150 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



hoiiij;- one- of the largest attUieiits of the Hiiwauee. As comparafuM-iy 

 little information has liitherto been obtained regarding the iclitbyological 

 features of this region, Mr. Woolnian's efforts Av<'re well rewarded, not- 

 withstanding that the rainy season had eoinnu'need before tlie party 

 reached the lield. The relatively small number of siiecies which in- 

 habit these waters is especially noteworthy, only 12 species hating been 

 taken in the Alligator Kiver, 20 in the Peace River, 14 in the Hills- 

 boro River, IG in the Withlacoochee River, and 17 in the Santa Fe River. 

 Mr. Woolman's report* gives descriptions of the principal characteris- 

 tics of the rivers, with anui/tated lists of their lishes. 



NEW YORK. 



In July, 1889, an examination was made of Lake Ronkonkoma and 

 Great Pond, Long Island, by Mr. Fred. Mather and Dr. Bashford Dean, 

 a i)art of the collecting outfit and the thermometers having been su])- 

 jtlied by the U. S. Fish Commission. An account of this imiuiry has 

 been published in the Eighteenth Report of the Connnissioners of Fish- 

 eries of New York, 1890, pp. 205-217. 



Lake Ronkonkoma is situated in the center of Long Island on the 

 top of an extended gravelly ridge of land. It is one of the largest 

 bodies of fresh water on the island, having an area of a trifle over a 

 sfpiare mile, and occupies a depression in the drift formation. Many 

 myths are associated with the i)lace, and the lake has been su])posed by 

 residents of the vicinity to have a very great depth. The soundings 

 made during the summer developed, however, a nearly nniform depth 

 of only 15 feet, a maximum of G5 feet having been discovered in one 

 place. There are no inlet or outlet streams, the source of its water 

 being underlying springs. The temperature was found to be high, 

 ranging from 75"^ F. in tlie deep hole to 77° F. in depths of 3 to 4 feet, and 

 80° F. at tlu^ snriiice. It was concluded from the observations made 

 that " the balance of fish life in this lake is nearly if not quite com- 

 plete." Black bass of both species, which were planted some years ago^ 

 are now i)lentiful and have attained a large size. Notes are given on 

 all the species of fishes found, and the commoner forms of invertebrates 

 and i)lants are enumerated. 



(Ireat Pond is at Riverhead, near the eastern part of the island, and 

 although also situated in the drift, differs considerably in character 

 from Lake Ronkonkoma. It drains the surrounding hills and has an 

 outlet flowing into Great Teconic Bay. Its average depth is something 

 over 24 feet, the temperature at the bottom ranging from 05° to 75° F. 

 Tlie ]>ickerel {I'Jsox rcticuIaUis) and common sunfish {fjeponiisfiihhosus), 

 absent from Lake Ronkonkoma, are abundant here, but the black bass 

 has never been introduced. 



" Rci)oit upon tlio rivtsrs of central Florida tributary to tlio Gulf of Mexico, with 

 lists (if liHluiS inhiiltitiiis!; tlicm. I?y Albert .J. Woolman. Hull. U. S. Fish Commis- 

 eiou, X, 1890, pp. 2U3-30'2, pis. i.ii, i.iii. 



