176 Conservation Department 



about a half pound in weight. In spring, they are caught by seines in Cat- 

 taraugus creek and a few are caught, during the summer, in gill nets.^ Young 

 were fairly common in several places along the lake shore and in creek 

 mouths. One was taken in the Niagara river, on July 27, that measured 

 il of an inch. 



Percidae Perches 



81. Perca flavescens (Mitchill). — Yellow perch. Very common. A fish of 

 high economic importance in Lake Erie, and the Niagara river. It occurs 

 also in small lakes, as Lime lake, where it has been introduced. Several of 

 the larger, deeper creeks also have perch, but they are fewer in number in 

 these places. In the New York area of Lake Erie, perch are fished by gill nets, 

 principally. The species ranges widely, being found in deep as w^ell as shallow 

 water. Young were found, commonly, in sheltered places along the lake shore, 

 and especially in the w^eed beds of the Niagara river. Specimens taken at the 

 latter localitV, on July 26, ranged in size from I14 to 1% inches. A larger 

 size taken with them, from 3i/4 to 4% inches, proved by scale examinations 

 to be yearlings. 



82. Stizostedion canadense griseum (De Kay). — Sanger, sand pike. (Plate 

 6.) Common in Lake Erie, where it it is often taken by net fishermen and 

 anglers. The sauger, like the next species and unlike the blue pike, is most 

 common in relatively shallow water, avoiding the deepest parts of the lake. 

 It is inferior to the yellow pike in size and quality of flesh. However, it is 

 a good fish and has a ready sale. All those takeii at the beginning of the 

 summer's collecting had spawned, with one exception. This was in the case 

 of one taken in Silver creek bay, on July 4, which contained eggs ready to 

 deposit. 



83. Stisostedion vitreum (Mitchill). — Yellow pike, pike-perch, wall-eyed 

 pike. (Plate 7.) Common in Lake Erie and the Niagara river. Has been 

 established in a few of the small lakes, notably Java lake. This is the largest 

 member of the genus, and is the most important one for angling. Its num- 

 bers are fewer than the blue pike, however, and it is less important commer- 

 cially, than the latter. Young were seined at numerous localities along the 

 lake shore and in the Niagara river, and were more common in sheltered 

 areas than in exposed places. They grow rapidly. Four specimens from the 

 Niagara river, taken July 20, were from 1% to 2% inches long. 



84. Stizostedion glancum (Hubbs). — Blue pike. (Plate 8.) Very common 

 in Lake Erie, inhabiting also the upper and lower Niagara river. A very 

 important commercial fish in Lake Erie; in New York waters the principal 

 means of capture is by gill nets. Although by no means confined to deep 

 water, it is most common there. A limited number of small specimens was 

 taken along shore, but no young were found there that could be positively 

 determined as belonging to ithis species rather than to vitreum. 



85. Ilndroptcrus maculafus (Girard). — Black-sided darter. Uncommon. 

 Occurs in many warm streams of the eastern and southern parts of the 

 watershed, but is not present in headwater brooks. 



80. Perrhia caprodes zehra (Agassiz). — Log perch, modoch. Very common 

 in Lake Erie and the lower courses of streams, as well as in the Niagara 

 river. This is a choice bait fish (used illegally since it is not a minnow) 

 for black bass in Lake Erie, going by the name of modoch. It ascends streams 

 to the riffles for spawning, the run lasting until the last part of June. Late 

 in summer it was less common inshore. 



87. Rhcocrypta copclandi Jordan. — Copeland's da iter. Common in Lake 

 Erie and in the lower courses of several tributaries. Like the last species, 

 many individuals ascend streams to spawn. Ripe males were found in Eigh- 

 teen-mile creek on July 11, in the riffles about ^/i mile from the mouth. 



88. Imostoma shumardi (Girard). — River dartcM-. Forbes and Richardson^ 

 state that it has been reported from Lake Erie. TIumc seem to be no definite 

 records. 



1 



* Forbears A and Richardson, R. E. The Fishes of Illinois. Nat. Hist. Survey 

 of 111. in>*^aVe|T!tib. Nat. Hist. 1908. 



