MILNER FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES. 11 



Gill-nets are set beneath the ice, by cutting holes a rod or more apart, 

 and sliding aline along from one hole to another, until the desired dis- 

 tance is attained, when a gang of nets is attached and drawn through. 



The fisherman has a shanty, placed on runners, with a section of the 

 floor removed, and with a good fire in the stove, within a few feet of 

 him, he lifts his nets and removes the fish, entirely protected from the 

 weather. 



During the past winter, a pound-net was allowed to freeze into the 

 ice, and a shanty built over the crib, or pot, so that it could be lifted 

 through the opening, daily, without inconvenience. 



8. — IN LAKE HURON. 



On the greater part of the American side of the Lake Huron shores 

 the fishing is done with gill-nets. There are a number of pound-nets in 

 use in iSaginaw and Thunder Bays, and a few at other localities. Seine- 

 fishing for the wall-eyed pike is done on a large scale near Bay City,' 

 Mich., on Saginaw Bay. 



Except at the northern end of the lake, the large Huron boat is used 

 in the gill-net fishing, and gangs of from thirty to sixty nets are set at 

 from eight to twenty-five miles from shore. At the northern end of the 

 lake the Mackinaw boat is used, with fewer nets. 



The fisheries of Saginaw Bay are somewhat unique in character. Gill- 

 nets are set in the ordinary season from the shores near tbe entrance of 

 the bay. Pound-nets are numerous on both shores up to the mouth of 

 the river 5 as many as two hundred have been in use at once. 



Close to the mouth of the river are the seining-grounds. Four or five 

 80-rod seines are in use on each side. On the one side where the current 

 sweeps shoreward they are made of coarse twine and have heavily 

 leaded lines, and are strong enough to carry ashore slabs, logs, and 

 everything found in their way. The seine is laid out up-stream, and 

 the current sweeps it on the shore below, when lines are made fast to the 

 bag and it is drawn out by means of a 2-horse windlass. On the oppo- 

 site shore, where the current sweeps out, there is the necessity for lighter 

 seines and heavy leads, as there is a tendency to lift the lead-line from 

 the bottom and allow the fish to escape underneath ; a difiiculty that jg 

 said to have never been entirely obviated. » 



As soon as the ice leaves the river in the spring, the sehies are swept 

 over the grounds, and usually immense quantities of wall-eyed pike, Stis- 

 ostedion americana, are taken ; several tons are sometimes secured in a 

 single haul, and the result of the seasons' fishing is often two thousand 

 packages. The fishing only lasts about three weeks. 



The pound-nets take a variety of species. The wall-eyed pike is the 

 more numerous species, and the white-fish next. The fall fishing is said 

 to be the more important for this class of nets. 



The winter fishing is very extensive. Holes are cut through the ice 

 and gill-nets are set, pound-nets are allowed to freeze in, keeping only the 



