Conservation Commission 345 



Concerning the Chateaugay lake whitefish, Foreman Otis states 

 that there are millions of the fish in that lake and the people 

 who reside on the shores of the lake say they have always been 

 there. They seldom take the hook, but occasionally one is taken 

 in this manner. 



The lake herrings, or ciscoes, are better known, perhaps, to 

 anglers than the related whitefishes. Mr. M. C. Worts, Superin- 

 tendent of Inland Fisheries, has given me the following note: 



" I well remember the sport that I used to have in catching 

 ciscoes off the West Breakwater of Oswego. My schoolmate, 

 Billy Williams, and I used to make our own flies out of light 

 hen feathers, and by casting in a breakwater have caught many 

 ciscoes. Later on in the season, we have used other bait, but 

 could not catch them as plentifully as when we used the fly. 

 It was surprising to a great number of people that the cisco would 

 rise to a fly; but I have a number of Oswego friends who can 

 verify this statement and who likewise followed the same method 

 and had rare sport in taking these fish." 



The cisco of Lake Tippecanoe, which is probably found in a 

 number of our lakes in western New York, also occurs in Geneva 

 Lake, Wisconsin, where it is regarded by local anglers and others 

 who have had experience with it as one of the most attractive and 

 interesting fishes to be taken with rod and line. The fact that 

 it can be taken for only a few days each year adds zest to sport 

 already fascinating. During the last days of May or the early 

 days of June, when the May fly is on the wing, the cisco is seen. 

 Then the anglers go in boats out on the lake where the water is 

 50 to 100 feet deep and where experience has shown the cisco 

 may be found. Until casting begins not a fish can be seen, nor 

 the slightest ripple on the water; but no sooner have a few im- 

 paled ephemeras (May flies) dropped upon the surface than the 

 ciscoes begin to appear. They can be seen coming up from the 

 depths, their pearly sides burnished by the gleam and glint of the 

 afternoon sun. In a moment the water all about the many boats 

 is a-ripple with eager fish, every hook has been taken, and the 

 happy anglers are busy removing the catch and dropping it into 

 their boats. The May-fly is the lure in almost exclusive use, 

 though Mr. Harris succeeded in taking a few fish with an irtificial 



