THE FISHES OF GEORGIAN BAT 5 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 39b 



yellowish, and not so transparent for great depths as the purer water some distance 

 offshore. 



Referring to the factors of distribution for this particular region, it may be 

 poipited out that no satisfactory scheme of classification can be constructed by 

 which we may indicate a natural grouping of species with reference to environ- 

 mental conditions. Each species shows in fact its own combination of factors, 

 no two being exactly similar in habits, or especially in respect of the food supply, 

 competitively in conflict. Some species, moreover, are intermediate in respect of 

 certain factors, and the differences shown are more often of degree rather than 

 kind. 



If, however, we select out of the total number recognized, foity species, which 

 are more characteristic as natural inhabitants of this region, and refer these species 

 to the most general types of environment selected, we find that approximately 11 

 species are deep water fishes, 5 may be set down as shoal or rock-living fishes, 

 17 as inhabitants of swamp areas, and 6 as inhabitants of sand beaches. One species 

 is characteristic of running water. 



The characteristic deep water species include two species of whitefishes {Core- 

 gonus dupeaformis and C. quadrilateralis) , two species of lake herring {Leucichthys 

 CISCO huronius and L. harengus), the lake trout (Cristivomer namaycush) , the ling 

 (Lota maculosa), the lake sturgeon (Acipenser rubicundus), the lake catfish {Ame- 

 iurus lacustris), and three species of suckers {Moxostoma anisurum, Catostomiis 

 commersonii, and C. catostomus) . The list includes the important food-fishes, 

 together with others of little or no value. Most species show inshore migrations 

 for spawning purposes. In respect of the available food supply thiee orders are to 

 be recognized. The two species of lake herrings feed at different levels on the 

 plankton organisms or microscopic life of the water. Two species, the lake trout 

 and ling are predaceous, living on smaller fishes. The remaining seven are bottom- 

 living fishes, feeding on a variety of organisms such as molluscs, crustaceans and 

 insects. 



The extensive areas, of more or less exposed character, represented by rocky 

 shoals and channels, are habitable to three chief species, all naturally protected 

 and more or less predatory, including the small-mouthed bass or black bass (Microp- 

 terus dolomieu), the pickerel or dore (Stizostedion vitreum), and the rock-bass 

 {Amhloplites rupestris). The former two are important game fishes, the dore also 

 having a high commercial value. Shoal areas are especially characteristic for the 

 black bass and rock-bass, both being only partly predatory and feeding for the 

 most part on the crayfish which inhabit shoal areas in abundance. The dore, on 

 the other hand is less characteristic of shoaly places, since, being almost wholly 

 piscivorous and more or less nocturnal, it seeks its food in somewhat deeper or 

 darker water and in places where small fishes are relatively more abundant. Two 

 small species, finally, inhabit rocky areas chiefly for the purpose of concealment, 

 the species being the long-nosed dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) and the small scul- 

 pin ( Uranidea franklini) . 



The species inhabiting swamp areas of various kinds include the common pike 

 {Lucius lucius), large-mouthed black bass or green bass (Micropterus salmoides), 



