SECTION 8 

 GREAT LAKES FISHERIES 



United States and Canadian commercial fishermen, operating in the five Great Lakes and in 

 three of the five International Lakes of northern Minnesota and Canada, landed 104.6 million pounds of 

 freshwater fish in 1975— a decrease of 23.8 million pounds compared with 1974. Most of the decrease was in 

 Lake Erie (down 19 percent) and Lake Michigan (down 24 percent). In the United States, production from the 

 International Lakes decreased 14 percent; in Canada, landings increased 3 percent. 



Canada produced 42.9 million pounds of fish during 1975, a decrease of 7.3 million pounds 

 compared with the previous year. This catch constituted 41 percent of the total production from both 

 countries. As in previous years, smelt and yellow perch dominated the Canadian catch, accounting for 62 

 percent of the total landings in 1975. 



The U.S. landings of 61.7 million pounds valued at $9.3 million decreased 16.5 million pounds and 

 $1.5 million compared with 1974. In 1975, U.S. fishermen received an average price of 15.0 cents per pound— 

 a gain of 1.3 cents compared with 1974. Alewives, taken only in Lake Michigan, were 57 percent of the total 

 U.S. catch. Landings of this species were 35.2 million pounds, 10.3 million pounds below the record harvest in 

 1974. Decreases for other major species were carp, down 5 percent; chubs, 50 percent; lake herring, 12 

 percent; smelt, 33 percent, suckers, 19 percent; white bass, 42 percent; and yellow perch, down 23 percent. 

 Increases for the more important species were burbot, up 14 percent; lake trout, 25 percent; sheepshead, 22 

 percent; and whitefish (common), up 3 percent. U.S. landings from Lake Michigan were 45.3 million pounds; 

 followed by Lake Erie, 8.5 million; Lake Superior, 4.7 million; Lake Huron, 1.9 million; International Lakes, 

 1.0 million pounds; and Lake Ontario, 232,600 pounds. Wisconsin, with 38.8 million pounds, led in volume of 

 landings followed by Michigan with 12.0 million; Ohio, 7.3 million; Minnesota, 2.2 million pounds; New York, 

 598,100 pounds; Pennsylvania, 312,400; Illinois, 240,100; and Indiana, 198,400 pounds. 



Fishermen and vessels. In 1975, 1,201 fishermen operated 220 vessels (5 net tons or more) and 554 smaller 

 craft in the U.S. commercial fisheries of the Great Lakes and International Lakes. Compared with 1974, this 

 was a decrease of 188 fishermen, 20 vessels, and 114 small craft. 



Processed products. The value of processed seafood items was $69.6 million, an increase of $13.0 million 

 compared with 1974. Ohio led with products valued at $46.0 million; followed by Illinois, $12.2 million; 

 Wisconsin, $5.7 million; and Michigan $4.4 million. New York, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota supplied the 

 remaining $1.3 million. The 160 wholesaling and processing plants in the eight States employed 2,175 persons. 



U.S. landings by lake. 



Lake Ontario. The 1975 production of 232,600 pounds was 91,100 pounds lower than in 1974. 

 Landings were the smallest since 1965 when 217,000 pounds were produced. Landings of bullheads, eels, and 

 white and yellow perch were 76 percent of the total harvest. The average price per pound for all species in 

 1975 was 42.4 cents compared with 36.0 cents in 1974. 



Lake Erie. Landings were 8.5 million pounds worth $2.0 million, a decrease of 1.3 million 

 pounds and $123,054 compared with 1974. White bass (1.7 million pounds) and yellow perch (1.9 million 

 pounds) declined 1.2 million pounds and 464,300 pounds, respectively. Landings of carp (3.2 million pounds) 

 increased 110,600 pounds and sheepshead (853,800 pounds) was up 161,100 pounds. U.S. landings accounted for 

 22 percent of the Lake Erie production. Canada has outproduced the United States since 1954. 



Lake Michigan. Landings were 45.3 million pounds worth $4.6 million, a decrease of 14.2 

 million pounds and $1.7 rnillion compared with the record volume and value in 1974. Alewives constituted 78 

 percent of the entire lake's landings. Compared with 1974, landings of several major species had significant 

 declines in production: alewives (35.2 million pounds), down 23 percent; carp (2.9 million), down 11 percent; 

 chubs (924,300 pounds), down 72 percent; smelt (1.2 million pounds), down 33 percent; suckers (340,800 

 pounds), down 33 percent; and yellow perch (793,900 pounds), down 39 percent. Landings of whitefish (3.6 

 million pounds) have been increasing since 1966; however, for the first time in 10 years the production of this 

 species decreased, but only by 91,400 pounds. Biologists state that the abundance of this species is still high. 

 Since 1971, the coho salmon fishery has been closed, because contaminants DDT and PCB (polychlorinated 

 byphenyl— a DDT-like compound) were present. The fishery began in 1967 as a result of the State of 

 Michigan's propagation efforts. In 1967 the production of this species was 1.5 million pounds; by 1970, 2.2 

 million pounds were harvested. 



Lake Superior. Landings of 4.7 million pounds valued at $1.8 million declined 14 percent in 

 volume, but increased 14 percent in value compared with 1974. Landings of chubs (1.5 million pounds) 



