Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 485 



November is the month of greatest abundance. Practically all 

 that come from the north have arrived by the end of November 

 and few, if any, have left. Our notes are quite full for this month 

 in 1900, 1904 and 1906, and show that ducks were quite abundant 

 throughout the month in each of those years. 



December is second only to November in the abundance of 

 ducks. While there will normally be few or no new arrivals, there 

 will be some departures for the south, and the numbers through- 

 out the month will not differ greatly from those of November. 



In 1899, ducks were abundant and there was excellent shooting 

 at the beginning of the month. In 1900, they were abundant and 

 continued so throughout the month. In 1901, they were very 

 abundant at the beginning and continued so; little bluebills, can- 

 vasbacks, fish ducks, butterballs, mallards, ruddy ducks and red- 

 heads all being common. In 1902, they were quite abundant. In 

 1904, up to December 8, one cottager on the east side had killed 60 

 ducks, mostly bluebills, canvasbacks and redheads. 



The ducks remain at the lake usually so long as there is open 

 water and abundant food. This usually extends well into Janu- 

 ary. Our only personal observations in January were in 1901. 

 By the first the lake was entirely frozen over with the exception 

 of 2 or 3 open pools. One of these was east of the Deephole and 

 was only about 15 feet across. Another was oft' the Van Schoiack 

 place and was even smaller. Still another, and the most important 

 one, was at the Weedpatch, and was about 15 feet across. All 

 these pools as long as they remained open were literally packed 

 with ducks and coots, and many were often seen sitting on the ice. 

 By the 27th nearly all had gone, and none was seen after Janu- 

 ary 31. 



The best hunting is usually from about the middle of October 

 until the middle of December, November being the best month. 

 The open season for ducks in Indiana is from September 1 to 

 April 15. This covers practically the entire period of their pres- 

 ence at the lake, and affords them no protection whatever. Spring 

 shooting should be eliminated entirely. The birds should be pro- 

 tected then, not only because they are en route to their breeding 

 grounds, but because they are not in prime condition as an article 

 of food. The open season also begins too early in the fall. ]\Iany. 

 indeed, most of the ducks arriving in the fall are young birds, more 

 or less immature and so unsuspicious that they fall an easy prey 

 to the pot-hunter. The closed season should be extended to the first 

 of October. 



The most abundant species of duck visiting Lake ^Maxinkuckee 



