Adams and Hankinson. — Oneida Lake Fisheries 157 



13.03 square miles, or 16 per cent, of the total area of 

 the lake. The lake is thus both large and shallow and 

 in striking contrast with other New York lakes and the 

 Great Lakes, which also have but little shallow water. 



The shallow waters are usually bouldery, particularly 

 the projecting points, and in the bays sandy, with organic 

 muds in the most protected coves. The shallow waters 

 abound in vegetation, except upon exposed points and 

 shores where wave action is too strong. On moderately 

 exposed places water willow {Dianthera) and bulrushes 

 (Scirpns) thrive, while in the bays a great variety of 

 water plants abound, including Valisneria, Castalia, 

 Decodon, Myriophyllum and many others. This lake is 

 particularly favorable for the study of the relation of 

 water plants to fish. 



ANGLING ON ONEIDA LAKE. 



It is seldom that a large inland city is located so close 

 to a large lake abounding in game fish. The exceptional 

 opportunities about Syracuse for anglers are much 

 appreciated, as is shown by the large number of persons 

 who belong to angling organizations. The oldest and 

 ! largest organization, the Anglers' Association of Onon- 

 daga, has over 600 active members. This association has 

 ! not only planted millions of fish, received from the 

 i Federal and State authorities, but has recently, in 

 co-operation with the college, established a fish nursery 

 at the College Experiment Station at Syracuse for rear- 

 ing young fish to a favorable planting age. These facts 

 are indicative of the character and amount of interest 

 shown in the game fish. 



If one attempts to summarize approved methods of 

 angling in Oneida Lake, much divergence of opinion is 

 found. The number of "best methods" is amazing. It 

 calls to mind the difficulties encountered in any effort 

 to determine the "best" in politics, automobiles, etc., 

 because of the diverse personal preferences. As repre- 

 sentative opinion, the following has been prepared, on 



