386 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



Production was still high in 1931; however, the years, 1932-1939, comprised a period 

 of rapid decline. The 1939 catch of 27,200 pounds was the lowest since 1918. 



Lake Michigan. — The Lake Michigan data are much more variable than those for 

 Green Bay, and it is correspondingly difficult to speak of definite periods of high or 

 low production. Frequently exceptionally good or poor years are isolated (as, for 

 example, 1892 and 1931). The period of most consistently low production was 1909- 

 1916 (all years below 100,000 pounds) and the most extended era of heavy yield wag 

 1917-1923 (all but two years above 100,000 pounds). The best of the more recent 

 years was 1931 with a catch of 236,000 pounds. The 1931 catch was exceeded by that 

 of only one year (1923) since 1897 and was the fourth highest in the history of the 

 fishery. Production was consistently below 100,000 pounds in the years, 1932-1939 

 (no data for 1935). 



Green Bay and Lake Michigan. — The data for all of the State of Wisconsin waters 

 of Lake Michigan show a fairly consistent high level of yield for the years, 1889-1897. 

 Available data indicate a relatively low production in the period, 1899-1917; only 

 once (1912) did the catch exceed 150,000 pounds in the 11 years for which there are 

 records, and it fell below 100,000 pounds in 2 of them (1910 and 1914). An upturn 

 occurred in 1918. Over the period, 1918-1925, production fell below 200,000 pounds 

 only twice (1920 and 1922) and exceeded 400,000 pounds in 1923. A still higher level 

 was maintained during the six years, 1926-1931. All of the annual yields were above 

 300,000 pounds and 3 years had catches in excess of 500,000 pounds. The 1931 take 

 of 698,000 pounds was the largest since 1897 and the second largest in history. Pro- 

 duction was at a relatively low level in the years, 1932-1939. The catch exceeded 

 200,000 pounds in only two of these years (1932 and 1935). The 1934 catch was the 

 lowest since 1914 and the third lowest on record. • 



A striking feature of the State of Wisconsin data is the lack of agreement be- 

 tween the statistics for Green Bay and Lake Michigan. Some years were good or poor 

 in both areas, as for example, 1897, 1931, and 1934. It is true also that the data for 

 the two areas occasionally agreed rather well in general trend over a period of several 

 years as in 1909-1917 and 1931-1934. On the other hand, there were numerous years 

 that had a very high catch in one area and exceptionally poor production in the other. 

 Outstanding examples of such disagreements occurred over the period, 1890-1896, and 

 in the years 1918, 1923, 1926, 1929, and 1930. 



POUND-NET AND DEEP-TRAP-NET FISHERY, 1930-1931 



Table 50 contains data on the pound-net and deep-trap-net fisheries for whitefish 

 in Door County waters, 1930-1931. (Practically all of Wisconsin's whitefish are pro- 

 duced in these waters.) The comparison of the average catch per lift of the two gears 

 in corresponding months confirms the contention of fishermen that the deep trap net is 

 the more effective gear. The catch per lift of deep trap nets was 2.7 times that of 

 pound nets in May 1931, 2.2 times in June, and 2.3 times for May and June com- 



Table 50. — Production of whitefish and catch -per lift in pound nets anil deep trap nets 

 of Door County, Wis., 1930-1931 



