NATIONALITY AND GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. 45 



32. THE FISHERMEN OF THE GREAT LAKES. 



FEOM NOTES BY LUDVV1G KUMLIEN. 



Nationalities. — Very many nationalities are represented among the fishermen of the Great 

 Lakes, nor is the diversity of origin confined to the lishermen alone, for many of the owners and 

 managers of the fisheries are of foreign birth. Next to the native Americans, Germans and Cana- 

 dian-French predominate. The Scandinavian nations are also well represented. In some localities, 

 particularly at t lie west end of Lake Superior and in the vicinity of Sault de Ste. Marie, the Straits 

 of Mackinac, and Saginaw Bay, many pure and half breed Indians are employed. At Sault de 

 Ste. Marie, Indians are the principal fishermen. In the majority of the towns the nationalities are 

 very much mixed. A catalogue would include Americans, English, French, Germans, Norwegians, 

 Swedes, Russians, Poles, Belgians, Swiss, Dutch, Irish, and Indians. At the east end of Lake 

 Ontario, however, all are either Americans or Canadian-French. In Green Bay the Swedes and 

 Norwegians are said to be the most successful fishermen. With the Indians fishing is, of course, 

 an hereditary profession, handed down from father to son. The western portion of the lake 

 region has been so recently settled, and by so many different classes and nationalities, that it is 

 highly probable that the fathers and grandfathers of the majority of the present fishermen were 

 engaged in other occupations. On the west shore of Lake Michigan, however, especially between 

 Porte des Mortes and Manitowoc, among the French-Canadians fishing is hereditary. The boys 

 begin to assist while yet mere children, and naturally become expert boatmen and skillful 

 fishermen. The fishermen at the east end of Lake Ontario, about Chaumont, Sackett's Harbor, 

 and Henderson Bay, are said to have come originally from Connecticut, where they had been fish- 

 ermen, and were the first to introduce pound and trap nets. 



Health. — As a class the fishermen are strong and robust, and well suited for their occupation. 

 Fishing is considered a healthful pursuit in all respects, and, aside from the disasters caused by 

 storms, conducive to longevity. Very many of the better class of fishermen are married, and in 

 numerous instances favored with remarkably large families. 



Disasters. — The sudden and violent storms which visit the lakes, particularly in tall, cause 

 many serious disasters, resulting frequently in loss of life. The number of losses, however, is 

 smaller than one would suppose at first thought, for it must be taken into consideration that the 

 fishermen are expert seamen, and cautious withal, and that as a rule their boats are stanch and 

 seaworthy. During the last decade only about seventy-five from all the lake towns have been 

 drowned. The heaviest losses have occurred at Saint Joseph, near the head of Lake Michigan. 

 On the 29th of April, 1875, eleven boats were fishing far from shore, a light wind blowing from 

 the northeast. Suddenly it veered to the northwest, and a violent squall struck the ileet. Some of 

 the boats were returning homeward with all canvas up, and were unable to drop their sails before 

 the storm struck them. Four went down, carrying with them eleven fishermen. Few of the Ileet 

 reached shore in safety; some were driven upon the beach, many miles from their harbor, and 

 nearly all sustained some injury, besides the loss of nets, and sails and other parts of apparatus 

 and rigging. From 1800 to 187(5 twenty-one lives were lost in all. These disasters, together with 

 the scarcity of tish and low prices, have discouraged many fishermen in this locality, and they have 

 left fishing to follow other occupations. 



At Milwaukee as many as twenty fishermen have perished within 15 years. They wire 

 accustomed to visit fishing grounds distant from fifteen to forty miles from shore, in boats, fre- 

 quently remaining two days and nights. The sudden storms oftentimes bewildered them, especially 



