FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 71 



Character of the 'water. — The color of the water of Second Con- 

 necticut Lake was the brownish tint common to these lakes. Its 

 temperature at the surface was 2°F. higher than that of the surface 

 temperature of First Connecticut Lake at the same time. At the 

 bottom depth of 65 feet 50° F. was registered as compared with 46° F. 

 on bottom at the same depth in the First Connecticut Lake. Its 

 higher temperature is easily accounted for by its relatively greater 

 exposure to the smi. 



The conditions of this lake seem to favor a greater amount of 

 plankton, both animal and vegetable, than First Connecticut Lake 

 supports. The higher temperature, the lesser depths, the greater 

 amount of fixed aquatic vegetation, and the character of the inlets 

 seem to favor littoral forms. 



THIRD LAKE. 



Shore vegetation. — The shores of this lake are covered with black 

 spruce {Picea mariana) and yellow birch {Betula lutea), with a 

 fringe of arbor vitse (Thuja occidentalis) and a scattering of the 

 other hard-wood trees of the region. Among these trees is an under- 

 growth of shrubs, among which are mountain holly {Illicoides mu- 

 cronata), sheep laurel {KaVmki angustifolia), withe-rod {Viburnum 

 cassinoides) , and stag bush {Vihurnum frunifol'iuni). Along the 

 border of quiet streams were banks of sweet gale {Myrica gale) and 

 rhodora {Rhodora canadensis)^ and along wooded streams the ever- 

 present speckled alder (Alnus incaria). Ferns of great variety, 

 mosses, and both leafy and thalloid liverworts covered the ground, 

 mingling with a sparse turf. Vegetation came to the edge of the 

 Avater. The shore line was therefore protected by roots and turf, 

 except portions of the western shore, which were rocky. The bottom 

 near shore formed a narrow limnetic shelf of sand, 20 feet wide and 

 3 feet deep at its outer edge. The further descent is sudden and 

 ran to the general depth of 80 feet. A maximum depth of 103 feet 

 was found. 



Fixed aquatic vegetation. — On tlie limnetic bench were established 

 the seven-angled pipewort {Eriocaulon sej^tangidare) , the needle rush 

 {Eleocharis acicularis), and the water lobelia {Lobelia doi^tmanna), 

 and on the sudden descent at the edge pond weed {Potaniogeton ain- 

 plifolius and P. nuttaUH). There seemed to be no other fixed aquatic 

 plants in the lake. The shallower, warmer waters of the inlet har- 

 bored aquatic plants not found in the lake itself — horsetail {Equise- 

 tum Icevigatum) and bur reed {Sparganium simplex angustifolium) ., 

 and there flourished here the great yellow pond lily {Nympham ad- 

 vena) as well as the species of Potamogeton found in the lake. 



The temperature of the rapid water of the streams entering from 

 the hills was uniformly 55° F. on August 15, 1904, the same as of 



