Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 57 



meadows dotted here and there with clumps of slender black oak 

 trees growing on little hummocks which were doubtless little islands 

 when the whole region was a lake or river. The stream averages 

 perhaps 5 feet wide and one to three feet deep, with occasional 

 holes that are much deeper. The banks are low everywhere and 

 are of rich black loam ; the bed is usually of fine white sand, with 

 a little gravel in places. The water is always very clear and pure 

 and cold enough for rainbow and black-spotted trout. 



Although the distance in a direct line from Lost Lake to the 

 Tippecanoe River does not exceed 4 miles the sinuosities of the 

 stream increase its length to at least 12 miles. At times of low 

 water it is difficult to get a boat down the creek to the river but 

 when there is moderately high water an ordinary clinker-built row- 

 boat passes through nicely, and no more delightful trip can be 

 taken than that through the outlet from Lake Maxinkuckee to the 

 Tippecanoe River. 



METEOROLOGY 



Introduction 



The remarkable development of animal and plant life in and 

 about Lake Maxinkuckee is undoubtedly due in large measure to 

 the unusually favorable geologic and climatic conditions of the 

 region in which the lake is situated. The geological features are 

 discussed elsewhere in this report; the climate may be considered 

 here. 



The cold winters and the warm summers, together with favor- 

 able winds, adequate rainfall advantageously distributed through- 

 out the year, and the varying conditions of sunshine and clouded 

 sky, make up an environment peculiarly favorable to the develop- 

 ment and maintenance of an abundant and varied flora and fauna. 

 Many correlations between certain climatic conditions, such as tem- 

 perature, direction of wind, character of sky, and rains, and the 

 habits of the fishes, turtles, ducks, coots, certain insects, etc., 

 readily suggest themselves to any one interested in such problems 

 and a number of them can be demonstrated. The distribution of 

 the fishes in the lake, with reference to depth and nearness to 

 shore, is particularly influenced by such factors as those men- 

 tioned. This fact is well understood by the experienced anglers 

 familiar with this lake. 



During the investigations at Lake Maxinkuckee considerable 

 attention was given to meteorological conditions. Early in the 

 work arrangements were made for making regular observations 



