406 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



not caught in any considerable numbers by those who go a-angling. 

 A few are taken about the piers by children and other amateur 

 anglers, and one now and then by anglers who are fishing for larger 

 game. The greatest number and the finest examples are doubtless 

 caught by the long cane pole fisherman. The favorite places are 

 about the various bars where the bluegills congregate. 



They usually bite quite well during April and May. From 

 April 16 to May 3, 1901, several people were fishing almost daily 

 at the Ice-house piers, and many good Pumpkin-seeds were taken. 

 One fisherman caught 26 on April 16, and 16 on the next day. On 

 April 24, a small boy fishing from a boat took 10. 



Pumpkin-seed Sunfish (Eupomotis gibbosus) 



Although the Pumpkin-seed reaches maturity at a small size in 

 Lake Maxinkuckee, good-sized examples are often taken. Per- 

 haps 6 to 8 inches is the usual size, but larger examples are some- 

 times taken. A fine male 7.5 inches long weighed 5.75 ounces. 



Those caught in Lost Lake were very dark, almost black in 

 color, due doubtless to the dark color of the water and the bottom 

 of that lake. All the fishes of whatever species from that lake 

 seem in general to have a darker color .than those of the same spe- 

 cies from Lake Maxinkuckee. 



The Pumpkin-seed is preeminently a boy's fish. It takes the 

 hook readily, and promptly begins a fight which bears much re- 

 semblance to the way a small dog handles a rat ; its movements are 

 rapid, erratic, and uneven, at times quite vigorous, then again life- 



