Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 239 



ture and places where found, and many other problems the study 

 of which was necessary to a full understanding of the life history 

 of the species. Field observations and collecting were carried on 

 in all available and possible places, in all sorts of weather, at all 

 times of day and night, and at all seasons of the year, chiefly, how- 

 ever, in the summer and fall months. 



METHODS OF COLLECTING 



Seining: Seine collecting was, of course, the method most fre- 

 quently used and the one yielding the largest collections and re- 

 sults. The seines used were Baird collecting seines. When the 

 physical conditions permitted a 45-foot seine was used; where the 

 character of the bottom or any other factor prevented the success- 

 ful use of so long a seine, a shorter one was used sometimes one 

 15 feet long, at other times one 25 feet in length, and occasionally 

 seines 20, 35, and 150 feet were used. Seining operations were 

 begun July 5, 1899, the initial point being in front of the Duen- 

 weg cottage (now known as "Shady Point"), which is on the 

 lake shore just in front of the Arlington station. This cottage was 

 rented by the Fish Commission and used as headquarters by the 

 field party from July, 1899, to July, 1901. (See p. 34.) 



From the Duenweg cottage as the starting point the seining pro- 

 ceeded southward along the west shore, eastward across the south 

 part of the lake, then northward along the east side, and on around 

 to the place of beginning. Each succeeding haul began where 

 the preceding one ended, thus every yard of seinable water near 

 shore was covered. Each haul of the seine was called a station and 

 the hauls or stations were numbered consecutively beginning with 

 No. 1. The following data were recorded for each station : Num- 

 ber of station, location, length of seine, date (including hour), con- 

 dition of sky, direction and strength of wind, temperature of air, 

 temperature of water, maximum depth of water, character of bot- 

 tom, vegetation as to character and extent, species of fishes caught 

 and number of each, species of other animals caught (as turtles, 

 batrachians, crustaceans, mollusks, etc.), and the number of each. 

 Only a sufficient number of specimens of each species were pre- 

 served for future study ; all others were returned to the water after 

 being counted and their sizes and other readily observable char- 

 acters determined. After some little experience in measuring the 

 fishes we were able to estimate their lengths quite accurately. 

 During the first part of July the entire circuit of the lake was 

 made; and. this was repeated during the corresponding part of 



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