FISSES OF THREE WISCONSIN LAKES 



DISTRIBUTION OF THE FISHES 



As the methods used for catching fishes and studying their 

 distribution were the same as those described in a previous paper 

 (Pearse, 1920), they will not be discussed in detail. Gill nets, 

 all of which measured 4 by 75 feet, were set at various depths. 

 As a rule a "battery" of five nets having meshes of %, 1, 1J4 2, 

 and 3 inches respectively was set each morning and left without 

 being disturbed for twenty-fouf hours. The seine used was 

 fifty feet long and four feet deep; mesh, one quarter inch; with 

 a bag, 4 by 4 feet, in the center. Trot lines were usually set 

 at dusk and taken up early in the morning. The catches were 

 made with the same apparatus in the various lakes and the 

 methods were as similar as it was possible to make them. It 

 is therefore proper to compare the data from the different lakes 

 directly. Though all the lakes were studied during the summer, 

 they were not studied simultaneously. The errors due to season 

 or to peculiar conditions in certain years are believed to be 

 negligible in influencing the general conclusions. 



DISTRIBUTION OF FISHES IN LAKE PEPIN 



Table II shows the catch per hour in gill nets at various 

 depths. The greatest variety of species was caught in the 

 upper five meters of the lake, but the highest catch per hour 

 ca^ae from depths of 10 to 15 meters. As regards number of 

 species the catches were: 0-5 meters, 13; 5-10 meters, 6; 10-15 



TABLE I 

 COMPARISON of Six WISCONSIN LAKES 



The figures in this column were supplied by Mr. C. Juday. They are approximate figures 

 from readings with a 10 cm. Secchi disc and indicate the depth at which the disc disappeared from 

 view. 



t At a depth of twenty-four meters. Ward (1896) found 4C. below 120 meters. 



