There seems to be some confusion of where Lake Uter is and what fish were collected there and by whom? It seems to me that it depends on the collector and their interpretation of the local people's explanation??
Here are some historical details:
Boeseman M. (1963) Notes on the fishes of Western New Guinea. Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden 38 (14): 221-242.Ajamaroe Lakes - Actually widened parts of the west-east streaming Ajamaroe River, situated about in the centre of the Vogelkop peninsula. From west to east, the first lake, called Jow, has a length of 7 km and a width of 2 km; the second, Semitoe or Maroemèga, a length of only 2 km and a width of 1½ km; the third, Jate or Hain, a length of 3 and a width of not even 1 km. The lakes are surrounded by a low marshy plain of varying width and, beyond the plain, by hills and mountains reaching heights up to about 1500 m, covered with forest. Several small streams enter the lakes which have an altitude of about 250 m above sea level, a depth of rarely more than 3 m, clear water almost stagnant except near entering rivers and outlets, pH approximately 6.4, a soft muddy bottom mostly covered with a rich aquatic vegetation, while the low shores and coastal plains are usually covered with secondary vegetation consisting primarily of grasses and low shrubs. Efforts to collect plankton were disappointing. This whole complex belongs to the Kais River drainage system which empties on the southwestern coast of the peninsula into the Ceram Sea.
To the same system also belongs Aitinjo Lake, situated about 25 km southeast of Ajamaroe. It is also a widened river, flowing southeast, with a length of 4 km and a strongly varying width with a maximum of about 350 m. At the northwestern end, the principal river widens to become a lake which consists of two parts separated by considerable rapids and small cataracts; at the southeastern end, the lake abruptly stops, but a subterranean connection with the Kais River is supposed to exist here. The mountains at most places closely surround the lake which has steep and rocky shores, almost perpendicular at some places but elsewhere allowing some wider marshy banks. The altitude above sea level is still uncertain, probably about 90 m, the depth is said to be about 15 or 20 m, but large shallow parts occur; the water is clear, pH about 6.5, flowing rather strongly only at the narrower parts of the lake, including the upper reaches; the bottom is rocky, at most places covered with sand, stones, or large rocks, but muddy at some places. Both the aquatic and the terrestrial vegetation are dense, at least where the stony substratum allows growth. Plankton sampling was disappointing. Native fishing was observed at various places during a trip across the four lakes, and includes the employment of fishing spears, bamboo fish traps, and bamboo shelters. The fish traps, constructed according to the same principle as hoopnets, are placed in screens across streams and narrow parts of the lakes, the screens being either straight (Ajamaroe region) or zigzag with the traps at the backward angles (Aitinjo). The bamboo shelters, simple tubes of bamboo with a length of about 1 m and a width of 10 to 12 cm, are put on the bottom at appropriate places to provide hiding places, especially for crayfish; to be emptied they are lifted from the bottom with a long forked pole.
Boeseman M. (1956) The Lake Resources of Netherlands New Guinea. South Pacific Commission Quarterly Bulletin 6(1): 23-25.Ajamaroe Lakes These three lakes have a maximum diameter of about 6½ km., 2½ km., and 5 km., and are connected by a river which flows eastward through the lakes, further on turning to the south coast. The water is very clear and shallow, the depth seldom exceeding two metres. The bottom is extremely muddy, and the aquatic vegetation often remarkably dense. Nevertheless, the amount of plankton collected at the time of our visit (March, 1955) was very poor.
Numerous well-constructed fish traps are placed by the native population in the tributary and effluent rivers, generally in a series across the river, with the interspaces filled up with stakes, branches, and weeds. Fish spears are also used.
The fish fauna is very poor, and, though some species ("gaboes" and Melanotaeniidae) occur in considerable numbers, is of limited economical importance. We collected species of "gaboes", Melanotaeniidae, catfish, and the imported Labyrinthid Trichogaster pectoralis, a small gourami-like fish of some value as food for the native population. Rumours concerning a larger Labyrinthid species remained unconfirmed.
Lake Aitinjo This lake consists of two oddly-shaped parts connected by a short, fast-flowing stream, with numerous small cataracts breaking through a narrow cleft. The southern part especially shows a completely different aspect in comparison with the Ajamaroe Lakes. The latter are shallow and surrounded by marshy shores, while Lake Aitinjo has a highly variable depth (to 15-20 metres according to local information) and is surrounded mostly by steep, high, rocky shores, especially along the southern part.
Though marshy at some places, the bottom is generally rocky, with sand, gravel, and boulders. The density of aquatic vegetation is highly variable. Locally it is very dense. The effluence is said to be subterranean, probably over a considerable distance. The speed of the clear water gradually diminishes southwards, the water being almost stagnant near the presumed outlet in the southernmost part. The amount of plankton was extremely small (March, 1955).
The same kind of fish traps as are used in the Jamaroe Lakes are placed in series in primitive screens, but here the screens are built zigzag, with the traps at the downstream angles. The fish fauna is even slightly poorer than in the Ajamaroe Lakes. We collected only a single species of "gaboes", a Melanotaeniid, and a species of catfish. According to local information, there occurs a large species of eel, but as these are captured only during periods of extremely low water, no specimens could be obtained.
Somewhere back when I was researching this subject I found that "Lake Uter is a very small lake situated at the headwaters of Lake Ajtinjo". I can't find that source now. However you can see from the following that, that is the case if you believe the following:
Google Translation from Indonesian. Report - Rainbowfish Scientific Expedition Papua - 2007 May 10th - June 14th by Kadarusman, Sudarto and Laurent Pouyaud.
"Next we went to the Lake Uter 17:00 and arrive in the village Aitinyo at 20:00. Lake Aitinyo is representing the type of karstic lakes, not so wide, it's just that, the lake is about 30 meters deep which is fed by rivers in the upper reaches of the mountain is 15 km. we managed to catch 10 fish M. boesemani at night 23:00 (Sample 8), according to the instructions in the upstream community that there is a small lake into the Uter Lake springs. We then went to the upstream guided by 2 local people, on arrival at the top of a hill not far from the upstream water, we descended a valley along a guide filled with moist forests, steep and the road is very slippery, we occasionally crashed due to slippery road due to rain that night.
After walking about 2 km down the valley moldy, we finally arrived at the upstream Lake Uter, it was a lake mini, weedy water, clear water and crystallized, the water comes from the soil / sand out like there is pressure from within (Gleiser) and Fenoma is that lasted for centuries; according to the local guide. Mini lake and became a mainstay of water upstream of the Uter Lake inhabited by thousands as M. boesemani, and in just a few minutes we can catch 40 fish specimens (Sample 7). In this place we also see several species of African Tilapia and carp, which according to the story population is the result of the introduction by the government program a few years ago."
If you read carefully and convert the Google English into proper English grammar you can see that it refers to Lake Uter confirming what I said above that "Lake Uter is a very small lake situated at the headwaters of Lake Ajtinjo".
This is a map of the Ajamaroe Lakes Region by Boeseman.
postimg.org/image/maxrwcakz/
Adrian
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Hopefully it was easy? Looks and works perfectly. I like how you kept the description simple, and posted a short video along with a good photo.
