276 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



Ice fishing usually begins as soon as the ice is strong enough 

 to bear up well, and continues as long as it remains safe. In the 

 winter of 1900-1901, it began on December 13 and continued until 

 March 22. Fishing is best when the ice is covered with snow or 

 has become sufficiently opaque to prevent the fish from seeing the 

 fishermen. 



As Lost Lake freezes over earlier in the winter than the large 

 lake, ice fishing begins there first. On the first fine morning after 

 the ice has become strong enough to be safe and sufficient snow has 

 fallen to render it opaque, the ice fishermen will be found out in 

 force. Usually there are about a half dozen who make ice fishing 

 a regular business in winter. Besides these there is a varying 

 number of others who fish irregularly. The fishermen usually ar- 

 rive upon the scene early in the morning and, unless the weather 

 becomes too disagreeable, continue until evening, and every day 

 until the ice becomes so rotten as to be unsafe. 



The number of ice fishermen will vary from 2 or 3 to 20 or 

 30; perhaps the average daily number would be about 6. 



The species of fishes that are caught in this way at this lake 

 are the following : Straw bass, black bass, bluegill, rock bass, wall- 

 eyed pike, yellow perch, warmouth, crappie, calico bass, grass pike, 

 and catfish. Water-dogs and turtles are also occasionally taken. 



The straw bass is the principal fish caught, though large num- 

 bers of the other species are sometimes taken. The method is a 

 very successful one and on favorable days large catches are made. 



The following table shows by species the number of fish caught 

 by certain ice fishermen in the winter of 1900-1901 : 



