352 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



stand severe cold. On November 30, 1900, a number of these, with 

 graybacks and other fishes, were found in a pool by Farrar's where 

 they had washed up during a storm. The pool was frozen almost 

 solid. The graybacks revived after being thawed out but the 

 Straw-colored Minnows were all dead, many of them having 

 actually burst asunder in the process of freezing. 



Throughout the whole winter of 1900-1901 and during the fall 

 and early winter of 1904, these minnows were seen quite fre- 

 quently in various situations. They congregated in great num- 

 bers under the first clear ice, appearing to crowd up as close to the 

 shore as possible, and they seemed to be enjoying the sunlight 

 shining through the ice. Whenever a hole was cut through the 

 ice near shore, they could be seen, apparently attracted by the light 

 and air. They also lurked about dark sheltering places such as 

 piers, and congregated in great schools about the steamboats dur- 

 ing the winter. They also sometimes crowded about the Outlet in 

 company with skipjacks. When they are associated with skipjacks, 

 the latter are usually nearer the surface of the water, while the 

 straw-colored minnows are more or less the bottom part of the 

 school. On November 1, 1904, a good many of these were noticed 

 with thousands of skipjacks near Long Point. When disturbed, if 

 under a pier, the skipjacks moved out into deeper water, while 

 the straw-colored minnows moved nearer shore. In the early 

 winter of 1904 they were seen crowding under pieces of boards 

 and sticks which lay on the bottom near shore. Those under 

 boards appeared to be dazed when the board was suddenly removed, 

 and were easily caught. When out in open schools, however, these 

 fish are quite alert, and rather more difficult to catch with the 

 dipnet than the skipjack. 



In the spring of 1901 they were seen quite frequently, and, 

 though not in dense schools as in the autumn, were still often 

 abundant along shore as late as June 25. 



This fish appears to subsist chiefly on animal food, and occa- 

 sionally on algse. An example 1.19 inches long contained a good 

 number of Bosmina, one Daphnia and remains of insect larvae. 

 Of a number examined October 7, 1904, several were empty, 2 con- 

 tained entomostraca and several contained Anahxna flos-aqux. 

 A lot were caught at the depot pier the next day; most of these 

 were empty, but several contained Anabsena. On December 7, 

 1904, five were examined of which 2 were empty but the other 

 three contained insect larvse. One examined May 22 contained a 

 few mature insects, others examined June 15 contained a few in- 

 sect fragments, but little else. 



