GREAT LAKES COREGONIDS 



453 



small fish are accidentally entangled also, but large numbers of larger specimens 

 become gilled, particularly in the 2^ and 2 3^ inch nets, and are brought to the market 

 along with the other species of Leucichthys that comprise the catches. The bloaters 

 may even be so numerous in these nets that they are caught to the virtual exclusion 

 of all other Leucichthys. These three types of netting are the only kinds of gill 

 netting exployed on the lake, and some type or all types are in use out of all the fish- 

 ing ports. At every port from which catches were examined from depths of more than 

 75 feet some specimens of the bloater have been collected, and specimens also have 

 been taken from the pounds set in shallow water out of two ports. As these ports 

 are well distributed along the lake's shores, it is safe to conclude that the bloater 

 may be found throughout the lake at suitable depths. 



BATHYMETRIC DISTRIBUTION 



In the lj^-inch bait nets the bloaters and other small Leucichthys are taken 

 to bait the trout hooks that are in use during most of the calendar year out of certain 

 ports. Such nets are set during most of the season at about 26 to 40 fathoms. Catches 

 of these nets were examined on seven occasions (see p. 354), and hoyi always were 

 found (records 9, 12, 19, 27, 35, 41, and 43). A few specimens were taken by me 

 in test nets of 1^-inch mesh lifted on July 21 and 23, 1923, in Platte Bay, Mich., 

 from 8 to 12 and 15 to 25 fathoms, respectively, and on July 25, 1923, off Lees Point 

 in Grand Traverse Bay from 6 to 16 fathoms (records 38, 39, and 44). 



In the 2^8 to 2% inch chub nets some bloaters probably always are present. 

 They are either large enough to gill or are caught by the jaws in the netting. Taken 

 in this fashion, specimens are recorded from chub gangs examined in March, 1919 

 and 1921, April, 1921, May, 1922, June, 1920, July and August, 1923, and August, 

 September, October, and November, 1920, at depths between 18 fathoms (off Michi- 

 gan City, Ind., on November 19, 1920) and 71 to 90 fathoms (off Rock Island, Wis., 

 on August 19, 1920) (records 25 and 5). 



The trout and whitefish nets of 4 to 4^ inch or larger mesh are set usually in 

 less than 40 fathoms. No lifts of such nets ever were examined, but specimens were 

 brought in by pilots of vessels from their large-meshed nets off Washington Harbor, 

 Wis., 5 miles west and 3 miles WNW. of Boyer Bluff on August 18 and 19, 1920, 

 in 20 to 24 fathoms (records 2 and 4); 30 miles NNW. of Michigan City, Ind., on 

 November 19, 1920, in 48 to 50 fathoms (record 23); 7 miles NW. by N. of Lud- 

 ington, Mich., on August 30, 1920, in 14 to 26 fathoms (record 33); 9 miles north- 

 west of Manistee, Mich., on August 28, 1920, in 28 to 32 fathoms (record 36); and 

 13 miles SE. Y 2 E. of Manistique, Mich., on August 11, 1920, in 20 fathoms (record 

 51). 



The bloaters of a marketable size also are said to run commonly into the pound 

 nets in summer, at least at Port Washington on the Wisconsin shore, and specimens 

 were taken by me in the pounds there on September 27, 1920, in 5 fathoms of water 

 (record 13). Small individuals were found abundantly in a pound in Grand Traverse 

 Bay at the same depth on July 26, 1923 (record 45). The University of Michigan 

 collection contains 13 small specimens taken off Ludington, Mich., "within 150 

 yards of shore." These may have been taken in pounds but more probably were 

 seined. 



