FISHERIES 
Summary, by apparatus and waters, of the fisheries of Wisconsin in 1899. 

OF MISSISSIPPI 
RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES. 

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725 














Apparatus and waters. | Lbs. Value. Apparatus and waters. Lbs. Value. 
Set lines: | Spears: | 
Mississippi River .....-. | 120, 625 $3,934 || Mississippi River-.---.--.- 22, 000 $630 
St. Croix River......... 15, 000 560 St) Croix River. -2.2--- 48, 000 1, 075 
fa 25 eS 
Motaltsento soca cne 135, 625 4, 494 Motalens neers ee 70, 000 1, 705 
Crowfoot lines: Shoulder rakes: | 
Mississippi River......-| 18, 360, 600 54, 460 Mississippi River. ..-.--- 2, 830, 000 | 11, 3385 
Seines: Forks: 
Mississippi River......-. 461, 805 9, 924 Mississippi River. ..-.--- 70, 000 315 
Fyke nets: 
Mississippi River......-. 251, 075 4,969 || Total by waters: 
Shut-off nets: Mississippi River-.....-- 17, 178, 735 86, 504 
Mississippi River.....-.-) 38, 945 618 || St. Croix River ........ 63, 000 1, 685 
Trammell nets: a 
Mississippi River .....-. 19, 285 319 Grand total .......- 17, 236, 735 88, 189 
MINNESOTA. 
The fisheries of Minnesota in the Mississippi region were conducted 
in the Mississippi and the St. Croix rivers and in various lakes. The 
number of persons employed was 506, the investment was $87,796, and 
the products amounted to 1,322,171 pounds, valued at $40,258. The 
leading species of fish were buffalo-fish, cat-fish, crappie, pike, pike 
perch, sturgeon, shovel-nose sturgeon, and suckers. Frogs were also 
abundant, the catch being 92,254 pounds, valued at $9,609. 
On account of restrictive legislation the fisheries of the Mississippi 
River and tributaries in this State show a decided falling off since the 
last canvass of these waters, in 1894. The decrease in the catch from 
the lakes tributary to the Mississippi is due to the fact that no appa- 
ratus was allowed to be used in them except hand lines and spears. 
The resources of these lakes at the present time offer more induce- 
ments to sportsmen than to commercial fishermen. 
The most important fisheries of this section of the Mississippi River 
are conducted between St. Paul and Winona, this region including that 
portion of the river known as Lake Pepin, which is about 85 miles in 
length, with an average width of over 3 miles. The fishery resources 
of this part of the river are destined to see a decided improvement 
on account of the mussel fishery, which, beginning in the vicinity of 
Muscatine, Iowa, has gradually extended up the river into Minnesota. 
Brownsville, however, was the only locality in Minnesota at which 
mussel shells were taken in 1899, and was also the highest point up 
the Mississippi River at which this industry was carried on. 
Taking the value of the catch as the basis, the most important 
apparatus used on this river are haul seines, set lines, fyke nets, and 
trammel nets, named in the order of theirimportance. Included under 
fyke nets are what are known locally as ‘‘ bait nets,” which are much 
smaller than the ordinary fyke nets, their average length being from 
8 to 10 feet. These have neither wings nor leaders, and cost $2 to $3. 
In using them a bag filled with stale cheese is placed near the back of the 
net to attract the fish. Cat-fish is the principal species taken in them. 
