BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 119 



J. C. and J. H. Davis, of Toledo, say : " Our catch of whitefish for the 

 past two seasons was as follows : 1883, C tons, and 1884, from the same 

 number of nets, 6.J tons. 



"Do not know that planting of young fish Las been of much benefit 

 to us at this end of the lake, but can see no reason why it should not 

 benefit somebody. Certainly, every young fish put in makes one more 

 chance for a whitefish, as the eggs would be lost if not taken." 



E. Alvord & Son, of Sandusky, say : " Our receipts of whitefish for the 

 past two seasons were: 1883, from 52 pound-nets, 23 tons; 1884, from 

 the same number of nets, 30i tons. 



" Yes, we think that propagation is a good thing, and a great help 

 iu adding to the supply of fish in the lake. We think the young fry 

 stand just as good a chance of becoming full-grown fish as those hatched 

 in the lake. 



" But there ought to be a law to stop fishing with gill-nets, for the 

 reason that down below here, in deep water, where they fish through 

 the summer, it is estimated that at least one-third of those caught in 

 hot weather are unfit for market, and are thrown away, which is an 

 outrage. And then in the fall the gill-nets are set on the spawning 

 reefs, just when and where the fish should be left undisturbed." 



Bear & Buth, of Sandusky, state that in 1883 their catch of white- 

 fish from 9 pound-nets was 7£ tons", and in 1884, from 11 pound-nets, 

 10 tons. 



" The planting of young fish is undoubtedly of great benefit to the 

 the fishing interests. Were it not for this the stock in the lake would 

 rapidly decrease." * 



A. Bremiller, of Sandusky, gives the following figures: Catch of 

 whitefish in 40 pound-nets, in 1883, 66 tons ; in 1884, 69 tons. 



"I think there is positive proof of the benefit of the hatcheries, from 

 the fact that during late years, say the last two or three, there have been 

 a great many small fish caught — smaller than ever were caught before 

 the planting was commenced in the lake. Another fact to be taken into 

 account is that the facilities for catching are becoming greater every 

 year, and if the supply had not been kept up in some way, the stock 

 must certainly have decreased, which is not now the case." 



A. J. Grustavus," pound-net fisherman, of Huron, puts it in this light: 

 "For every million fry planted there are a million more chances for 

 whitefish. I think the greatest results are to come, as the business is 

 not yet old enough for us to expect much benefit." 



E. D. Smith, of Marblehead, says: "I know the fish-hatching to be a 

 grand thing, for the reason that I have caught thousands of whitefish 

 this season not weighing over a pound to a pound and a half each, and 

 formerly I never caught them. I believe these small fish are some of 

 those planted from the hatcheries." 



Fred Motrie, of Port Clinton, says: "I fished 6 pounds in the fall of 

 ''883, and 5 in the fall of 1884. Have no record of my whitefish catch 



