REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CXI 



That in iill strings the individual pound nets he separated by gaps hetwoon each 

 crib and the next succeeding loader, which gaps shall be at least 50 feet wide and 

 shall extend to the bottom. 



That all pound nets or pound-net strings be separated laterally by interspaces of 

 at least 1 mile. 



That no pound nets or strings of pound nets be allowed to begin in a less depth 

 than 10 feet or to extend out into a greater depth than 40 feet. 



That in tlie vicinity of the islands at the western end of tlie lake the length of 

 pound-net strings be further regulated in accordance with local conditions, but in 

 no case should these nets obstruct more than one-third the width of any cliauucl or 

 passageway. 



That the use of pound nets be prohibited on any reef or ground on which white- 

 fish or herring are known to spawn, or within a reasonable distance therefrom. 



That the use of pound nets be prohibited in any locality where young whitelish 

 may be taken in undue ([uantity. 



That the mesh in all pound nets n^easure in extension at least 21 inches in the 

 crib, after shrinkage. 



That all pound-net stakes be removed from the Avater within thirty days from the 

 close of the fall fishing season. 



Gill nets. — The mesh in the gill nets used for the cai)ture of herring, wall-eyed 

 pike, blue pike, and saugers should measure at least .3^ inches in extension, and the 

 employment of any gill net having a smaller mesh should be prohibited. 



A very large reduction is called for in the extent of fishing with the small-meshed 

 gill nets, especially for the herring and wall-eyed pike. In case this can not 

 satisfactorily be accomplislied by reducing the amount of netting employed, prac- 

 tically the same result may lie reached by instituting a close season, which should 

 preferably occur at the time of year when the greater waste of fish takes place. 



We recommend that the use of the small-meshed gill nets be entirely prohibited 

 west of a line connecting Point Pelde with Vermilion Light between July 1 and 

 January 1. 



In any locality where the small-meshed gill nets are liable to take an undue 

 quantity of undersized whitefish their nse should 1)6 prohibited, at least during the 

 peridd when such undersized fish are there present. 



The mesh in the gill nets used for the cajjture of whitefish sliould measure at 

 least li inches in extension, and it is considered that a 5-iuch mesh would be 

 preferable. 



The quantity of whitelish gill netting now emploj^ed appears to be excessive, in 

 view of the continued depletion of the whitefish, und it should be restricted unless 

 the protection of the species can be better provided for by a close season. 



The mesh in the gill nets used for the capture of sturgeon should measure at least 

 11 inches in extension. 



It seems to us that the gill-net fishery for sturgeon at the eastern end of tlie lake 

 is being conducted on too large a scale, and that a reduction should be made in the 

 number of nets employed; but a special investigation will be required to determine 

 the proper means of regulating this fishery. The hook-and-line fishery for the 

 sturgeon also needs to be taken into consideration in the same connection. 



The use of any gill net within one-fourth of a mile of any fixed net, such as a 

 I)ound net or trap net, should he prohibited. 



Fi/kr nets and trap nets. — The mesh of these nets should coufovm to the same 

 regulations provided for the pound nets. Their number should be restricted in 

 accordance with the capacity or requirements of each region in which they are fished. 

 A great reduction in the number of the fyke nets is demanded in several jtlaces. 



Seines. — The dimensions of seines and the size of mesli therein should conform in 

 e&ch instance to the conditions under which they are employed. The mesh should in 

 ail cases be sutFiciently large to permit the escape of undersized fish, and the number 

 of seines, as well as the manner of their use, should be properly restricted in all places. 



