132 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the water again when they decay. If on the other hand the rooted plants draw 

 nourishment from the soil, when they decay this material or a part of it passes 

 into solution in the water. Thus the plants would serve as a continual go-between 

 between the soil and the water, extracting from the soil and adding to the water 

 plant food materials. These food materials would then serve for the nutrition of 

 the aquatic algae, upon which all of the animals of the water depend either directly 

 or indirectly for their food. 



During August a 90-foot steam yacht was hired and used in trans- 

 porting from point to point a camping party in charge of Dr. Hill, 

 engaged in collecting animal forms along the shores of the lake. Mr. 

 Lewis gave special attention to the parasites of the lake fishes. All the 

 organs of each fish examined were systematically searched for para- 

 sites, the results recorded, and the parasites preserved. Mr. McClel- 

 lan collected bryozoa, flatworms, and leeches, and Dr. Hill and Dr. 

 Jennings the remaining invertebrates. The material preserved, which 

 is without doubt the most complete invertebrate collection from the 

 region, has been distributed to well-known specialists for identification, 

 including Prof. E. A. Birge, of the University of Wisconsin; Dr. J. P. 

 Moore, of the Universitj^ of Pennsylvania; Dr. C. M. Child and Dr. 

 C. B. Davenport, of the University of Chicago, and Mr. Raymond 

 Pearl, of the University of Michigan. 



The hired vessel was also employed in work on the plankton, under 

 the immediate charge of Professor Reighard and Dr. Ward, and manj^ 

 deep-water hauls were made. The steamer Shearivater, belonging to 

 the Commission, was likewise used to a limited extent. 



Mrs. Jennings was engaged as artist and gave her time to making 

 pen-and-ink and water-color drawings of algie and living animals, 

 especially those which do not retain their colors in the ordinary pre- 

 serving fluids. Mrs. Jennings's work, which is of a high grade, has 

 been placed in the hands of those who are studying the various groups. 



WABASH BASIN, INDIANA. 



In the summer of 1899 the Commission entered on a systematic 

 study of the phj^sical and biological features of the Wabash River 

 and Its tributary lakes and streams, under the direction of Prof. B. W. 

 Evermann. Some inquiries were made in behalf of the Commission 

 by members of the biological station of the Indiana University at 

 Winona Lake, at Bass Lake in Starke County, and Bruce Lake and 

 Tippecanoe River in Fulton County, and several other waters were 

 also examined ; but the principal work of the season was addressed 

 to Lake Maxinkuckee, in Marshall County. In view of the intimate 

 relations which exist between the fishes, other animals, and plants of 

 a lake, it seemed desirable for the Commission to make a compre- 

 hensive survey of some small body of water representative of the 

 numerous lakes of glacial origin in the Upper Mississippi Valle)^ 

 Maxinkuckee was selected as being typical of that class, and, in 

 addition, is conveniently located, is a popular resort for fishermen, , 

 and has a rich fauna and flora. 



