378 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological S^irvey 



they stay near the surface, occasionally they, like other small 

 fishes, fall victims to cold, as the water, on chilling, benumbs them 

 somewhat, and rough water in Autumn is likely to wash some of 

 them ashore. 



The Skipjack probably spawns during the latter part of June 

 and through July. On June 13, 1901, some were examined and 

 found to contain eggs which were clear, of a yellowish cast, and 

 about 1/27 inch in diameter. On the next day 3 or 4 were seen 

 coming up the Outlet in arrowy dashes. They seemed to be mat- 

 ing, 2 pairs were seen swimming about together a good deal, and 

 they chased each other considerably. 



In the seining operations of 1899, frequent mention is made of 

 getting many, mostly young, (they may have been young of the 

 year before) about July 8 to 31. On July 20, 1906, a few of these 

 fishes used for bait had not yet spawned; they were so ripe that 

 the eggs extruded while placing them on the hook. Two days 

 after this they were seen sporting about as if ready to mate. 



No use is made of the Skipjack at the lake. Perch and red-eye 

 will bite at them, but they die too easily to be used as bait for game 

 fishes. It is quite probable that its flesh would prove to be well- 

 flavored and firm, as many of its larger relatives, which are found 

 usually near the coast in temperate and tropical seas, are famous 

 for their excellence. Its small size, however, has prevented any 

 attempt to use it for food. Of 200 examples measured, the longest 

 (2) were 3.25 in. long. The shortest was 2.25 inches long, and 

 the average 2.67. They are, moreover, quite slender fishes. 



Their food consists chiefly of insects and Entomostraca. One 

 caught September 9, 1906, contained Bosmina and Diaptomus ; 2 

 captured September 10, mature insects and quite large masses of 

 Bosmina ; 2 others contained several mature insects, and several 

 Daphnias. One contained a small parasitic round worm; 4 caught 

 October 20, contained large insects and Copepods, and one exam- 

 ined June 26, contained insect larvae. The Skipjack is also abund- 

 ant in Lost Lake and in Culver Inlet. It is a particularly hand- 

 some fish in the water, the changeable colors glowing opal and 

 enhanced by the transparency of the body. 



Head 4^; depth 6; eye 3i; D. IV-1, 11; A. I, 23; scales 75. 

 Body elongate, very slender, compressed; head long, flattened 

 above, narrow below; snout slender, conic; premaxillaries broad 

 posteriorly, very protractile, produced forward ; snout longer than 

 the large eye. Edge of upper jaws strongly concave; teeth very 

 slender, mostly in one series, forming a narrow band in front; 

 scales small, thin, with entire edges; spinous dorsal very small; 



