170 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
726 feet above Lake Erie, from which it is distant only about 8 miles. 
Though so close to Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake lies in the Ohio 
River hydrographic basin. Its outlet issues from the southern end 
as Conewango Creek, which, after being joined by Cassadaga Creek, 
enters the Allegheny River at Warren, Pa. The lake has no impor- 
tant inlets. 
Situated as Lake Chautauqua is, in the Ohio basin, its fish fauna 
is essentially like that of other portions of that hydrographic basin. 
It more closely resembles that of the Lower Wabash than that of Lake 
Krie, though lying so close to the latter. 
The most interesting feature of the fish fauna of Lake Chautauqua is 
the Chautauqua muskallunge, which is peculiar to this lake and the 
Ohio River. It is a food and game fish of great importance, and is 
propagated extensively by the State. 
The special provisions of the law pertaining to fishing in Chautauqua 
Lake, as published in 1901 by the Forest, Fish, and Game Commission, 
are as follows: 
SECTION 82 (Fishing in Chautauqua Lake).—Fish of any kind shall not be taken 
in Chautauqua Lake from May 1 to June 15, both inclusive, unless by the State 
for purposes of propagation. Black bass, yellow bass. rock bass, and muskallonge 
shall not be taken from December 1 to June 15, both inclusive, except as provided 
for in section 83. 
SECTION 83 (Chautauqua Lake exception).—Muskallonge and bill-fish may be 
taken with spears, using fish houses and decoys, on Mondays and Thursdays of 
each week for tive consecutive weeks, beginning on the first Monday in February. 
No such fish house, decoy, or spear shall be upon the ice or waters of Chautauqua 
Lake between the hours of 6 o’clock at night and 6 o’clock in the morning, or on 
any day except Monday or Thursday, as above provided. Bullheads may be fished 
for and taken through the ice with hooks and lines or tip-ups in Chautauqua Lake. 
All fish houses or other contrivances for hiding fishermen shall at all times be open 
to the inspection of peace officers or protectors, and unless in actual transit from 
the shore to or from a fishing place are hereby declared to be a public nuisance 
upon the ice or waters of Chautauqua Lake at all times not therein allowed. Such 
nuisance may be summarily abated by any officer or private person by the 
destruction thereof. 
Briefly stated, the close season for black bass, yellow bass (J. 
Dolomieu), rock bass, and muskallunge extends from December | to 
June 15, both inclusive; the close season for all species from May 1 
to June 15, both inclusive; black bass, yellow bass, rock bass, and 
muskallunge may be taken by angling from June 16 to November 30, 
both inclusive; muskallunge and bill-fish may be taken with spears 
on Mondays and Thursdays for five consecutive weeks, beginning 
with the first Monday in February; bullheads may be taken through 
the ice with hooks and line or tip-ups at any time. These provisions 
are well drawn and are apparently adequate for the protection of the 
food and game fishes of this lake. 
The following lists are based chiefly upon the collections made dur- 
ing the visit to the lake already mentioned. Certain additional data 
obtained at other times have been included. 
