NATIONALITY AND GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. 47 



fishermen. The majority Lave entered the fishing business at a mature age and are less reckless 

 and improvident and more energetic and hardworking than in some other localities. Fishing is 

 not now prosecuted on Sunday as it formerly was in this vicinity. 



Credit system. — The system of credit, until recently in operation in many of the fishing 

 towns, had a demoralizing effect among the fishermen and led to general financial disaster among 

 the outfitters. It was customary for the capitalists to furnish the fishermen with outfits and 

 provisions on credit and take pay in the fish caught. This system encouraged the fishermen 

 to contract large debts, and to live extravagantly, while they continually looked forward to the 

 time when the capture of fabulous quantities of fish should relieve them of their indebtedness. 

 The out-litters, on the other hand, discovered in the course of time that the value of the fish caught 

 was frequently less than that of the outfits they furnished, and while out of charity for the fisher- 

 men, who were dependent upon them, or for lack of the knowledge necessary to establish a better 

 system, they continued to give unlimited credit, many became involved in financial difficulties 

 which resulted in utter ruin. At present, however, except in a few localities, dealers will not take 

 unca light fish in security, and finances are in a better condition. 



Financial trofits. — It is almost impossible to gather any information in regard to the 

 financial profits of individual fishermen, except of those who receive salaries. In many localities 

 fishing is thought to be becoming less and less profitable every year, while in others the profits are 

 considered to be larger than formerly. The opinions expressed, however, are based so largely 

 upon the success or failure of the individuals furnishing them, rather than upon an average of the 

 profits of all the fisheries of any given locality, that they must be taken with allowance. More- 

 over, so few statements of the value of the lake fisheries have been published in past years that 

 there is nothing with which to compare the figures obtained for the present report. It must be 

 the work of the next census to make such comparisons and to determine whether the lake fisheries 

 are increasing or decreasing in importance and profitableness. More in regard to this subject will 

 be found in the section of this report which treats of the methods of the fisheries. 



