Foreword 



The Department of Conservation presents this monograph to 

 the public in the belief that it is a notable addition to the scien- 

 tific works of the present day. It is especially valuable because 

 Maxinkuckee is typical of thousands of lakes in the glaciated re- 

 gions of North America. It will be invaluable to future students 

 because here are authentically reported numerous species and con- 

 ditions which are rapidly disappearing because of the increased 

 use of all available lakes for summer resorts and their destruction 

 by drainage. 



The actual work of investigation was financed by the U. S. Bu- 

 reau of Fisheries. Although they spent thirteen years of work 

 and much money, when the report was finally complete an insuffi- 

 cient printing fund prevented publishing. 



When The Department of Conservation was inaugurated, April 

 1, 1919, the question of printing the Maxinkuckee report was placed 

 before the Conservation Commission. The great scientific value of 

 the work, the unquestioned authenticity, and the fact that the lake 

 is in Indiana led the Commission to approve of its publication. 



The illustrations used in this monograph have come from vari- 

 ous sources. The halftones showing Lake Maxinkuckee scenery 

 (except that of Shady Point, which is from a photograph by Mr. 

 Clark), were supplied by the Culver Military Academy. Most of 

 the text-figures of fishes are chiefly from Jordan and Evermann's 

 "Fishes of North and Middle America" ; the others, as well as the 

 three figures of frogs, were furnished by the United States Bureau 

 of Fisheries. The Bureau of Fisheries very kindly supplied elec- 

 tros for all these text-figures. The halftone plates of the large- 

 mouth black bass, small-mouth black bass, rock bass, bluegill, red- 

 eared sunfish and yellow perch, are from photographs of live fishes 

 in the water, taken at Lake Maxinkuckee by A. Radcliffe Dugmore 

 for use in Jordan and Evermann's "American Food and Game 

 Fishes," published by Doubleday, Page & Company. For the col- 

 ored plates of thirty-three species of fishes we are indebted to Dr. 

 Stephen A. Forbes, Director of the Illinois State Natural History 

 Survey. 



The Conservation Commission wishes to express to these vari- 

 ous gentlemen and institutions its appreciation of the courtesies 



