Oneida Lake fishes ^j3 



riie breeding areas of the shallow-water zone may be divided into those 

 with vegetation and those without vegetation. The former are preferred by most 

 of the breeders, but the Blunt-nosed Minnow, Small-mouthed Black Bass. Manitou 

 Darter and Miller's Thumb appear to lie more attracted by rock or gravel than 

 by plants. 



The bordering swamp is diversified in character (Figs. Hj6, 203) but insuffi- 

 cient data with regard to it are at hand to permit sulxlividing it into p>ossible 

 different breeding habitats. It is prolxible that the Common I'ike and the Chain 

 Pickerel prefer the open marsh to the wooded swamp; and it is evident from 

 testimony that Carp breed in situations of Imth types (Figs. 193 and 203). Allen 

 ('14, p. 56) notes that Common Suckers breed in marshes alwtut Cayuga I-akc, 

 New York. 



The small tributary streams are of two general kinds: sluggish ditches, and 

 shallow, rocky, rapid brooks (Fig. 191). The former are probably used by the 

 swamp breeders above mentioned as well as by the Mud Minnows. 



Breeding Seasons. From the little that is known of the life histories of 

 Oneida Lake- fislus, it appears that the time of greatest breeding activity is during 

 May and June. Four common si)ecies are known to begin breeding in March or 

 |K)ssibly earlier. These are: Mud Minnow. Chain I'ickcrel. Common I'ike. and 

 Perch. These four Wong distinctly to the zcarniiiKj 7tater group of brce<lers 

 (Gurley, '02, p. 410 ). Only two fishes common in the region retjuire eooliiiy 7cater 

 for the initiation of spawning activities. These are the Tullibee, which breeds in 

 fall, and the Burbot which has a very long breeding season, lasting apjKirently 

 from fall and until the water la-gins to warm up in the spring. 



Breeding Activities. The princijjal breeding activities of Oneida I^ike fishes 

 consist of the following: (a) migration, (b) nest-building, (c) sjiawning. (d) care 

 of eggs, and 1 e ) care of young. The conunou s])ecies in the drainage system which 

 are known to i>i-rfonn marked migratory movements are: l-ake I-amiirey, Kel, 

 Common Sucker. Common Rcdhorse, Short-headed Re<lhorse, Mud Miiuiow ami 

 Pike Perch. These, with exception of the Kel, are all known to run from hikes 

 to streams, where they s]>awn. The Ivel uses streams as highways to the sea 

 where it breeds, and its long, down-stream migratit>ns are probably in all case.s 

 to Ik- l<H)ke<l u|Min .is elTorls to reach breeding places in the (Kean. In addition to 

 their streamward movements, many fishes in the lake have shorter, less definite 

 mi>,'rations from deep to shallow water. This is exhibited distinctly by such 

 common forms as TullilK-e. Car]). Bullhead, Cliain Pickerel. Common Pike, Sunfish, 

 Black Bass. Perch, and Pike Perch. The fishes that go to shallow water and to 

 streams to s|)awn are very proltably influenci-*! by ten)|)erature changes. Gurley 

 ('02, p. 41S I says of this habit : "Although we are not here directly concernc«l with 

 the origin of the srrk-the-lK-ach inii>ulse. that impulse U'ing taken as our p«iint of 

 dei)arture, it may Ik- iM.inti-d out. i>arenlhetically. that it is as certainly temprrattirc- 

 inducetl as its derivative, the anadromous habit." 



Sonjc species, all of them small. ap|icar to <lwcli princii>ally in the slwllow- 

 water area of lakes or streams and to avoid greater depths (attention was not 

 given in this survey to the niKturnal distribution of small fishes in dneida I -ike. 



