GEEAT LAKES: LAKE ERIE. 663 



iii this part of tbe business. lu the manufacture of caviare and in smoking sturgeon about eleven 

 men are employed. 



Tbe majority of the fishermen, as well as the owners, are Americans, but there are also quite a 

 number of Germans among them. The greater part of the fishermen are hired by the day or month, 

 and their profits vary, of course, according to the length of time they are employed. 



The boats in use at the present time are smaller than those formerly employed. Many years 

 ago boats of over 15 and 20 tons burden were used, but it was found that they were quite too com- 

 fortable, and that the fishermen, having taken out provisions, would stay out a much longer time 

 than was necessary, coming back whenever they felt disposed to do so. At the present time the 

 ordinary Lake Erie pound-boat is in general use. 



In all, there were about one hundred and sixty-seven pound-nets in use in 1879, but mauy of 

 them, especially those set in the bay, were small and of simple construction. They do not differ 

 materially from those in use on many parts of Lake Erie. They are usually set in water from 8 to 

 12 feet deep, the leaders being of different lengths, the average being, perhaps, 75 rods. Many of 

 them are constructed of pine that has been used in the lake nets and has become partially rotten. 

 Their value will not exceed $120 each. 



The lake pounds, that is, those set between Cedar Point and Locust Point, are generally placed 

 in water from 12 to 30 feet deep, and are, therefore, more valuable than the bay nets. They are 

 estimated to be worth about $300 apiece. The pounds in use in this locality are set at an earlier 

 date than those at any other point in the lake. The fishermen make it a practice to set them as 

 soon as the ice leaves the bay. They are usually taken up again about the 1st of May, and, having 

 been repaired, are set again late in September. 



A few fyke-nets are in use in the bay and river for catching "paufish," but their products are 

 of no considerable importance. 



The extent of the hook fishing is estimated very differently by different persons. Mr. D. Y. 

 Howell, however, who is well acquainted with the fisheries of the locality, estimated that fully two 

 hundred men are engaged in this branch. Each man employs about five hundred hooks, and the 

 set-lines vary in length from 1 to G miles. The season for hook fishing begins usually in March 

 and lasts until August or September. 



The catch consists of a great variety offish whitefish, herring, and saugers being among the 

 most important. The more valuable kinds are taken in the pounds, the hook fishermen catching 

 little except bass, catfish, and other species of minor value. 



The total yield in 1879 amounted to about 12,000,000 pounds. Of this amount 7,000,000 pounds 

 were salted, 4,500,000 pounds sold fresh, and the remainder either frozen or smoked. Probably 

 more fish are frozen in Toledo than at any other point on the lakes. In 1879 the amount thus 

 treated was not less than 300.000 pounds. A considerable amount of caviare, isinglass, and fish-oil 

 are also manufactured at Toledo. In 1879 the amount of caviare was about 38,000 pounds; of isin- 

 glass, 500 pounds; and of oil, 650 gallons. 



One of the fishery firms at Toledo has established a private hatchery in their warehouse, in 

 which they hatch numbers of whitefish. The capacity of the establishment is calculated to be suffi- 

 cient for G,000,OUO eggs. It is estimated that they had 15,000,000 eggs in the boxes at one time, 

 but they lost all but about 4,000,000 eggs. 



As an experiment, they have also bought or leased for a number of years several small, deep 

 lakes in Michigan, where they have planted large numbers of young fish. The second year after 

 the planting whitefish of considerable size were caught, and the proprietors are very hopeful of the 

 success of the enterprise. 



