228 



The increase and decrease in the thickness of the ice from December 9, to De- 

 cember 20, are shown in the following table. The measurements were taken 50 

 feet or more from shore. 



On December 13, ice cutting for commercial purposes was begun, with the ice 

 5j inches thick. Last winter no ice was cut until January 1, 1895, when the ice 

 had reached a thickness of 6 inches. On December 15, the ice had reached a 

 thickness of 6j inches, after which it grew thinner, owing to the rise in temperature 

 and the heavy rains. By December 20, the ice had melted so that only slush ice 

 remained. On the morning of December 21, this ice had drifted to the north and 

 northeast parts of the lake and at 5 p. m. of the same day the ice had all melted. 



Mr. Dolan has given me accurate information concerning the ice on the lake 

 from January 1, 1895, to March 25, when the ice left the lake. On January 1 the 

 ice was 6 inches thick and kept increasing in thickness for more than a month. 

 The maximum thickness, observed by persons engaged in fishing through the ice, 

 was noted in the early part of February and found to be from 24 inches to 28 inches. 

 The greatest thickness is found where the ice has been kept clear of snow by the 

 wind. In January and February the snow lay about nine inches on the level, 

 but it was drifted in many places on the lake while other areas were without 

 snow. 



In the spring the ice sometimes wears into holes out in the open lake, and 

 breaks up in the center of the lake first, the last ice to break being along the shores. 

 This is the case when the ice goes off in cloudy weather and with heavy rains. 

 Usually the ice begins to melt along the shore, with some holes further out. A 

 heavy wind then breaks the ice and carries it ashore. For the past ten years the 



