FISHING INDUSTRY OF THE GREAT LAKES 575 



history of the fishery. The catch of 1885 was over 4,500,000 pounds. 

 This fish has disappeared to an alarming degree along the Canadian 

 shore also, though the shifting of fishing apparatus, chiefly pound 

 nets, to new districts has helped to maintain the output in the last 

 10 years. From about 1,000,000 in 1895, the catch has faUen to 

 300,000 pounds in 1922. Most of the whitefish now produced on 

 the Canadian shore are from Black Bay, Nipigon Bay, and along the 

 east shore of the lake, and they are taken in pound nets. The closed 

 season is the same for whitefish as for trout. The laws of Minnesota 

 with respect to closed seasons need not to be considered, as the Stat© 

 has no productive whitefish areas within its jurisdiction. 



HERRING 



Until 1899 herring were taken chiefly for local consumption, but 

 thereafter herring fishing became increasingly important. The war 

 gave a decided impetus to production, particularly on the Canadian 

 shore. The chief catches are made during the spawning season in 

 November, and the most favorable spawning grounds are on the west 

 end of the lake from the Apostle Islands to Thunder Bay. These 

 two extremes have been the most productive areas. Fishermen with 

 smaU equipment also fish for herring to some extent in summer with 

 floated nets off the Minnesota shore and off Isle Eoyale. 



The species never has been and is not now protected or propagated, 

 and in one center of abundance — namely, around the Apostle Islands — 

 it is generally conceded to be considerably less abundant now than 

 formerly. In Thunder Bay herring have not been taken in sufficient 

 quantities long enough to show any marked decrease, but the dumping 

 of wheat screening on their spawning grounds is said to have affected 

 the abundance in the last few years. 



BLUEFIN AND CHUBS 



Bluefins were first caught in numbers about 1897, chiefly out of 

 Ontonagon, but the industry did not become important until 1900. 

 Nets of 3 to 33^-inch mesh were used, and the average size of the 

 fish taken was IK pounds. These fish were caught throughout the 

 season on the bottom at depths of 60 to 100 fathoms, and were so 

 abundant that for several years some boats fished for nothing else 

 and lifts of 3 tons were not uncommon. The principal catches were 

 made out of Ontonagon, Marquette, and Grand Marais on the 

 Michigan shore, but they were also fished out of Bayfield, Wis., and 

 Grand Marais, Minn., and to some extent along the Canadian shore, 

 chiefly on Michipicoten Island. About 1907 the catch fell off 

 sharply and bluefin fishing was gradually discontinued, until at 

 present no one fishes for them anywhere and it is not known that 

 they occur any longer in commercial quantities. At no time were 

 any but the largest individuals taken, and it is therefore not clear 

 as to how intensive fishing could have so abruptly reduced the supply. 

 This species has disappeared in the same fashion in Lakes Michigan 

 and Ontario, but still occurs abundantly in parts of Lake Huron. 



Chubs are everywhere numerous but are not in demand. A few 

 are caught every year somewhere along the American shore, chiefly 

 for local use. Since there is only one generally distributed species 

 of chub in the lake, and since the area suited to it is quite restricted, 

 it is not likely that it could support an intensive fishery for long. 



