Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 45 



with the favorable character of the bottom, present a combination 

 of conditions remarkably favorable to fish life, and distributed in 

 such a way as to make practically every part of the lake attractive 

 to the angler. 



The very gradual slope and absence of stepoffs in the shallower 

 portion of the lake near shore which make the lake so admirable 

 as a bathing resort is due in large measure to the waves, and espe- 

 cially the undertow which rolls the fine sand near the shore dowii 

 to lower levels and thus produces a marked levelling action. The 

 effect of waves upon bottom topography is quite marked and well- 

 formed ripple marks which are formed in water to a depth of 5 

 feet or more are often left when the lake freezes over, where they 

 remain until spring and can be observed to an advantage through 

 the clear ice. 



The depths at 10-foot intervals are shown by the contour lines 

 on the map which accompanies this report. Most of the topo- 

 graphic features mentioned are indicated on the map. 



The Lake Bottom 

 Soils 



So far as we have been able to determine, there is no bedrock 

 anywhere on the bottom of the lake. Several hundred tests in 

 different parts of the lake, and the fact that wells about the lake 

 drilled to depths of 100 to 150 feet pass through only sand, gravel 

 and clay without reaching bedrock, indicate that the original bed 

 of the lake was composed wholly of morainic materials, chiefly 

 sand and gravel with a few boulders and some boulder clay. Over 

 the greater part of the original bed has been deposited a more or 

 less thick coating of marl and mud. 



The morainic or drift material of the original bed is composed 

 essentially of the same materials as those that make up the drift 

 of the surrounding land. 



Sand: — Along most portions of the shore, particularly on the 

 west, north and southeast, there is considerable compact fine sand 

 out to a depth of 2 to 6 or 8 feet. 



Gravel: — On the east, and in limited stretches elsewhere, there 

 is mixed with the sand considerable gravel . This is especially true 

 on the north and east sides. This gravel ranges from very fine, 

 almost sand, to rather coarse. The most conspicuous gravel areas 

 are across the north end from the Lakeview Hotel eastward, and off 

 the east shore, particularly near the Indiana Boathouse. There is a 



