Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 261 



of bars on which the depth is 20 feet or less, and these are dis- 

 tributed about the lake most advantageously. The water appears 

 to be of the best, as to purity, clearness, and temperature; it is 

 warm enough to meet the needs of many species which thrive in 

 warmer water, and cold enough for cold water species. The only 

 important known limitation lies in the absence of absorbed oxygen 

 in the depths, which necessarily bars the lake to deepwater species, 

 such as the lake trout. 



The biological environment appears to be equally well adapted 

 to support a varied and abundant fish life. The plankton (both 

 holophytic and holozoic) is adequate both in quantity and quality; 

 its composition seems almost ideal, and its distribution appears 

 to be that which will meet the needs of the fishes in the highest 

 measure. 



The larger plants are also well selected as to species and abund- 

 ance; most of them are certainly helpful in one way or another. 

 Animals of various kinds, many of them useful to fishes and few 

 of them harmful, are present. There are many species of mollusks, 

 many of crustaceans, and a good number of batrachians and rep- 

 tiles. Aquatic birds, as ducks, coots and grebes, are common, and 

 to be sure, not always helpful to fish-life, but, on the other hand, 

 not wholly harmful. Natural enemies of fishes are not numerous 

 nor very destructive. The purity of the water probably has much 

 to do v/ith keeping the fishes resistant to disease. 



Favorable situations for spawning grounds are numerous. 

 There are reedy shallows for pickerel, pike, yellow perch, and the 

 like ; sandy and gravelly areas near shore for darters, various min- 

 nows, and sunfishes of various kinds ; bars of moderate depth well 

 suited to bass, bluegills, walleyed pike and yellow perch; and a 

 great range of situations in which most of the other species find 

 conditions favorable to their eggs and young. 



In the following systematic account of the fishes of Lake Maxin- 

 kuckee, we have endeavored to treat each species somewhat fully, 

 so that anyone using this report will be able to acquire the general 

 facts in its life history and to be able to distinguish the different 

 species, one from another. A statement as to the known geogra- 

 phic distribution of each is given, followed by remarks on its dis- 

 tribution and habits in Lake Maxinkuckee as made known to us 

 through our studies in that region, and finally by a relatively non- 

 technical description which, it is believed, will enable anyone using 

 the book to identify the species occurring here. 



The total number of species of fishes known from Lake Maxin- 

 kuckee and its immediately connecting waters is 64. Of this num- 



