FISHING INDUSTRY OF THE GEEAT LAKES 599 



whitefish but prohibit the taking of fish smaller than 1 % pounds in 

 the round. 



The laws regarding trout nets are the same as for whitefish, except 

 that Pennsylvania requires that the mesh be not smaller than 53^2 

 inches. For all other species excepting sturgeon no net of smaller 

 mesh than 3 inches may be employed, except in Michigan where the 

 minimum mesh is virtually 2^ inches. 



The laws provide for the use of 23/2-inch nets for taking blue-backed 

 herring from November 1 to December 15, but few such fish occur 

 in Michigan waters at that season. Until 1923 23^-inch nets were 

 allowed in the eastern end of the lake in Canadian waters. 



For the capture of sturgeon the State of New York requires 10-inch 

 nets. Michi^'an, Pennsylvania, and Ontario have no regulations with 

 respect to nets for catching sturgeon but limit the size of the fish that 

 that may be taken, while Ohio entirely prohibits their capture. 



Ontario and Penns5'lvania have enacted laws to prohibit the use of 

 bull nets. In Ontario waters no gill net may be deeper than 36 meshes, 

 while in Pennsylvania 30 meshes is the maximum depth allowed. 

 The Ontario law has been in force since January 1, 1923, but in 

 Pennsylvania the law will not become effective until Ohio and New 

 York have provided similar restrictions. 



Seines. — In Michigan the mesh of seine wings may not be smaller 

 than 4 inches and that of the bag not less than 23^ inches, while in 

 New York no seine with smaller meshes than 3 inches is licensed. 

 Ohio places no restriction on the use of seines in the open lake, but 

 permits nothing less than 4-inch mesh in the marshes. In Ontario 

 and Pennsylvania there are no regulations governing seines. 



Pound nets. — In Michigan pound nets for taking whitefish and 

 trout may have the mesh of the bottom, sides, and front of the pot 

 not less than 33^^ inches in size, as used, and that of the back not 

 more than 2 inches, as manufactured, for at least 15 feet below the 

 surface of the water. If the mesh of the bottom, sides, and front 

 of the pot is not less than 4 inches, as used, the size of mesh neces- 

 sary in the back is not specified. Pound nets with the front, sides, 

 and bottom of the pot of mesh not smaller than 23^ inches and the 

 back with meshes of not more than 2 inches may be used for other 

 fish if they do not catch more than 10 per cent of mature whitefish 

 and trout in a season. The size of mesh in the lead and heart is also 

 specified throughout, and provision is made for the use, from October 

 1 to June 15, of a pound with a pot made of mesh not smaller than 2 

 inches throughout, as manufactured, for the purpose of taking blue- 

 backed herring. 



There are no regulations governing the mesh of pound nets in 

 Ontario, but the size of the fish that may be taken is regulated. In 

 Ohio one-third the back of the pot of pounds must be constructed 

 of mesh not less than 2J^ inches in size, as fished, and the back shall 

 hang squarel3^ In Pennsylvania no pound-net pot may have a 

 mesh of less than 23^^ inches, as fished. New York does not license 

 pound nets. 



Trap nets andfylce nets.— In Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania the 

 laws governing trap nets and fykes are practically the same as for 



Eounds. In Ontario no traps are licensed and the mesh of fykes may 

 e not less than 23/^ inches. In New York no trap net or fyke may 

 have meshes smaller than 3 inches. 



