244 Conservation Department 



bottom. Some of the products of this decomposition, at least to 

 some extent, are used as a source of food by other organisms. 



Cayuga and Seneca lakes are both long narrow deep lakes with 

 very steep sides except at a few points where streams enter. The 

 areas of these lakes that are shallow enough for attached plants 

 are therefore very limited except in the shoal water at or near 

 their ends. The shallow area, and therefore the area covered by 

 weed beds, is much greater in Cayuga lake than in Seneca lake. 

 A list of the principal weed beds in Cayuga and Seneca lakes 

 together with the approximate areas covered by them is given 

 at the end of this chapter. A list of all the species of larger plants 

 observed in the two lakes, indicating the predominating species, 

 is also included. 



Because the time available for the study of the attached 

 plants of Cayuga and Seneca lakes was limited, only very general 

 statements can be made regarding the distribution, abundance and 

 relative importance of the various species of plants. Much more 

 intensive work is needed to determine the role played by the several 

 species in contributing either directly or indirectly to the food 

 supply of fish. Probably of greater importance than the larger 

 weeds themselves are the algae that grow attached to them, among 

 them, or on the rocks along the shores. It is generally assumed 

 that each kind of "pondweed" produces a single crop. More 

 information is desirable regarding the rate of growth and the 

 conditions under which growth takes place before very accurate 

 quantitative estimates can be made regarding the productivity 

 of a given species. 



On the other hand it is known that several attached algae will 

 produce a crop, disappear, and produce another crop. This may 

 be repeated three or four times in one year. In some cases differ- 

 ent species may be concerned. It is evident that it is not possible 

 to estimate the amount of food contributed by a given species 

 unless it is known how rapidly or under what conditions it con- 

 tinues to grow or reproduce or how many crops are produced in a 

 season or year. The significant fact is not the amount of plant 

 material that is present, in a given area or lake, at a given time, 

 but how much can be produced in one season or one year and what 

 the most important conditions are affecting this production. To 

 obtain such information it will be necessary to make an intensive 

 study of each species and the conditions under which it thrives. 



The principal weed beds in Cayuga lake. — The largest weed 

 beds in Cayuga lake occur near its north end. From Union Springs 

 to the north end the bottom is mostly less than 25 feet deep. 

 Probably about one-half of this area of approximately 10 square 

 miles is covered with weed beds. In some places even where the 

 water is less than 15 feet deep rather extensive barren areas occur. 

 The most prolific beds of larger weeds occur from the railroad 

 trestle at Cayuga village to the north end, and north of Cayuga 

 Park and about Canoga marshes on the west shore. These beds 

 consist largely of species of pondweeds, Potamogeton Richardsonii, 



