April, 1908. Lakes Amatitlan and Atitlan — Meek. 



181 



This effort is an experiment, with chances in favor of increasing and 

 improving, to a very limited extent, the fishes in the lake. 



The conditions for introduction of fishes into Atitlan are much 

 different from those existing in Lake Amatitlan. Atitlan is very deep, 

 with but a small amount of shallow water for spawning and feeding 

 grounds. It is very certain that Lake Atitlan cannot support nearly 

 so many fishes per cubic meter of water as can Lake Amatitlan. Its 

 volume of water being many times greater, the capture of the fishes 

 would be much more difficult. The stocking of this lake for strictly 

 commercial purposes is sure to result in disppointment. 



Lake Atitlan near Panajachel 



The fact that Lake Atitlan is such a beautiful sheet of water, situ- 

 ated at an altitude, and so completely surrounded by mountains as to 

 insure it a delightful and healthful climate, is quite sure to cause it to 

 become a resort for many people living in the cities and in the lowlands 

 of Guatemala. There is nothing that would add more to the attrac- 

 tiveness of this place than to have in the lake a fair supply of first-class 

 game fishes, — that is, fishes whose capture with hook and line would 

 afford recreation and pleasure. Fishes of this sort, which are common- 

 ly known as game fishes, are the only ones that should be introduced in- 

 to this lake. Of all fishes the Carp should be avoided. The vegetation 

 about the lake is too scant to ever enable this fish to become abundant 



