174. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
found in itsmouth. Asamatter of fact, the muskailunge will doubtless feed upon 
almost any species of fish found in the lake. 
As a food-fish the muskallunge is a superior fish. Dr. Kirtland says that ‘: epi- 
cures consider it one of the best fishes of the West,” and Mr. J. L. Beaman affirms 
that ‘‘as a food-fish there is nothing superior to it. It ranks with the salmon and 
speckled trout and surpasses the black and striped bass. The meat is almost as 
white as snow, fine-grained, nicely laminated, and the flavor is perfect.” The 
quality of the meat seems to improve upon keeping. We ate choice pieces, that 
were fried, of an 8-pound muskallunge the day it was caught and found the meat 
white and flaky, but dry and with little or no flavor. Three days later we ate 
again of the same fish and found the meat decidedly more juicy and with a very 
pleasant flavor. 
The muskallunge is as voracious as the pike, and 80 pounds of muskallunge rep- 
resents several tons of minnows, white-fish, and the like. It is not acommon 
fish; its great size and voracity perhaps account for this. As Charles Hallock has 
said, the muskallunge ‘‘is a long, slim, strong, and swift fish, in every way formed 
for the life it leads, that of a fierce and dauntless marauder.”’ 
21. Labidesthes sicculus (Cope). Brook Silverside; Skipjack. 
Only two or three specimens of this interesting species were obtained, but it is 
doubtless abundantin the lake. At Lake Chautauqua we were assured that these 
fish were young muskallunge! 
22. Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque). ‘‘Rock Bass”; Red-eye; Goggle-eye. 
The rock bass is an abundant and well-known fish at this lake. On September 
26 a number were taken with line and hook baited with grasshoppers, off the piers 
at Mayville. All seen were small. 
23. Lepomis pallidus (Mitchill). Bluegill; Blue Bream; Blue Sun-fish; Copper- 
nosed Bream; ‘* Sun-fish.” 
The bluegill is another abundant and well-known fish in this lake. It reaches 
a weight of one-half pound and is one of the best pan fishes. 
24. Eupomotis gibbosus (Linneus). Common Sun-fish; ** Pumpkin-seed.” 
Apparently common, but less so than the bluegill. 
25. Micropterus dolomieu Lacépéde. Small-mouthed Black Bass; ‘‘ Yellow 
Bass.” 
The small-mouthed black bass is doubtiess the gamest fish in the lake. It does 
not appear to be very abundant. It is locally called ‘‘ yellow bass,” and is men- 
tioned in the State law by the same absurd name. The name ‘yellow bass” is 
properly applied only to Morone interrupta, a very different fish, which is found 
in the Mississippi Valley and not in Chautauqua Lake. 
26. Micropterus salmoides (Lacépede). Large-mouthed Black Bass; Straw Bass; 
** Striped Bass.” 
The large-mouthed black bass, known locally as ‘‘striped bass,” is common in 
the lake and is an important game fish. 
27. Perca flavescens (Mitchill). Yellow Perch; ‘‘Perch.” 
Apparently not common and not reaching the size it does in some other lakes. 
28. Percina caprodes (Rafinesque). ‘‘Sand Pike”; ‘Stone Pike.” 
This darter is known locally as ‘sand pike” or ‘‘stone pike.” It was found in 
considerable numbers in Clear Creek, near its mouth. 
29. Etheostoma cceruleum Storer. Blue Darter; Rainbow Darter; Soldier-fish. 
Only three examples of this beautiful darter were obtained. 
30. Etheostoma flabellare Rafinesque. Han-tailed Darter. 
Several examples of this darter were obtained near the mouth of Clear Creek. 
31. Cottus ictalops (Rafinesque). Blob; Miller’s Thumb. 
Not uncommon in Clear Creek. Called ‘ devil-fish” or ‘‘ flying-1ish”’ by a local 
fisherman. 
