360 REPORT OF THE 



1897, at the request of the Farmers' and Citizens' Game and Fish Protective Asso- 

 ciation of Chautauqua County, two special appropriations of $1,000 and $500 respec- 

 tively were made by the Legislature for the destruction of the gar pike or billfish, 

 which it was believed were destroying the young bass and muskallunge in Lake 

 Chautauqua. In September, 1896, netting for these fish was begun, and was con- 

 tinued in May and on into July of 1897. Seines, pound nets and traps were used. 

 The pound nets did the best work, and in 1897 these only were used. In 1896 

 there were caught and killed 2,606 billfish; the next year 1,316 were killed. 

 In this latter year more nets were used and greater effort put forth, but the 

 smaller number of fish caught was doubtless due to the effect of the previous 

 year's work, and it is now believed that with little more effort these fish can be 

 practically exterminated. 



Replying to a letter of inquiry, Mr. Charles H. Babcock, of the New York Forest, 

 Fish and Game Commission, says that " nothing has been done toward the extermi- 

 nation of the gar pike at Chautauqua Lake since 1897, with the exception of what 

 has been done when we were taking muskallunge for propagating purposes in the 

 spring of the year. A few have been taken each year since 1897 in that way, and 

 they have always been destroyed. No appropriation has been made for the 

 purpose since 1897, as the work was apparently very thoroughly done at that 

 time. Very few, if any, gar pike have been seen or taken since then from any 

 information I can get. They are apparently a very much easier fish to get rid of 

 than the carp." 



4. Amia calva (Linnaeus). BOWFIN; DOG-FISH. — A local fisherman described a 

 fish which he had seen in the lake, which was evidently this species. He called it 

 '■ eel pout." No examples were seen by us. 



5. Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur). Small Catfish. — Very abundant, reach- 

 ing a weight of i to 3 pounds. Great numbers are caught ; an important and excel- 

 lent article of food. 



6. Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque). Common Bullhead. — This is perhaps 

 equally common with the former but, owing to its smaller size, is of much less 

 importance. 



7. Schilbeodes miurus ( Jordan). Mad Tom ; Stone Cat. — This little fish is 

 probably not common in the lake ; only one specimen was obtained. 



8. Catostomus commersbnii (Lacepede). Common Sucker. 



