316 College of Forestry 
dust-fine detritus form the basal food which is eaten by 
a host of small animals — Protozoa, Rotifera, Crustacea, 
and Mollusca. The protophyta and detritus increases 
with marvelous rapidity under favorable conditions and 
are thus able to form an extensive food supply. All 
animals may be divided into producers and consumers, the 
former including those animals that feed on the detritus, 
the protophyta ad the higher plants, and the latter consist- 
ing of all predatory animals, which include the majority of 
fishes. From the lmited studies made in 1915 it would 
seem that there is an adequate food supply sufficient to sup- 
port a large animal population, and as the lake is free from 
extensive sewage and chemical pollution it is favorable for 
the propagation and growth of an extensive fish fauna. 
TE. ul = 
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER StuDy oF THE LAKE. 
There should be made a series of year-round observations 
on the aquatic life of Oneida Lake. These should be by 
months and should include the winter season as well as 
the more favorable summer, spring and fall seasons. That 
the fish life in the lake is more or less active through the 
winter season is known, but. what these animals use for food 
is not well known. Little is known concerning the winter 
habits of the bottom fauna. How do the mollusks spend the 
winter? Campeloma, Goniobasis, Amnicola, and some of 
the clams are believed to burrow in the bottom. But in 
the Mississippi River, the mussel fishermen gather clams all 
winter and the mussels are apparently in an active condition. 
Physa, Lymnea, and other snails have been seen active in 
brooks and streams when the surface of the water was frozen 
over. Winter studies would be of great interest and value. 
The biological survey, especially as it relates to the Mol- 
lusca, should be extended to cover the shallow area around 
the center and east end of the lake. Dredgings should also 
be made in the deeper parts of the lake with the crowfoot 
and other dredges (Figs. 49, 50). Quantitative studies of 
the fool supply ‘should be conducted by the Petersen method 
