YELLOW PERCH IN THE GREAT LAKES. 415 



The fishermen are under the impression tbat Perch instead of white-fish were hatched out and 

 deposited hero by the State Fish Commission. 



I'.etwern the Menomonee River and Oconto Bay this fish is common, but of little importance. 

 it brings a low price and is not sought after. It is caught inshore in the sloughs. At the southern 

 extremity of Green Bay the Yellow Perch is abundant. All along the eastern shore of Green liuy 

 it is very plentiful; Ihere has been a greater abundance of it during the past year (1880) than 

 ever before. 



Along the western shore of Lake Michigan, as far as Mauitowoc, the Yellow Perch is extremely 

 rare, except about Two Rivers and Mauitowoc, at which two points it is common and meets with a 

 ready sale. Between Manitowoc and Port Washington the Yellow Perch occurs very sparingly, 

 especially in the vicinity of Cedar Grove. The other fishing grounds between the above-named 

 points are White Fish Bay, and Sheboygan. 



In the vicinity of Milwaukee this fish is extraordinarily abundant, and was especially so during 

 1879. In less than ten fathoms they are sometimes caught in the gill-net; the majority, however, 

 are taken on hooks. They are of considerable importance in this locality and meet with a ready 

 sale. At Racine a great many, and of a large size, are caught. At Waukegan, a little farther 

 south, they are especially abundant in June and July. They were more plentiful in 1879 than 

 they had ever been before. 



At the southern end of Lake Michigan, about New Buffalo and Michigan City, they are 

 abundant, being caught on hooks and sold in large numbers to the railway baggage-men, who 

 peddle them on the cars. They have been more abundant this year (1880) than ever before. The 

 finest specimens are caught as far out from shore as fifteen miles, but the smaller ones do not go 

 out so far. Many are shipped to the Chicago market. 



Around the docks of Saint Joseph, at the southern end of Lake Michigan, the yellow perch 

 fry fairly swarms. In the summer of 1880, two hundred hooks were set two miles out from shore : 

 each hook had a Perch, some weighing as high as two pounds. From Saint Joseph Yellow Perch 

 are often shipped with white-fish and trout. They are chiefly caught in gill-nets, several miles 

 from shore. 



On the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, about Ludingtou and Manistee, they were as plentiful 

 as ever before in 1880; some years they are less common, and then come on again. At Grand 

 Haven they were less abundant than usual, and are seldom taken at this point at any great distance 

 from shore. About Little and Great Traverse Bays and the Fox Islands they are generally 

 common, but were less plentiful in 1880 than ever before. They are occasionally taken in the 

 pound nets, and even in the gill-nets, but are of no commercial importance. 



The Yellow Perch is reported as common at the northeast end of Lake Michigan, through the 

 Straits of Mackinaw, and down the western shore of Lake Huron to Thunder Bay. Captain 

 Dingman, who appears to be well informed as to the fisheries of that region, says they are not 

 one-tenth as numerous as they were in 1879. If this be true of the northeastern shore of Lake 

 Michigan, it may account for their being unusually numerous on the opposite (western) shore of 

 that lake. Near the Les Cheueaux Islands a large variety is reported as having been caught. 

 Yellow Perch are more common about these islands than generally along the shore. They are not 

 often taken in the deep pounds but are quite abundant in shallow water and in the small lakes. 



In Thunder Hay Yellow Perch are abundant, and are taken principally in the pound-nets in 

 spring. Mr. Case thinks they are increasing. Very few are shipped from this point ; during 18(9 

 not over live hundred, in which year the run was very large. 



lu the rivers running into Sagiuaw Bay Yellow Perch are abundant, but not so much so as 



