GREAT LAKES FISHERIES 



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declined 6 percent; lake herring (509,900), 11 percent; smelt (1.4 million), 34 percent; and suckers (51,000), 66 

 percent. Lake herring production has been steadily decreasing since 1941, when nearly 18 million pounds were 

 caught. The average price per pound for all species in 1975 was 37.9 cents; a 9.4 cents per pound increase 

 compared with 1975. 



Commercial fishing for yellow pike has been banned in Ohio and Michigan since April 1970 

 because of polluted waters in their areas of the lake. Production from the State of Michigan resulted from 

 test netting operations to monitor the mercury content of fish. 



Lake Huron. Commercial fishermen landed 1.9 million pounds valued at $629,865— an increase 

 of 139,700 pounds and $166,129 compared with 1974. The production was 8 percent above the all-time low 

 harvest of 1974. Carp was the only major species that declined in 1975. Landings declined 55,000 pounds to 

 the lowest level since 1930. Whitefish (common) landings of 405,100 pounds increased 50 percent compared 

 with 1974 and was more than double the 10-year average (1965-74). Landings of yellow perch (269,000 

 pounds) increased 17 percent and catfish (282,900 pounds) increased 4 percent compared with 1974. It is 

 illegal to take chubs in Lake Huron. Since 1961, when 3.2 million pounds were landed, catches of this species 

 have been declining. The average price per pound for all species increased from 27.0 cents in 1974 to 33.9 

 cents in 1975. 



International lakes. In 1975, 95 percent of the total landings from these waters came from Lake 

 of the Woods. Burbot; suckers, tuUibee, and yellow pike constituted 88 percent of the catch. The average 

 price per pound is 20.0 cents compared to 15.0 cents in the Great Lakes. 



Factors affecting the fisheries. Biologists reveal that in 1975 Lake Erie had a very good hatch of yellow 

 pike, but a very poor one for yellow perch. The outlook for yellow perch is not good. Consideration is being 

 given to raising the size limit from 8 to 8-1/2 inches. About 400,000 pounds annually are caught in Lake 

 Ontario with Canada landings over 75 percent. It is not known when and if this species will be allowed to be 

 caught commercially. 



Lake Michigan .las a partial ban on chub fishing. According to biologists, chubs are at a very 

 low level of abundance (about 2 percent of the 1960-61 level). However, the average weight of chubs in 1975 

 has doubled since 1960-61. 



Other information. Condensed summary data on the landings by Lakes and States appearing in 

 the following pages have been published previously in Current Fishery Statistics No. 7410. 



Acknowledgments. The following organizations assisted in collecting the data appearing in this 

 section: Ministry of Natural Resources of Canada; Illinois Department of Conservation, Division of Fisheries; 

 Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Game, Section of Fish Management; Michigan 

 Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Great Lakes Fisheries; Minnesota Department of 

 Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Game, Section of Fisheries; New York State Department of 

 Environmental Conservation, Great Lakes Fisheries Station; Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division 

 of Wildlife, Section of Fish Management; Pennsylvania Fish Commission; Wisconsin Department of Natural 

 Resources, Fish Management Division; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Lakes Fishery 

 Laboratory, Ann Arbor, Mich. 



