402 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



Later in the season they were generally caught from boats and fre- 

 quently bit freely. About the end of August, 1903, one fisherman 

 made a catch of 85, on worms. The next two days 2 men caught 

 56, and a few days after, they caught 42 in one day. Quite good 

 catches were made late in September, 1906. 



In addition to the Saprolegnia, there is a periodical occurrence 

 every spring of some sort of malady which causes great morta'lity 

 among this species. In the spring of 1901, this contagion broke 

 out about May 19 and 20, when 16 of these fishes were found dead 

 along shore between Knapp's and Farrar's. On May 24, 26 ex- 

 amples, all of good size, were found dead on the shore of Outlet Bay. 

 On May 31, 40 large ones were found dead in a little strip on the 

 southwest shore of the lake. On June 4, 34 of good size were 

 found between the Fish Commission pier and Long Point, and on 

 June 5, 73 dead ones were found on the north side of the lake be- 

 tween the old Vandalia pumping station and Lakeview Hotel. No 

 certain cause could be discovered that would explain the deaths. 

 The smaller fishes seemed exempt. There was a general impres- 

 sion among the dwellers about the lake that it was due to gorging 

 on the great number of May-flies which appeared about that time. 



The bluegills begin nesting early in June. Several nesting 

 fishes were found in Lost Lake June 8, and they were quite dark in 

 color. Their dark coloration may have been due to an abundance 

 of pigment characteristic of the mating season, or to the dark 

 waters of the lake; fishes of Lost Lake usually being considerably 

 darker than those of the same species in Lake Maxinkuckee. 



The nests were very close together, the rims nearly touching, 

 and were found in black bottom in shallow water (4 or 5 feet) in 

 rushes southwest of the Bardsley cottage. They were shallow, 

 bowl-shaped depressions about a foot in diameter. They usually 

 contained several small gasteropod shells and often a larger mussel 

 shell, in the bottom. They were quite conspicuous. On June 12, 

 four days after the nests were first observed, a visit was paid to the 

 nests. The boat was anchored over a particularly large fine nest. 

 The fish were very shy and on the first approach of the boat left 

 in numbers. After some time they returned. The nest over which 

 the boat was anchored contained a very large dark mass full of 

 moving lively bright points the eggs well advanced toward hatch- 

 ing. The parent Bluegill, a large fine one, came and stayed on 

 the nest, moving its tail and fins. It would make dashes at and 

 chase away the other bluegills which seemed to have nothing to do 

 but visit ; they seemed inquisitive. No such dark mass was found 



