258 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, 



Speaking of the vicinity of Green Bay Mr. Kumlein says : '• Five years 

 ago Chambers Island snpported nine pound nets, doing a good business. 

 Now there are but two, and those did not pay expenses the last year. 

 In 1873, Mr. Minor alone sold to two firms, one in Chicago and one in 

 Buffalo, $19,571.95 worth of salt fish, and $700 worth of fresh fish. At 

 the same time a Cleveland firm on Washington Island did more than 

 double this business. At the present time none at all are shipj)ed from 

 these same grounds which once yielded such a revenue. Prior to 1873, 

 the average shipments per week from May to July was 700 half-barrels, 

 worth on an average $4. About 1874 the greatest decline was appre- 

 ciable, and then the fishing suddenly dropped off entirely." 



"From 1870 to 1873 between 60 and 100 tons were shipped from Fish 

 Creek, and all taken within a radius of ten miles. These were worth four 

 cents a pound to the fishermen on the ice. " 



V. The crisis. — If the facts heretofore presented establish the allega- 

 tion that (1) the number of pounds offish caught has been maintained, 

 but (2) by enormously increased and effective facilities, (3) that large 

 fish are seldom caught and that the small ones have not been allowed 

 to survive, so that (4) already many fishing places have entirely failed 

 up, it cannot be denied that a crisis has been reached such as seriously 

 to alarm all who are interested in these lake fisheries. 



VI. The remedy. — The great efficiency of api^aratus which has been 

 reached will remain. We do not retrograde. Men will still use the 

 powerful appliances which they have discovered. But it is possible for 

 the neighboring States to regulate by law the size of the mesh and some 

 other minor details. This some of the Std,tes have attempted, and no 

 doubt others will imitate them. It is also greatly in the interest of 

 certain localities to prevent the x^oUution of their waters with sawdust, 

 decayed lumber, ofifal, &c. 



Artificial jiropagation has already been attempted on a limited scale 

 and the methods pretty well worked out. It is believed that if carried 

 on extensively it may become a very powerful factor in the remedy de- 

 :sired. 



EXTKAORDINARV FLOODS IIV THE POTOITIAC RIVER. 



By GEO. R. MARQUETTE. 



[Extract fiom letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] 



To the best of my knowledge the heights of rivers at this point in the 

 flood of 1870 were 28 feet 6 inches above low-water mark : this was on 

 the 30th day of September. In the flood of 1877 the greatest height 

 was 29 feet 9 inches above low- water mark; this was on the 25th day 

 of November. This flood was the highest ever known in this town. 



Harper's Ferry, W. Ya., 



January, 17, 1882. 



