254 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



the consideration of the lake bottom or of aquatic botany or the 

 various other subjects mentioned above, or because they are so 

 similar to others given as general types that their repetition would 

 be monotonous without giving any additional information; they 

 serve the important but not spectacular function of confirming 

 and witnessing to the facts presented in the typical hauls. 



A good deal of the dredging in shallow water in such places as 

 Outlet Bay, the Norris Inlet region, the Weedpatch, etc., was ac- 

 complished by means of a common garden rake, which was used 

 principally during the winter through holes cut in the ice. The 

 rake is not well adapted for use from a boat during the summer, 

 as the manipulation of it requires the use of both hands, and the 

 boat answers too readily to any pull to enable one to get much pur- 

 chase on objects in the bottom. Two men in a boat, one at the oars 

 and one with the rake can, however, accomplish a good deal in 

 shallow water. When operated either through holes in the ice or 

 from a boat, the rake is useful only in rather shallow water. By 

 fastening a splice to the handle one can work 10 to 12-foot depths 

 fairly well, but beyond this the rake becomes too unwieldy; the 

 handle is too buoyant to allow one to force the rake-head down to 

 the bottom, and too flexible to work the rake satisfactorily when 

 down. 



The rake was used extensively during the winter of 1900-1901 

 and again in 1904. By its means the condition and behavior of 

 the lake plants during the winter were observed, the kinds of soil 

 adhering to their roots noted, and, by washing the plants out in 

 water and straining the resulting liquid, numerous important 

 forms, amphipods, isopods, crawfishes, small mollusks, caddis cases 

 with the enclosed larvae, damsel- and dragon-fly larvae, leeches, 

 worms, and protozoa were obtained. Various species of darters 

 (Etheostoma iowse; Boleosoma nigrum) mad toms (Schilbeodes 

 gyrinus) , Sticklebacks (Eucalia inconstans), and the young of 

 many of the game and food-fishes (bluegill, rock bass, etc.) which 

 were among the weeds feeding upon the insect larvae and amphipods 

 were also captured in the entangled masses of weeds. 



For deep water and for summer work various forms of dredges 

 were used, one of the most effective consisting of a sort of double- 

 toothed comb made by fastening together a series of parallel pieces 

 of moderately heavy strap-iron (like that used for tires of light 

 wagons). The pieces of strap-iron, about 18 inches long, with a 

 hole drilled through the center of each, and 2 crosspieces of simi- 

 lar strap-iron, one on each side, were riveted to these parallel 



