A MICHIGAN FISH SURVEY 



By T. L. Hankinson, Charleston, III 



A study of the fauna of Michigan is being made by the 

 Michigan Geological and Biological Survey, by employ- 

 ing field naturalists who gather data on the part of the 

 fauna that they are especially interested in and best 

 qualified to study. Specimens are collected and notes are 

 taken. After these have been worked over by the investi- 

 gators, the important facts are published by the Survey 

 in the form of papers in its bulletins and other publica- 

 tions. The specimens are kept as a part of the Survey's 

 growing collection illustrative of the fauna of the state. 

 The biological studies are carried on under the direction 

 of Dr. A. G. Ruthven, Chief Naturalist of the Michigan 

 Geological and Biological Survey. 



The writer has been employed by this Survey to make 

 studies of the fish of Michigan, with a view to finding 

 out what species of fish are found there and as much as 

 possible about each species; its distribution, the relative 

 abundance of its individuals, its habitats, habits, and 

 economic importance. 



About eight weeks of field work has been done on this 

 general study of Michigan fish by the writer since the 

 work was begun, in the spring of 1915. Much time has 

 been spent in studying the fish collected and in examin- 

 ing literature. The results of all this work are to be pub- 

 lished as a monograph of the Fishes of Michigan. This 

 can not be very pretentious on account of limitations as 

 to time and funds, but it is hoped it will be sufficiently 

 complete and comprehensive to serve as a field manual 

 for those who wish to study the fish of the state. In 

 this way, the publication may develop interest in fish 

 in the state and increase the number of collectors and 

 observers of fish life, so that in time a larger and more 

 elaborate treatment on the fish of Michigan can be pro- 



