318 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



numerous specimens were secured from that lake, chiefly on set- 

 lines, the large examples obtained by us varying in length from 

 16 to 24 inches. On April 22, 1901, one was found in a boat in 

 the Outlet, a male 21 inches long, weight 3 pounds. The smallest 

 individual secured by us was 3.75 inches long. 



The Dogfish resembles the gar-pike in many of its habits. With 

 the exception of its feeding near the bottom and including more 

 crawfishes in its dietary, the habits of the two are very similar. 

 Both love to bask in warm shallow water. The Dogfish is, per- 

 haps, more fond of muddy bottom. One of the best places for 

 Dogfish fishing used to be the Little Wabash River, locally known 

 as the "Little River," a sluggish stream, coursing its way through 

 a large flat prairie, its shores quaking and edged with willows. 

 A fisherman, standing on entangled willow-roots, could shake a 

 large area and could push down a 20-foot fishing pole vertically 

 between his feet without touching bottom. Here, on hot still days, 

 the Dogfish would almost fight for bait, and there three fishermen 

 landed 55 big fish in the course of an afternoon. 



Like the gar-pike, also, the Dogfish can frequently be seen mo- 

 tionless in the water under clear ice in winter. On December 18, 

 1901, one about 2 feet long was seen under the ice in Lost Lake, 

 swimming along very leisurely. On January 7 several large ones 

 were seen in Outlet Bay where the ice men had cut out ice. They 

 were in three or four feet of water, lying perfectly still on the bot- 

 tom where they were almost wholly covered by the Chara which 

 abounds there. When disturbed they made off, but not very fast 

 nor very far, propelling themselves with lateral flexions of the tail 

 like the water-dog. The same place was visited again in the after- 

 noon and 6 large individuals were seen. One was speared which 

 proved to be a male 22.75 inches long, weighing 4 pounds. The 

 Dogfish is not particularly heavy for its length. Two males from 

 Lake Erie, each a foot long, weighed one-half pound each. 



At Lake Maxinkuckee this fish spawns toward the end of April. 

 On April 24 and 25 large ones were seen in a pool in Green's 

 marsh. The next day it was discovered that they were making 

 nests there. The nest is made by hollowing out a place in the 

 muck, and is of good size, about 18 inches to 2.5 feet in diameter. 

 The fish bite off such rushes as are in their way, and also make 

 paths for themselves leading to and from the nests. The eggs, 

 small and yellowish in color, are quite numerous and are in the 

 bottom of the nest, some of them apparently sticking to the pro- 

 jecting vegetable fibres of the muck. A male was usually found on 

 the nest. Besides the nests found in Green's marsh, another was 



