^ncommon. Specimens 

 were taken in the iipper Niagara river and in Lake Erie, at Eagle bay, both 

 times in close proximity to aquatic vegetation. The upper Niagara river 

 lias been a notable fishing ground for it, but only a very few seem to be 

 taken there now. Young were found in weed beds of the Niagara river, 

 July 27; one of them measured 1% inches. The muskalonge of the St. 

 Lawrence drainage is now regarded as a species different from the Chau- 

 tauquai one. There are constant differences in head proportions and color 

 pattern.- The Chautauqua muskalonge has been planted in Ellieott creek, 

 Tonawanda creek and the upper Niagara river, but there seem to be no 

 definite records of its capture in these waters. 



Anguillidae Eels 



76. AnguiUa rostrata (Le Sueur). — American eel. Uncommon. Most of 

 the eels taken within the area under study are caught at the mouth of the 

 Niagara river, with hook and line. The species is less common in Lake Erie. 



Cyprinodontidae Tvilli fishes 



77. Fuudulus diapJianiis menona Jordan & Copeland. — Barred killifish, 

 grayback minnow. Uncommon. In Lake Erie it is restricted to sheltered 

 situations such as Dunkirk harl)or. The largest schools were found in the 

 upper Niagara river along sheltered beaches, in w^ater only a few inches 

 deep. 



Percopsidae Trout -perches 



78. Percopsis omiscomai/cus (Walbaum). — Trout-perch. This little, spotted 

 fish is one of the most common ones of Lake Erie. A small Jiumber were 

 collected in the Niagara river. It usually inhabits quite deep water, but 

 comes close inshore to spawn, often ascending creeks. Hundreds were seined 

 along shore from June 20 to July 12, after which they became rare in such 

 situations. Specimens in spaw/iing condition were abundant in riffles in 

 Cattaraugus creek (near Irving), on July 2. One egg, almost certainly that 

 of this species, was dipped from the gravel at this spot. The smallest young 

 specimen that was found close inshore, one % of an inch long, came from the 

 Niagara river, July 2.>. During, and just after, their spawning run dead 

 adults are common along the beach of the lake. \Yhether all die after spawn- 

 ing is not known, but at least some of them die. 



Aphredoderidab Pirate-perch es 



79. Aphredoderus sni/anus (Gilliams). — Pirate-perch. Rare. A few speci- 

 mens were taken in Cayuga creek at a muddy and weed-choked place. Records 

 from Lake Erie are given by Dymond. 



Serranidae t^ea hasses 



80. Lepihema chrysops Rafinesque. — White bass, silver bass. Common in 

 Lake Erie and the Niagara river, also entering the mouths of streams. Has a 

 minor importance as a game and commercial fish in New York borders. 

 It is often seen in schools pursuing other fish, notably Notropis atherinoides, 

 and is often captured by anglers who cast a minnow bait or a small spinner 

 into where the fish are feeding. Silver bass so taken are usually small, 



^ For an account of the biology of the Chautauqua Muskalonge see Moore, Emmellne. 

 Problems in Fresh Water Fisheries. State of New York Conservation Commission 

 1926. 



' Weed, A. C. Field Museum of Natural History Zool. Leaflet 9, 1927. 



