326 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



few in number and these are placed under chunks or sticks, the 

 edges of rocks or about the bases of water plants. They hatch 

 in about 5 days in water at a temperature of 77, and in the cooler 

 waters of the lake probably require some time longer. The whole 

 school of young follows the parent fish about for some weeks after 

 hatching, forming a thick black cloud of actively wiggling black 

 creatures bearing considerable resemblance to tadpoles. This 

 species, more perhaps than any other fish, frequently gets en- 

 trapped in drying-up lagoons and ditches and dies in great num- 

 bers. It is considerably afflicted with leeches ; the majority caught 

 have the slender fish-leech of the lake attached to the chin, or 

 small red spots are usually found there where the leeches have 

 been. The leech also often attaches itself to the roof of the mouth 

 just behind the teeth. Among other external parasites are Argu- 

 lus maculosus, and a new species of Ergasilus found at Lost Lake, 

 Ergasilus versicolor. Two individuals examined contained en- 

 cysted in the mesenteries long round worms bearing a considerable 

 resemblance to the horse-hair snake. 



In our seining operations not many adults were caught, scarcely 

 any in Lake Maxinkuckee, and only a few in Lost Lake. A good 

 many young 1.5 to 3 inches in length were taken, however. While 

 these young were most abundant in the mouths of inlets they were 

 often found in limited numbers almost everywhere, even on bot- 

 tom covered with Chara. They were more often found, however, 

 on marl bottom. Several examples of good size were taken on set- 

 lines placed in 4 to 7 feet of water just off the Gravelpit. Others 

 were taken in Outlet Bay and off the ice-houses, while the cane- 

 pole fishermen frequently make good catches in the south part of 

 the lake. 



Among the cottagers of Long Point was one lady who appreci- 

 ated the game qualities of this fish, and she made many excellent 

 catches in a shallow channel just east of the Point. 



There are not many people who have ever fished at all who 

 can not remember many happy days spent in angling for bull- 

 heads. The individual whose experiences do not include days of 

 this kind has missed one of the real joys of youth. 



The following racy account of the habits of the Common Bull- 

 head was written by the author of "Peck's Bad Boy," and published 

 originally in the Milwaukee Sun. Though written as a burlesque, 

 it presents a truthful and vivid picture of the game qualities of 

 the Bullhead: "It seems that the action of the Milwaukee com- 

 mon council in withdrawing the use of the water works from the 

 fish commissioners will put a stop to the hatching of white-fish. 



