GEE AT LAKES: LAKE MICHIGAN. 641 



Gill-net fis-hing through the ice was begun in the winter of 1867. Prior to this time hook-and-line 

 fishing, which is now of minor importance, was carried on quite extensively. The favorite grounds 

 were the shoals south of Green Island. 



In this region, as well as all others, at the advent of pound nets, seines began gradually to 

 disappear. At present only two seines are in use. 



Prior to fifteen years ago the most profitable fishing grounds of this section were in Menominee 

 Eiver, near its mouth. Backs were constructed, in which fish were captured as they came down 

 the stream from their spawning beds. As many as GOO barrels of whitefish were sometimes taken 

 from one of these racks during a single season. 



The spring run of whitefish was always light, but as great numbers of pike were usually taken 

 at this season, the total catch assumed large proportions. Pike still run up the river in limited 

 numbers, perhaps about one eighth as many as formerly, but no whitefish. Mr. Eveland stated 

 that not a single whitefish had been taken for twelve years, and gave it as his opinion that the 

 pollution of the water by sawdust was the chief cause of their disappearance. 



The establishment of saw-mills upon Menominee Eiver, and the consequent deposition of 

 great quantities of sawdust in the water has effected the ruin of the fisheries in the vicinity. 

 There are no less than thirteen mills within two miles of the mouth of the river, in the three towns 

 Menominee, Marinette, and Menekaunee, besides planing-mills and other similar establishments. 

 At least two of these mills turn all their refuse into the river. Mr. Kumlien states in his notes 

 that during his stay in Menominee he noticed that there was always a large mass of sawdust, from 

 a quarter of a mile to two miles broad, and many miles long, floating about in the bay. According 

 to Mr. Eveland the condition of affairs has been much the same for many years, and the spawning 

 grounds of the whitefish for a long distance outside the mouth of the river and on either shore, 

 north and south, have been completely ruined. It is not unusual for vessels to meet portions of 

 the mass of sawdust 20 or 30 miles from Menominee, and the water at the entrance of the bay is 

 often covered with it. It is said to have accumulated at the mouth of the river, forming masses 

 in some places eight feet deep. 



Many of the beautiful sandy beaches of former times are now covered with spongy masses of 

 decaying sawdust, interspersed with slabs and broken sticks. Pound nets set in 69 or 70 feet of 

 water, miles away from the mills, become choked with all kinds of mill refuse. Bars and shoals, 

 once the home of the whitefish, are deserted. Grounds once abounding in fish, yielding large 

 profits, are now abandoned and new and distant ones sought, wliere, for the establishment of nets, 

 increased labor and expense are necessary. Some are so far distant from any shipping point that 

 the expenses of transportation absorb the greater portion of the profits of the fishermen. 



Seines were introduced at Menominee, about 35 years ago. Those first used were about 80 

 rods long, the mesh at the center being 3 inches, and in the wings 4 inches. It was not unusual to 

 take 8 or 10 barrels of fish at a haul. 



OCONTO, PENSAUKEE, LITTLE SUAMJCO, AND VICINITY. All the communities residing on 

 the west shore of Green Bay, between Peshtigo and Little Tail Points, are interested in and engaged 

 in the fisheries to a considerable extent, although perhaps a larger amount of capital is invested 

 in the lumber trade. All the larger villages are connected with Milwaukee and Chicago by rail, 

 and, therefore, possess abundant facilities for disposing of their fishery products to the best advan- 

 tage. 



The most important class connected with the fisheries are the pound owners, of which there 

 were thirty in 1879 within the limits marked out. Besides these there are ten men who own 'only 

 gill-nets, which they employ in winter. The seiners, as a rule, are married, and have families of 

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