134 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The lake is fed by draining from swamps and farm lands and discharges through 

 a canal which begins near Lake Landing on the southeast shore and ends in Yeo- 

 socking Bay, Pamlico Sound. The northern and western shores are swampy and 

 marshy, while on the south and east there are extensive farms, generally dry and 

 very fertile. Cypress and willow trees form an almost continuous border around 

 the lake and grow far out into it. 



The lake supports but little sport fishing and no market fishing, although con- 

 siderable quantities of fish are taken for local consumption with rod and line and 

 gill net. The turbid and brown water renders the nets less conspicuous and this 

 increases their effectiveness. 



While the variety of food-fishes found in the lake is rather small, it embraces a 

 number of first-class species. The most highly prized and the most important 

 from a local standpoint is the white perch {Morone americana) , which is exceed- 

 ingly abundant, reaches a large size, and occurs everywhere in the lake and drain- 

 age ditches. The yellow perch {Perca Jlavescens), locally called "redfin," is also 

 abundant, but less so than formerly. The blue bream {Lepomis pallidus) is very 

 common and ranks next to the white perch in popular estimation. The large- 

 mouth black bass (Micropterus salmoides), having the local names of "chub" and 

 "Welshman," is present in considerable numbers. The pike (Lucius reticulatus) 

 attains a large size and is numerous, and the pickerel (Lucius americanus), called 

 "jack," also occurs. Cat-fish (Ameiurus catus, and doubtless other species) and 

 eels are abundant. The latter are not much used, although at one time a religious 

 sect called "The Sanctified " made a business of catching eels in the lake and ship- 

 ping them north. 



The only effort to stock the lake seems to have been with carp, about 10 years 

 ago, and was fairly successful, although the fish is not highly regarded in the 

 community. After the West Indian hurricane in August, 1899, a cartload of 

 large carp was found in a hole near the south shore of the lake. 



Other species found in the lake are the little sun-fish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), 

 the common sun-fish or pumpkin-seed ( Eupomotis gibbosus) , the darter (Boleich- 

 thysfusiformis) , the roach or shiner ( Abramis chrysoleucas) , the stone cat (Noturus 

 gyrinus), the dog-fish (Amia calva), the hog-choker (Achirus fasciatus), the 

 silverside (Menidia beryllina), and minnow (Notropis). 



Besides fishes, shrimp (Palcemonetes) and crayfish (Cambarus) are abundant, 

 and the blue crab (Callinectes) has been found in the canal and in the lake near 

 the outlet. Turtles and terrapin abound, and water snakes are numerous, the 

 "moccasin" (Tropidonotus) being most plentiful. Alligators are present, but 

 are not common. 



CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND ARIZONA. 



During the first half of the fiscal year Mr. Cloudsley Rutter resumed 

 his special study of the chinook salmon of the Sacramento Basin, and 

 at the same time carried on an investigation of the general fish fauna 

 of the region. He also visited the headwaters of many of the eastern i 

 tributaries of the Sacramento River, where no salmon run, and mad© < 

 interesting observations on the fishes and large collections. Between 

 December and Julj^ Mr. Rutter was engaged in laboratory work, study- 

 ing the collections, preparing his reports, and compiling data for an i 

 article on the embryology of the salmon as a part of the monograph I 

 on the life-history of the species now in course of preparation. 



In continuation of the ichthyological examinations of the Pacific 

 coast, referred to in previous reports, a party under charge of Prof. 

 Charles H. Gilbert, of Stanford University, visited the streams between^ 





