188 Conservation Department 



SUMMARY 



1. Small fish are very important in the area studied as food for 

 the larger species. Probably the abundance of minnows is a contrib- 

 uting factor to their being found so frequently in stomachs. The 

 percentage of fish in the diet of species like the yellow perch and 

 the white bass, Lepihema clinjsops, seems unusually high. 



2. Data indicate that Notropis atherinoides is eaten far more 

 frequently than any other species.* Since this fish feeds largely 

 on plankton Crustacea, it enters competition with very few other 

 fish and should be very desirable for that reason. 



3. As in other waters the larvae and pupae of midges or Chiro- 

 nomidae form the most important food for a large number of 

 species. Mayfly numphs and caddis worms are also valuable. 



4. In this area mollusks seem to be relatively unimportant as 

 food. Scuds (Gammarus and Hyalella) are also less important 

 than in other sections of New York State. 



5. The food of very young fish here as elsewhere consists entirely 

 of plankton Crustacea. Copepods seem to be taken in preference 

 to Cladocera. 



* See table of distribution of species, p. 164. 



