56 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
critical depletion of the commercial species and pointing out the 
need for adequate and uniform fishery regulations in Great Lakes 
waters. A similar interest in the Great Lakes fisheries was demon- 
strated by the resolution passed at the National Convention of the 
Izaak Walton League of America commending the Council of State 
Governments for its efforts to obtain the negotiation of a treaty with 
the Dominion of Canada for the establishment of an international 
board of inquiry “to the end that uniform regulations may be 
secured” in Great Lakes waters. 
The rapidly increasing popularity of sport fishing in Great Lakes 
raters, with the consequent growing demand for the protection of 
Se fish species, and for the closure of certain waters to commercial 
fishing, bids f fair to give rise to administrative problems of major 
importance. It is recognized generally that the monetary returns to 
Great Lakes communities for fish taken by tourists are far greater 
than the returns for an equal quantity of fish produced in the com- 
mercial fishery. It is economically expedient. therefore, to encourage 
the greatest possible development of sport fisheries and to provide 
adequate protection for game fish in those localities in which sport 
fisheries become established. On the other hand, it is unsound to 
place undue restrictions on the commercial fishery, particularly on 
the fishery for rough fish and other species of no interest to sports- 
men. The indiscriminate closure of bays and other water areas to 
commercial fishine may provide valuable protection to game fish, 
but at the same time it may deprive local communities of revenues 
from commercial operations that could have been carried on without 
the shghtest harm to the stock of game species. Unfortunately many 
sportsmen do not understand this situation. As a result, State legis- 
latures are subjected continually to heavy pressure from sportsmen’s 
organizations which seek to have this region or that region of the 
Great Lakes closed to all commercial fishing. Some extremely pro- 
ductive waters have already been closed when a few minor restric- 
tions on commercial fishing operations would have been fully ade- 
quate for the protection of the game-fish species. 
Tf the unwarranted closure of Great Lakes waters to commercial 
fishing is to be avoided, and if certain areas already closed are to be 
reopened, it will be necessary to obtain extensive factual data on the 
relationship between the sport fisheries and the commercial fisheries 
of the Great Lakes, and with this information to convince all concerned 
that there is no important conflict between the best interests of the 
sport and commercial fisheries. 
Experience has demonstrated the special importance of preventing 
the development of antagonism on the part of the public toward the 
fishing industry. A bitter but valuable lesson on this point was 
obtained in connection with the closure, by act of the Michigan Legis- 
lature, of Potagannissing Bay in northern Lake Huron. “Although 
an impartial survey conducted cooperatively by the Bureau and the 
Michigan Department of Conservation demonstrated conclusively that 
the commercial fishery in the bay was not harmful in any important 
degree to the stock of smallmouth black bass, and that only limited 
restrictions on commercial operations would provide that species with 
almost complete protection, the sport fishermen nevertheless insisted 
upon and obtained the complete closure of the waters under dispute. 
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