GEE AT LAKES: LAKE HURON. 



659 



most apparent in the branches carried on in winter. The decrease Las been so great that a supply 

 can no longer be depended upon. The same is true of the river fisheries, which were at one time 

 considered the most profitable in this locality. The principal cause for the decrease in the 

 number of fish in the rivers is supposed to be the accumulation of a vast amount of refuse from 

 the lumber mills. 



POINT ATJX BARQUES TO WINDMILL POINT, INCLITDING LAKE AND RIVER SAINT GLAIR. The 

 principal fishing points included within these limits are at Lexington, Port Sanilac, Forestville, 

 White Rock, Sand .Beach, Port Hope, Huron City, Au Sable, Grindstone City, Whitehall, and 

 Port Huron. At none of these villages are the fisheries very extensive. The largest number of 

 boats is employed at Sand Beach and Grindstone City. The total number of men employed in 

 this section is about ninety. The seine fishermen, twenty eight in number, are, however, employed 

 for only about two and a half months. Seine-fishing, outside the river Saint Clair, is insignificant. 



The principal branch carried on is the gill-net fishery. In 1879 one thousand five hundred and 

 eighty nets were in use. The shore being altogether unsuited for pound-nets none are employed. 

 The principal fish taken in the gill-nets are whitefish, trout, and herring. In the seines, sturgeon, 

 herring, and yellow pike are the kinds most commonly caught. 



The larger part of the total amount was sent to Cleveland, Toledo, and other distributing 

 points. All the fish caught in the seines are sold fresh. It is the habit of some of the fishermen 

 to keep the fish which they catch in artificial ponds, taking out only so many as are required to 

 supply the market. This method of preserving the fish has resulted, however, several times in 

 considerable loss. One fisherman lost 20,000 pounds of fish at one time, the fish having died in 

 the ponds from a lack of sufficient fresh water. 



As far as could be ascertained, no disaster has occurred on this shore within the past decade. 

 The principal change in the manner of fishing has been that which has taken place at many other 

 points, namely, the introduction of steam-tugs in the gill-net fishery. According to the statements 

 of the fishermen, seine-fishing, especially on the lake shore, has declined, while gill-net fishing has 

 considerably increased. Most of the boats employ less nets, but larger ones, than formerly. The 

 boats themselves are considerably smaller than those in use ten or twelve years ago. 



E. LAKE ERIE AND ITS FISHERIES. 



236. STATISTICAL SUMMATION. 



Summary statement of persons employed. 



Detailed statement of capital invested and persons employed. 



