66 Conservation Department 



Stocking policy. — We advise the planting of the following fishes 

 in the Finger lakes : 



Lake trout in all the lakes except Otisco. 



Whitefish in all the lakes except Otisco. 



Cisco in all the lakes but sparingly in Otisco. 



Rainbow or steelhead trout in the affluents of all the lakes wher- 

 ever suitable. These fish descend into the lakes in the summer and 

 furnish fine sport as well as food. 



Yellow perch will take care of themselves where shallow water 

 organisms are abundant. But new stock could be advantageously 

 planted occasionally in Canandaigua and Otisco. 



Pike-perch or wall-eye should be planted in all the lakes except 

 Keuka and Skaneateles, where rainbows or steelheads are preferred 

 in the affluents. 



Large-mouthed bass might be planted in Otisco and the foot of 

 Cayuga, but we should prefer the small-mouthed bass, even in these 

 lakes, as it succeeds well and is a better fish. 



We would suggest continuing the experiment of planting smelts 

 in Owasco and Skaneateles for a few years, and the planting of 

 alewives in Canandaigua where the sportsmen's clubs have made 

 this request. Then, at the end of five years, there would be a better 

 basis for judgment of the relative merits of these two fish as plank- 

 ton feeders and as food for lake trout and other fish. 



By way of variety such fish as the crappie or calico bass, the 

 bluegill and the channel cat could be planted in warmer waters 

 like Otisco and the foot of Cayuga. Where desired by the local 

 fishermen's clubs, pike or pickerel could also be planted in such 

 locations. The golden shiner might also be planted with profit in 

 all these lakes to furnish food for bass and bait for the fishermen. 



