THE FISHING INDUSTRY OF LAKE ERIE. 



351 



To prove this statement we beg to refer you to statements taken from the books of 

 eight of the leading fish dealers of Ohio, doing business in the cities of Huron, San- 

 dusky, and Toledo, showing the yearly catch since 1888, since which time only has 

 gill-net fishing, in the part of the lake referred to, been carried on as business of any 

 magnitude. The following exhibit shows the actual catch of the different varieties 

 of fish by these eight firms, figured in pounds from 1888 to 1892, inclusive: 



Tears. 



1888 

 1889 

 1890 

 1891 

 1892 



Herring. 



Perch. 



10, 801, 802 ! 507, 098 



10,272,945 | 401,210 



9,638,795 j 656,365 



7,280,792 1,027,110 



1,900,868 I 775,790 



This shows that while the annual catch varied some and steadily lessened in 

 amount, there was no startling decrease until the year 1892, and it was then more 

 especially noticeable in the herring catch, which was over 7,000,000 pounds in 1891 

 and less than 2,000,000 pounds in 1892. 



The western half of Lake Erie has always been considered the great fishing-ground 

 of the lake, made so by reason of that portion of the lake being the natural spawning- 

 ground for the fishes it contains and for the abundance of fish food found in its waters. 

 More of the species spawn in the spring than in the fall season — in fact, it may be said 

 that the entire period from March 1 to the middle of June is covered by some one of 

 the species as a spawning season, and while it is clearly impracticable to stop the 

 catching of fish at such times, still the fisherman could be easily required to so operate 

 their nets as not to prevent the fish from reaching their spawning-grounds. In the 

 fall the fish again visit this locality in large numbers, some varieties for the purpose 

 of depositing their eggs, while others, no doubt, come because the shoal waters of the 

 western portion of the lake cool quicker, and to feed off the eggs of the spawning fish 

 as well as the natural food so abundantly found on the reefs and shoals. 



This statement of facts clearly shows that the fishes of Lake Erie make regular 

 pilgrimages to the western half of the lake in the spring and fall season, and that 

 nearly all the varieties of fish inhabiting its waters are found there in quantities 

 during both of these periods. 



To make a close season at either of these times would prevent the fishermen 

 taking those fish that are not spawning, as well as those that are, which would not 

 only be unjust to the fishermen, but injurious to the trade, which demands a steady 

 and constant supply. In fact, to make the spawning season of the different fishes.a 

 closed season would practically put a stop to fishing in the western half of Lake 

 Erie at the time when the fish are produced in their best condition to the trade, and 

 when, by reason of more favorable conditions for shipping, the consumer gets the 

 fish in much finer condition than is possible in the summer months, the time when 

 none of the fishes spawn. 



There are two principal systems of fishing operated by commercial fishermen in 

 these waters — the pound net or stationery net, and the gill net or movable net. 



The pound net is composed of three separate parts — the leader, the heart, and 

 crib or pound. The leader is from 50 to 60 rods in length, the heart from to 8 rods 



