14 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Michigan,, and a large portion of Lake Huron, are the regions where 

 they are in general use. 



The ''Huron" or "square stern" is the boat in most general favor 

 where the large gill-net rigs are employed. It is the ordinary model of a 

 schooner-rigged sail-boat, with less sheer than the Mackinaw, but with 

 plenty of room for nets, fish, or half-barrels. The better models are 

 faster than the Mackinaws. They are generally from thirty to forty 

 feet in length; in most of the regions where they are employed the 

 fishing is done much farther from shore than in the "light-rig" localities. 

 An inquiry into the history of loss of life and accidents among the 

 fishermen of Lake Michigan indicates that these boats had suffered the 

 most, partly, no doubt, because of their longer runs out from shore. 



The "Norwegian" is a huge, unwieldy thing, with flaring bows, great 

 sheer, high sides, and is sloop-rigged. She is absolutely dry in all 

 weathers, and though perfectly safe, and with ample room, she is only 

 nsed by the Scandinavian fishermen, most other fishermen objecting to 

 her slowness and the great labor of rowing in time of a calm. These 

 boats are in use in but very few localities. They are from thirty-five to 

 forty feet in length. 



The pound-boats in use in the western end of Lake Erie are very well 

 adapted to the purposes for w^hich they are employed. They are flat- 

 l3ottomed, wide-beam, very simply-made boats, with a large center 

 board, and carrying two very tall spars, and a wide spread of canvas. 

 They are quite fast before the wind, and very roomy. They are used 

 in transporting the fish from the nets to the warehouses and freezing 

 houses. They are usually forty feet in length. 



The ordinary pound-net boat is flat-bottomed, is made from rough 

 boards, and managed with oars only. 



The small steamers now used in a few localities are built much after 

 the model of the small river-tugs, but with no upper works, and with 

 wide hatchways extending along half the length of the deck. They ai?e 

 used only with the heavy gill-net rigs. 



D— THE DECREASE OF THE FOOD-FISHES. 



The special investigation in reference to the decrease of the food- 

 fishes was prosecuted among the fisheries of Lake Michigan. The im- 

 pression prevails that there is an alarming diminution of the food-fishes 

 of the lakes. This is the ordinary feeling among dealers, a majority of 

 the fishermen, and the people generally. 



The supply of fish for the Chicago dealers has steadily increased with 

 the demand, for a number of years, until this season. This is their tes- 

 timony, and is evidenced by statistics of inspection, kept on file among 

 the city's papers since 1854. This is to be attributed to the fact that 

 the territory fished over has increased in this lake, and that, wherever 

 the lines of steamers and railroads are extended, fisheries are established 

 at new points. From Lake Superior, too, since regular communication 



