The Relation of Mollusks to Fish in Oneida Lake 13 
The studies of the past season have demonstrated very 
effectively the practical and scientific value of investigations 
of the fish life of the forest streams and lakes of the State. 
These studies open up definite lines for future procedure and 
development. It has long been known for instance that 
certain fish feed largely upon snails and mussels, but this is 
a subject which has not been previously investigated care- 
fully in any eastern state Mr. Baker’s years of work with 
the Chicago Academy of Science, his specialization upon the 
Mollusea which are shown in his papers, “ The Ecology of 
the Skokie Marsh Area, with Special Reference to the Mol- 
lusea”’? (1910), and ‘The Molluscan Fauna of Tomahawk 
Lake, Wisconsin” (1911), made him as well fitted to carry 
on studies resulting in this report as any man in the United 
States. 
Summarizing briefly from our present knowledge of the 
feeding habits of fresh water fish in New York, we know 
that 30 out of 158 species, or about 1/5, consume mollusks 
in varying quantities, the ratios running from 1 to 100 
per cent. If we take 25 of the most important food and game 
fishes that occur in New York State, we find that mollusks 
provide 31.5 per cent. of their food. Of six of the most im- 
portant fish eating food and game fish, mollusks form 15 per 
cent. of the food, indirectly. These figures indicate the 
importance of mollusks in relation to our food and game 
fishes and indicates the necessity of preventing conditions 
adverse to the development of mollusks. In this study, Mr. 
Baker and those associated with him, have examined 130 
specimens belonging to 16 species. 
It is expected that Messrs. Adams and Hankison will 
complete their general studies of the fish life of Oneida Lake 
this coming season and that a comprehensive report upon 
their work will appear in the near future. Other and similar 
studies of the fish and animal life of our forests and their 
waters will be continued from year to year, thereby carrying 
out the general plan of investigative work by the College. 
Hueu P. Baxer. 
