150 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
From the deep, narrow gorge the inflowing creek spread out over a delta of gravel 
and stones. The fish described as in deep water were in the portion of the stream 
at the mouth of the gorge, from which they went over the submerged delta into the 
shallower water of the lake to spawn. They always retreated upstream into deeper 
water when disturbed. As many as 40 were counted at a time, and their length 
ran quite constantly from 10 to 13 inches. Why smaller ones do not frequent this 
spawning bed remains a question, as we know the species does spawn when about 
6 to 7 inches long. I am inclined to believe that this spot is chosen only by the 
fish that prefer the very deep water of the gorge as their home. 
• Professor Reighard found suckers breeding in April and early May in 
southern Michigan. On April 9 wire cage traps were placed in Beebee Lake 
and visited almost daily thereafter. The season was cooler than usual and we may 
conclude that spawning was retarded. The following facts encourage this view. 
Leaving out of consideration one warm day (April 21) the average daily atmos- 
pheric temperature was 5.6° F. below the normal from April 9 to May 18, the period 
during which breeding was in progress. On April 27 ripe fish of both sexes were 
found in traps located in about 3 feet of water between the deeper water and the 
spawning grounds proper. Previous catches were made only in 6 to 8 feet of water, 
and of these none contained ripe fish. Thereafter ripe females and males were taken 
at short intervals up to May 18. The observations should have been continued, but 
from May 9 to 18, 75 to 100 per cent of the specimens taken were partially or wholly 
spent. It would therefore seem that the height of the spawning season at this place 
was about May 5. If May 25 is taken as the approximate time when spawning 
ceased, the breeding period extended over 29 days. 
An interesting habit, closely related to temperature, was frequently observed. 
Beginning April 22, whenever the water temperature reached 54° F. suckers were 
seen rather leisurely swimming up to the surface and breaking the water. Fre- 
quently they leaped out of the water for most of their length and then swam back 
to the bottom. This apparently was not a case of pursuit or of flight, and its sig- 
nificance is uncertain. 
As Reighard found, so here on this shoal from one or two to four or five males 
pursue the female fish that wanders over the gravel, even where the water is but lp£ 
feet deep. Whenever the female stops the whole group of males stops with her. 
Owing to the presence of fishermen on the high rocky bank near by, I never could see 
the spawning act. 
For several mornings areas of the bottom, from 1 to 2 feet in their greatest 
extent, were found to be swept clean of debris. Probably the eggs were laid here. 
The yellow-white stripes along the backs of the fish, peculiar to the breeding season, 
were very conspicuous. 
Subsequent to these observations at Ithaca, the spawning of a group of white 
suckers was seen to great advantage in Little Buffalo Creek, Union County, Pa., on 
April 26, 1925. There a company of three males followed a distinctly larger female 
as she swam upstream into a short, stony rapid. Upon overtaking her the four 
stopped in'swift water of but a few inches depth. So vigorously did the males con- 
test to crowd against the female and to strike her with their heads and tails that the 
