THE FOOD OF THE SHORE FISHES OF CERTAIN WISCONSIN 



LAKES. 



By A. S. PEARSE, 

 University of Wisconsin. 



I. INTRODUCTION. 



Since the excellent work of Forbes (1880, 1883, 1888) in the eighties no thorough 

 study has been made of the food of fresh-water fishes in the United States. The data 

 for the present paper were collected during 1914, 1915, and 1916 near Madison, Wis. 

 They relate primarily to the shore fishes of lakes, though the food habits of many from 

 other habitats were studied. Small fishes were more often examined than large, because 

 their food habits are less well known. During the first year 383 fishes were examined; 

 during the second, 1,111; and in the third, 125. The summaries for 191 4 have already 

 been published (Pearse, 191 5). Collections were made at 30 different stations, which 

 are shown in the chart. They may be described briefly as follows: 



1. Lake shore at Merrill Springs. A small stream enters a little bay; three large springs flow directly 

 into the lake; shore, sandy and pebbly. 



2. Lake shore near Pheasant Branch. Muddy, weedy bottom in mouth of creek; pebbles and a 

 little sand on either side. 



3. Lake shore at Maypest. Sandy in shallow water; weedy and soft mud farther out. 



4. Six-Mile Creek at fork. Bottom very soft mud; current sluggish. 

 5- Mouth of Six-Mile Creek. Bottom very soft mud; weedy. 



6. Bar across mouth of Catfish Bay. Bottom pebbly. 



7. Yahara River above Catfish Bay. Bottom soft mud; current sluggish. 



8. Lake shore at Farewells Point. Bottom stony. 



9. Small bay near State Insane Asylum. Bottom clay, with water plants. 



10. Lake shore in bay. Bottom sandy and pebbly in shallow water; firm mud with weeds in deeper 

 water. 



11. Lake shore at Maple Bluff. Beach of rocks and pebbles from the cliff above. 



12. Pebble beach east of Maple Bluff. 



13. Small bay choked with vegetation; bottom very soft mud. 



14. Pebbly beach at mouth of Yahara Canal. 



15. Lake in front of University of Wisconsin. In shallow water, sand and bowlders; in deeper 

 water, mud and vegetation followed by soft ooze. 



16. Southeast end of University Bay behind bar. Bottom soft mud; abundant vegetation, both 

 floating and attached. 



17. Beach outside bar on east side of base of Picnic Point. Bottom pebbly and sandy in shallow 

 water; muddy with weeds at greater depths. Behind bar, soft mud and much vegetation. 



18. Beach along southeast side of Picnic Point. Bottom pebbly in shallow water, then sandy, and 

 in deeper water muddy with thick vegetation. 



19. Beach northwest of Picnic Point. Bottom of pebbles or sand. 



249 



