GREAT LAKES: LAKE ERIE. 665 



tbe fisheries of these different localities is as follows: Kelly's Island, 22; South Bass Island, 23; 

 Middle Bass Island, 15; North Bass Islaud, 6; the main shore, G3; the upper and lower bays, 94; 

 Cedar Point, 56. In addition to these there are about thirteen men who fish but for a short time, 

 and are engaged for the greater part of the year iu other occupations. There are also twelve 

 dealers and about nineteen clerks. Altogether, then, there are not less than three hundred and 

 twenty-three men connected with the fisheries, the majority of whom are married and have fam- 

 ilies. Probably not less than thirteen hundred people are .dependent upon the fisheries carried on 

 from Sandusky. It should be borne in iniud, however, that in this estimate the men employed in 

 the manufacture of fishery apparatus are not included. As one might expect, the nationalities rep- 

 resented among the fishermen are very numerous. The Germans, however, predominate. 



As already intimated, the principal branch carried on is the pound fishery. Seines, fykes, and 

 hook-rigs are employed, but these fisheries are of minor importance. In 1879 about three hundred 

 and forty-eight pounds were in use, together with about ten seines, fifty fyke-nets, and five hook- 

 rigs. The boats employed are of various kinds, some quite large and worth not less than $100; 

 others smaller and of considerably less value. Besides the boats there are two steamers which 

 are employed iu carrying the fishery products from place to place, and also two steam-tugs used iu 

 connection with the pound fisheries. The total value of the nets and boats employed in 1879, 

 together with the value of warehouses, ice-houses, fish-shanties, docks, freezers, and other acces- 

 sories, amounted to about $230,000. 



The varieties of fish taken iu the fisheries of Saudusky and vicinity are very numerous. Iu 

 the Cedar Point fisheries the catch consists principally of herring, whitefish, &c. ; in fact, these 

 grounds are among the most famous for the abundance of the herring. In the pounds set in the 

 bay principally soft fish are taken; herring and whitetish are never caught iu them. The catch 

 of the main-shore fisheries consists principally of herring and catfish, chiefly the former being 

 taken in the pounds, the latter by the hook fishermen. About the islauds few varieties except 

 whitefish, herring, black bass, and sturgeon are taken. The value of the yield of 1879 was about 

 $186,500. 



A large proportion of the fish are sent to a great number of inland cities and towns. Among 

 the most important of these may be mentioned Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Wheeling. Nearly all 

 the firms located here freeze a large quantity of fish every year. A great many methods are em- 

 ployed and an account of them will be found iu Section VI. Probably a larger amount of caviare, 

 isinglass, and fish-oil are prepared at Sandusky than at any other point on the lakes. A large 

 proportion of the sturgeon taken iu the fisheries of many other points is sent to Sandusky to the 

 firms who are engaged iu^ making caviare and in smoking fish. The business of smoking sturgeon 

 is said to be rapidly increasing and a large amount is prepared every year. The entire amount of 

 caviare is exported principally to Hamburg; isinglass is sold wholesale to the druggists of New 

 York City. 



A considerable quantity of fish-oil is also manufactured at Saudusky and is sold chiefly to the 

 tanneries at Buffalo. 



The changes in the methods of fishing in this locality, as iu others on Lake Erie, have been 

 very few since the introduction of pound-nets in 1850. Prior to that time seines and gill-nets 

 were extensively used, but both have gradually given place to the pound-nets, which, since their 

 introduction, have increased in this locality at a rate of about sixteen a year. Seines are now used 

 only iu the bay fisheries, and gill-nets only about the reefs near the off-shore islands. A great diver- 

 sity of opinion exists among the fishermen regarding the increase or decrease of fish. The major- 

 ity of the men assert that herring and blue pike, and, iu some localities, catfish are increasing, while 



