FLUCTUATIONS IN THE FISHERIES OF STATE 

 OF MICHIGAN WATERS OF GREEN BAY 



By Ralph Hile, Fishery Research Biologist, and George F. Lunger 

 and Howard J. Buettner, Statisticians 





Green Bay, 1 traditionally a major center of pro- 

 duction, has assumed in recent years a position of 

 overwhelming dominance in the commercial fish- 

 eries of the State of Michigan waters of Lake 

 Michigan. Within the 4-year period 1945— 18 the 

 commercial take in State of Michigan waters of 

 Green Bay increased from 3,317,000 pounds in 

 1945 to 7,909,000 pounds in 1948, and it was 7,782,- 

 000 pounds in 1949. At the same time the per- 

 centage contribution of Green Bay to the State 

 total for Lake Michigan rose each year, increasing 

 from 3G.5 in 1945 to 65.4 in 1949. 



The tremendous upswing in commercial produc- 

 tion in Green Bay can be attributed to the ab- 

 normally high abundance of three important 

 species — the lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeafor- 

 mis) , the lake herring or shallowwater cisco {Cor- 

 egonus [ = Leucichthys] artedii), and the walleye 

 or yellow pikeperch (Stizostedion v. vitreum) — 

 and to a marked rise in fishing intensity. The 

 increase in the abundance of fish was to a great 

 extent responsible for the rise in fishing pressure. 

 Not only were local fishermen stimulated to greater 

 efforts, but commercial operators from many other 

 localities moved into Green Bay to participate in 

 the good fishing. Most numerous, perhaps, among 

 the newcomers were fishermen from Lake Huron 

 who were literally driven from home by the de- 

 clining productivity of their own fishing grounds. 

 Fishermen from Wisconsin, also, purchased non- 

 resident licenses for fishing in State of Michigan 

 waters. 



The heightened production in Green Bay has 

 not proved an unmitigated blessing. The influx 

 of fishermen from other localities has resulted in 

 severe congestion of the fishing grounds. Fric- 

 tions have arisen and unpleasant incidents have 

 occurred. These difficulties are likely to be mul- 



1 The designation, Green Bay, as employed in this paper refers 

 to State of Michigan waters only. 



tiplied at such time as the abundance of fish ap- 

 proaches a more nearly normal level, for the 

 available stocks then may prove inadequate to sup- 

 port profitable operations by all the fishermen 

 now concentrated in the area. 



Still another problem is offered by the greatly 

 heightened interest of sportsmen and resort own- 

 ers in the walleye. They have found the recent 

 high abundance of walleyes greatly to their liking 

 and wish to see it perpetuated. To that end some 

 are willing to press for stringent limitations on 

 commercial operations — restrictions on gear, clo- 

 sure of grounds, even placing the walleye on the 

 game-fish list. 



Thus we have all the elements needed to create 

 a difficult and turbulent situation in northern 

 Green Bay in the years ahead. The decline in 

 abundance of fish that seems almost certain to 

 come will prove distressing to all groups. Should 

 these groups resort to pressures to obtain changes 

 of regulations — either liberalized or restrictive — 

 without first making certain that the changes are 

 sound, the welfare of the fisheries could be gravely 

 endangered. The best interests of the various 

 groups are not incompatible, but their views fre- 

 quently are. If the several groups are to be 

 brought together, it will come about through a 

 better understanding and appreciation of facts 

 relating to the fisheries. 



It is to be regretted that the available facts on 

 the fisheries of Green Bay are few. Past studies 

 of the biology of fishes in the area, though instruc- 

 tive, have been scattered. Opportunities have 

 been lacking for the continuity of research so 

 essential to an appreciation of the tremendous 

 changes that take place within populations. 

 Until better understanding of these changes is de- 

 veloped we shall continue at a severe disadvantage 

 in attempting to prescribe for the welfare of the 

 fisheries. 



