510 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



SEASONAL MOVEMENTS 



As in the other lakes, the schools of herring in Lake Ontario move inshore in 

 spring and fall. There is no evidence to indicate that they remain inshore during the 

 winter, and on account of the violence of currents in the lake to depths of 30 fathoms 

 and more, even in summer, it is not likely that any numbers of herring brave the 

 turbulent conditions that must obtain often on the shores in winter. 



Data on occurrence in the herring nets in spring and fall. — In the western waters 

 of the lake, off the ports from Niagara, N. Y., to Bronte, Ontario, and also somewhat 

 farther eastward, the principal herring is the deep-water form. These fish, according 

 to the testimony of many fishermen, replaced the "cisco" (probably Leucichthys hoyi 

 and nigripinnis) which supported a fishery since about 1860. These ciscoes declined 

 in abundance toward the end of the century, and the fishermen are of the opinion that 

 the territory formerly occupied by them has been taken over by the blue-backed or 

 shore herring. The deep-water fish are little different from their shore relatives 

 except that they are fatter (see p. 508), and the fishermen may be right in their postulate 

 that they are descendants from them. At any rate, shore herring are not common 

 along the west end, but some do occur along the shores and in Burlington Bay in 

 October and November, and some few again in April and May. The deep-water 

 form is now taken most abundantly in fall, when it settles to the bottom to spawn. 

 The schools move within a few miles of shore in 15 to 30 fathoms of water about 

 October 1 and are densest in November. The catch usually drops off abruptly after 

 early December, but sometimes enough fish remain on the grounds to permit the 

 continuation of fishing operations through the winter. 



Latterly the herring catches have dropped off and winter fishing has been dis- 

 continued for the most part. These fish are not taken in summer. The fishermen 

 have suggested that they swim off the bottom at that season, and, as will be seen 

 later, this explanation is probably sound. At Brighton, Ontario, according to 

 Harry and W. A. Quick, the herring come onto the shoals around October 1 and 

 by November 1 enter the Wellers and Presque Isle Bays and also the Bay of Quinte. 

 They are said to remain until the bays freeze. In the spring they are again present 

 on the shoals during the month of May but do not enter the bays at this time. At 

 Sandy Pond, N. Y., according to Perry Bartlett, the fish come onto the lake's shores 

 in early October and enter the Sandy Ponds in early November. They return to the 

 lake after spawning, in early December, and do not come ashore again in spring. 

 At Sodus Point, N. Y., Hurd Doville says the herring schools come ashore around 

 October 1 and move into Sodus Bay and onto the beaches about November 1. The 

 fish leave the bay abruptly after spawning, and Mr. Doville says that from 1914 to 

 1920, seven years for which he has records, the date of departure was between 

 December 3 and 5, regardless of weather conditions. A few enter the bay again in 

 spring when the ice leaves, but they are more numerous on the beaches in water as 

 shallow as 20 feet. They remain only about three weeks and are gone by the middle 

 of May into deep water, where they may be taken occasionally during July. In 

 and about Chaumont Bay many herring come ashore to spawn, as in Sodus Bay. 

 At Wilson, N. Y., herring formerly were at 15 to 20 fathoms in October and November, 

 according to Timothy Wilson, but commercial fishing has been abandoned practically 

 &t this port in the last 25 years, and now very few are taken. 



