Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 375 



seining operations. Specimens could almost always be obtained 

 however, any time of year by dredging in rather deep water for 

 them, in which case they would become entangled in the long water- 

 weeds among which they appear to dwell. Specimens were ob- 

 tained by dredging up Vallisneria at the Sugarloaf bar in water 

 from 13 to 16 feet, and by dredging at the Kettlehole. The best 

 place for them, however, was the Weedpatch, where by dredging 

 up the long Nitella from a depth of 18 to 23 feet, specimens could 

 almost always be brought up. They were raked up in weeds from 

 the same region during the winter. 



In the winter they appear to come near shore, and stay among 

 the weeds in shallow water. During the winter of 1904 a good 

 number of specimens were raked up in weeds near shore, both in 

 Outlet Bay and in the Inlet region, along with Iowa darters, young 

 bluegills, mad toms and the like. 



During the autumn of 1900, some of these fishes were caught 

 and kept in jars as aquarium fish. They lived throughout the win- 

 ter and proved very interesting; they fed eagerly on the red 

 Chironomus larvae raked up in mud. They also fed on Cladocera 

 and Copepods taken in the towing net, darting after them and 

 swallowing them with great avidity. It was hoped they would 

 nest and spawn in the jars used as aquariums, but with the ap- 

 pearance of warm weather they became restless and finally died 

 (May 15), the water having evidently become too hot for them. 



The Stickleback is carnivorous, subsisting mainly on small ani- 

 mals of the lake. A full grown example obtained June 27, 1901, 

 contained insect larvae and Entomostraca ; a half-grown one cap- 

 tured the same time, contained Copepods. Of those examined in De- 

 cember, one 1.81 inches long containef a small beach flea, Cyclops, 

 Daphnia, Bosmina and insect larvae; one 1 inches long con- 

 tained Cyclops, Daphnia and beach fleas; one 1.69 inches long con- 

 tained insect larvae and Cladocera; one 1.94 inches long contained 

 2 beach fleas, some Ostracods, Cyclops, water fleas (Daphnia) and 

 insect larvae; another If inches long contained Cyclops, and an- 

 other of the same length contained 1 Ostracod and 2 Daphnias. 



This little fish with its elegant form, slender caudal peduncle, 

 and handsome speckled coloration, is one of the prettiest fishes of 

 the lake. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the Stickleback is a very spiny 

 object, it is sometimes eaten by other fishes. One was found in the 

 stomach of a yellow perch in June, 1901, and in the summer of 1906 

 a small straw bass 1^ inches long was found dead with a Stickle- 

 back lodged in its mouth. 



