358 REPORT OF THE 



The greatest depth of the lake is said to be 80 feet, at a point between 

 Chautauqua and Long Point. The depth is reported to be 62 feet quite close in 

 to Long Point. The greater portion of the lake, however, is relatively shallow and 

 the depth probably does not average greater than 20 feet. The entire northern end 

 seems quite shallow, probably nowhere exceeding 15 to 20 feet. 



The lake is surrounded by gently sloping hills, the highest rising 200 or 300 feet 

 above the water surface. These hills are, as a rule, all cultivated to their summits, 

 and doubtless much sediment is carried into the lake from surface erosion on the 

 surrounding cultivated ground. The shores of the lake are usually moderately 

 abrupt, though nearly everywhere there is a strip of beach, more or less narrow and 

 frequently wet or marshy. At the north end is a considerable tract of low ground 

 moderately timbered and inclined to be marshy. 



Around the shores and in shallow water are good growths of Scirpus, and water 

 lilies were noticed in a few places. Li the water were noted also such aquatics as 

 Myriophylhim, Co-atopJiyllmn, Potanwgcton, and the like. 



The elevation of the lake above sea level is given as i,2gi feet, and 726 feet above 

 Lake Erie, from which it is distant only about 8 miles. Though so close to Lake 

 Erie, Chautauqua Lake lies in the Ohio River hydrographic basin. Its outlet issues 

 from the southern end as Conewango Creek which, after being joined by Cassadaga 

 Creek, enters the Alleghany River at Warren, Pa. 



The lake has no important inlets. 



Situated as Lake Chautauqua is, in the Ohio basin, its fish fauna is essentially 

 like that of other portions of that hydrographic basin. It more closely resembles 

 that of the lower Wabash than that of Lake Erie, though lying so close to the latter. 



The most interesting feature of the fish fauna of Lake Chautauqua is the Chau- 

 tauqua muskallunge which is peculiar to this lake and the Ohio River. It is a food 

 and game fish of great importance and is propagated extensively by the State. 



The special provisions of the law pertaining to fishing in Chautauqua Lake as 

 published in 1901 by the Forest, Fish and Game Commission are as follows: 



Section 82. Fishing in Chautauqua Lake. Fish of any kind shall not be taken 

 in Chautauqua Lake from May first to June fifteenth, both inclusive, unless by the 

 State for purposes of propagation. Black bass, yellow bass, rock bass and muskal- 

 longe shall not be taken from December first to June fifteenth, both inclusive, 

 except as provided for in section eighty-three. 



Section 83. Chautauqua Lake exception. Muskallonge and billfish may be 

 taken with spears, using fish houses and decoys, on Mondays and Thursdays of each 

 week for five consecutive weeks, beginning on the first Monday in February. No 

 such fish house, decoy or spear shall be upon the ice or waters of Chautauqua Lake 



