THE GREAT LAKES FISHERIES IN 1899. 617 
While the yield and value of the fisheries of this lake were greater 
in 1899 than inany previous year for which figures have been obtained, 
there has been a falling off since 1893 in the catch of trout, white-fish, 
and some other species. In 1893 29 per cent of the entire catch of the 
lake was trout, while in 1899 the percentage that this species bore to 
the entire catch was only 15, showing a falling off of 14 per cent. 
Owing to the decided decline in white-fish since 1893 the value of 
the catch of this species has dropped below that of both wall-eyed pike 
and perch. The northern half of Lake Huron shows an increase in 
trout and a decrease in white-fish, while in the southern half the reverse 
is the case. The deep waters of the northern half of the lake seem to 
-be more favorable to the trout than to the white-fish. The greatest 
quantities of white-fish are taken in depths of water ranging from 10 
to 25 fathoms. The decline in white-fish, mentioned above, shows a 
decided change in the conditions existing when the fisheries first began 
on Lake Huron, when this fish was the principal object of capture. 
It is the opinion generally of the fishermen that, owing to fish-cultural 
work, the supply of this species is being gradually replenished. 
There has been a very noticeable increase in the value of the her- 
ring catch as compared with 1893. About 80 per cent of the catch of 
this species was taken in pound nets set in Saginaw Bay. 
The species which show the greatest increase in value since 1893 are 
the wall-eyed pike, yellow perch, cat-fish and bullheads. The center of 
abundance of the wall-eyed pike is in Saginaw Bay and River, which 
yielded 88 per cent of the catch. This species was caught chiefly in 
pound nets, but large numbers were also speared through the ice on 
Saginaw River during the winter months. 
German carp appeared in the statistics of this lake in 1899 for the 
first time, none being found there during the previous canvass for 
1893. Itis probable that this species came from Lake Erie, where it 
has been very plentiful for several years. 
The species in which the greatest decrease has occurred during the 
past ten years is the sturgeon, the catch in 1899 amounting to only 
one-twelfth of that taken in 1890. Prior to 1875 this species had no 
special value, but the price now paid for it is but little lower than 
that paid for trout. Its present increased value, however, does not 
compensate to any great extent for the decided falling off in the catch 
since 1880. Most of the sturgeon are taken in pound nets. 
The two least valuable species in the lake are ling or lawyers and 
fresh-water drum, which until recent years were very seldom saved 
by the fishermen, owing to their inability to dispose of them. The 
market value of the fresh-water drum seems to be increasing. 
Apparatus.—The most important apparatus of capture used in the 
fisheries of Lake Huron are pound nets, trap nets, gill nets, fyke nets, 
and lines, the catch by pound and trap nets representing nearly three- 
