INTRODUCTION 
The chief purpose of the study described in the pages that 
follow has been to ascertain the character and abundance of 
the mollusean fauné » snails and clams — that inhabits 
Oneida Lake, and its vc'ation to the fish fauna as food. In 
other places, notably in Illinois, mollusks have been found 
to constitute an important item in the food supply of such 
fishes as whitefish, sturgeon, suckers, carp, catfish, sunfish, 
and other bottom inhabitine fish, and it was thought that 
similar studies in Oneida Lake would add greatly to our 
present knowledge concerning the food and food-habits of 
fish. 
The plan of the work carried on during the 1915 field 
season was to study the west end of the lake rather closely. 
As time was not available to cover all of the ground, sta- 
tions were established wherever a locality seemed favorable. 
3y this method all of the principal types of shore life were 
examined. Collections of all mollusks found at each station 
were made and now form a part of the study collections of 
the New York State College of Forestry. Collections of 
associated animals have also been made and preserved in the 
collection, as well as the contents of the stomachs of the 
fishes examined. 
Plan of the Investigation. ‘The plan of this report is to 
show the relation of a group of animals — the Mollusca — to 
the environment, to the fish fauna, and to all other associated 
animals. This is brought out in nine related chapters: 1, 
Physiography and Glacial Geology, in which the lake is con- 
sidered from a physical standpoint; II, Deseription of the 
Habitats and their Molluscan Population, in which the dif- 
ferent types of habitats are deseribed and their animals and 
plants listed: JE1, Biological Valuation of the Lake, in 
which the Mo!lusea are considered as a food supply, the foo: 
[23] 
