130 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



which it is subject, as in Lake Ontario, large numbers dying each 

 summer and causing much annoyance by decaying on the lake shores. 



The lake trout {Salvelinus namaycush) is rather common, reaches 

 a large size, and is caught with lines and spears. Several species of 

 white-fish exist here. The common white-fish ( Coregonus clupeiformis) 

 was formerly numerous, but for about 15 years has been compara- 

 tively scarce. Another species, locally known as the "greenback," 

 is rather abundant. A rare species is the "smelt" (Argyrosomus 

 osmeriformis), known only from this lake and Skaneateles Lake. 



The small-mouthed black bass {Micropterus dolomieu) is very abun- 

 dant, as are also the rock bass {Ambloplites rupestris) and the sun-fish 

 (Eupomotis gihbosus). The yellow perch {Perca flavescens) is numer- 

 ous and reaches a large size, examples from deep water weighing 2 

 pounds. The wall-eyed pike was formerly abundant, but disappeared 

 about the time the common white-fish became scarce, and is now prac- 

 tically absent. The I'emaining species include pickerel {Lucius), eel 

 (Anguilla chrysypo), two or three suckers, about eight kinds of min- 

 nows, all of which are abundant, two species of cat-fish, and several 

 darters. A very destructive species is the lamprey (Petromyzon 

 marinus imicolor), which attacks cat-fish, pickerel, black bass, and 

 other species, and kills many of them. 



WEST VIRGINIA. 



Investigations begun in West Virginia in 1899 had for their object 

 the determination of the character of the fish life of the several large 

 river basins draining into the Atlantic Ocean and into the Missis- 

 sippi River. A partj^ in charge of Mr. W. P. Hay entered the State 

 in July and remained for a little more than two months, during which, 

 time numerous streams were examined in the basins of the Mononga- 

 hela, Potomac, Greenbrier, and Elk rivers. Special attention was given 

 to the Monongahela, of which about sixty tributaries were visited, 

 chiefly by team, including the Cheat, Blackwater, Buckhannon, and 

 other rivers. Large collections of the fishes of each stream were made, 

 and extensive notes on the nature of the fish fauna Avere taken. 



As a rule the streams of the Monongahela basin are swift, cool, 

 with rocky beds and numerous falls, and naturally well adapted to 

 sustain fish life. It appears that within comparativelj' recent years 

 they have been able to sustain large numbers of the finest kinds of 

 food-fishes, but at present the fishes are far from abundant and are 

 becoming scarcer each year. The agencies which have cooperated 

 to destroy the fishes are clearing of forests, reduction of food supply 

 by changes in the character of the banks, pollution of the water in 

 various ways, logging operations, dynamiting and damming to fit the 

 streams for log " running," and several others, mostly incident to the 

 industrial development of the country. 



It is the purpose to continue the exploration of the streams of this 

 State, giving special attention to those of the southwestern part trib- 

 utary to the Ohio. 



