BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 353 



Vol. IV, j¥o. 9SI. WashsBa^toK, D. C. Awg. 14, 1884. 



176.— DESTKICTSOIV OF Filial CAUSKD BV NETS OF S:TIAL,r MESH IN 



LAKE iUICiaiGAN. 



By G. A. SlIELEY. 



I spend from six weeks to two luontlis dnriug the siirainer fishing 

 with hook and line in this vicinity. While yisiting the different fishing 

 camps I have inquired as to the size of raesh used in pound fishing. I 

 find it varies from 3J inches to 1^ inches. The latter is proving very 

 destructive, as they catch with the 1^-inch uet all the smaller-sized whi te- 

 fish and trout. Tons of these are destroyed yearly, until now the gill- 

 net fishermen cannot catch one where they formerly caught hundreds. 

 The cause of this is the destruction of the smaller fish, which are killed 

 by being handled in the pounds. It will not be but a short time before 

 whitefish will be as scarce in Lakes Huron and Michigan as they are in 

 Lake Erie. Their disappearance in the latter lake is due to pound-nets 

 and the small meshes used. I have inquired of fishermen and find that 

 in their opinion net-fishing (at least the pound) should be discontinued 

 during the month of jSTovember, as it is then that the fish go to the 

 shoals to spawn, and in this locality you will find pounds set on both 

 sides of the shoals and in such a jiosition as to catch great numbers of 

 the fish before they spawn. 



The fishermen bring from one to three tons of whitefish to Mackinaw 

 daily. Those who, have been engaged in fishing, and are still fishing, 

 state that the small meshes destroy tons of fish which if allowed to have 

 their freedom would in a year or two become large fish. Fish which four 

 years ago brought on the island about 4 cents per pound are now sell- 

 ing at 9 cents. The cause of this is the scarcity, and at the present 

 time there are but a few i)oints near here where any can be caught. I 

 should think that, if not contrary fo law to use revenue cutters for the 

 purpose, it would be of great benefit to the consumer and the country 

 at large to have one of these cutters ordered to inspect these nets and 

 see that they use no meshes smaller than allowed by law, and also, if it 

 could be done, to have the pounds removed from the vicinity of spawn- 

 ing grounds during the month of November. 



Congressman Springer advised me to write you on this subject, as I 

 am very much interested in the preservation of the fish in the lakes. 

 Mr. Springer is at present visiting the island, and could assist you in 

 obtaining information as to the facts I have stated. 



Cedar Poixt Cottage, 



MacJcinaio, Mich., July 21, 1884. 

 Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 23 



