252 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



minnow and a few grayback minnows ; other schools would be com- 

 posed of grayback minnows almost entirely, and still others of 

 skipjacks. 



Gill-nets: Several gill-nets were used in July, 1899, but, as the 

 results were chiefly negative, their use was discontinued at the end 

 of that month. 



Nets of 2, 2 and 3} inch (bar) mesh were used. The nets 

 were tried in various places, in water of different depths, at dif- 

 ferent depths (sometimes at the surface, and again at intermediate 

 depths), and under diverse conditions. The conclusion reached 

 after a month's trial was that the results obtained did not justify 

 the time and labor involved. Only 4 different species of fishes were 

 taken in the gill-nets ; these, in order of numbers taken, were straw 

 bass, yellow perch, walleyed pike and long-nosed gar. The bass 

 were of moderate size (from to H Ibs.), the perch were all of 

 good size, the single walleyed pike weighed 2 pounds, and the single 

 gar was 27 inches long. 



The coarse-mesh net caught nothing ; the 2-inch mesh was most 

 effective. 



The majority of the fish caught were in nets set in shallow 

 water; none was caught as deep as 25 feet. The nets set at the 

 edge of bars or deep holes were the ones in which fish were most 

 often taken. Those set near the surface yielded more than when 

 set deeper in the same water. More fish were caught at night than 

 during the day. 



One of the principal objects in using gill-nets was to determine 

 whether the Tippecanoe Cisco (Leucichthys sisco) inhabits this 

 lake. The tests seemed to demonstrate that it does not. 



Set-lines: A number of tests were made with set-lines, chiefly 

 in the south part of the lake and in Lost Lake. It was desired to 

 know what species could be taken in this manner, the most suitable 

 places for each, the best kinds of bait, the best season, etc. 



Only negative results were obtained in deep water, and usually 

 in all other places except on muddy bottom. The only species 

 caught were yellow cat, common bullhead cat, dogfish, rock bass, 

 water-dog, snapping turtle, soft-shell turtle, map turtle and musk 

 turtle. The catfish could generally be taken in considerable num- 

 bers on mud or marl bottom, especially in Lost Lake. Many water- 

 dogs and turtles also were taken in the same and similar places. 

 Only a few dogfish were caught. 



Various kinds of bait were used, the principal ones being beef, 

 liver, mussel, crawfish, and cut fish. Liver seemed best, though all 

 were effective. 



