FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1929 1025 



UNITED STATES 

 OPERATING UNITS 



In conducting the survey of the operating units employed in the 

 lake fisheries for 1928 an effort was made to determine the actual 

 number of men, boats, and amount of gear employed in the fisheries. 

 In making this determination only the average number of units of 

 gear actually fishing simultaneously were counted, and those units 

 being dried on shore, carried on the boats, or held in reserve were 

 disregarded. 



Fishermen. — There were 5,438 fishermen employed in the lake 

 fisheries during 1928. Of this number, 72 per cent were engaged in 

 the boat and shore fisheries and 28 per cent in the vessel fisheries. 

 Thirty- two per cent was fished on Lake Michigan, 25 per cent, on 

 Lake Erie, 18 per cent on Lake Superior, 16 per cent on Lake Huron, 

 5 per cent on Lake Ontario, and 2 per cent on Lake of the Woods, 

 Rainy Lake, and Namakan Lake. 



Vessels. — During 1928 there were 134 steam vessels and 246 motor 

 vessels engaged in the lake fisheries of the United States. Of this 

 number 43 per cent of the steam vessels and 63 per cent of the motor 

 vessels were engaged in fishing on Lake Michigan, 36 per cent of the 

 steam vessels and 15 per cent of the motor vessels on Lake Erie, 11 

 per cent of the steam vessels and 12 per cent of the motor vessels on 

 Lake Huron, 10 per cent of the steam vessels and 9 per cent of the 

 motor vessels on Lake Superior, only 2 motor vessels were operated 

 on Lake Ontario, and only 1 motor vessel on Lake of the Woods. 



Boats. — ^There were 1,475 motor boats and 928 rowboats employed 

 in the lake fisheries during 1928. Of this number 21 per cent of the 

 motor boats and 18 per cent of the rowboats were engaged on Lake 

 Michigan, 27 per cent of the motor boats and 18 per cent of the row- 

 boats on Lake Erie, 21 per cent of the motor boats and 7 per cent of 

 the rowboats on Lake Huron, 18 per cent of the motor boats and 

 49 per cent of the rowboats on Lake Superior, 8 per cent of the 

 motor boats and 9 per cent of the rowboats on Lake Ontario, and 

 5 per cent of the motor boats and less than one-half of 1 per cent of 

 the rowboats on Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake, and Namakan Lake. 



Gill nets. — During 1928 an average number of 99,348 gill nets were 

 used in the lake fisheries. These nets had a total area, as fished, of 

 24,185,861 square yards, or more than 8 square miles. Of this amount 

 51 per cent were fished on Lake Michigan, 25 per cent on Lake Erie, 

 15 per cent on Lake Superior, 8 per cent on Lake Huron, 1 per cent 

 on Lake Ontario, and less than one-half of 1 per cent on Lake of the 

 Woods, Rainy Lake, and Namakan Lake. 



Pound nets. — There were 1,722 pound nets used in the lake fisheries 

 during 1928. Of this total 51 per cent were used on Lake Huron, 

 31 per cent on Lake Michigan, 10 per cent on Lake Superior, 4 per 

 cent on Lake Erie, and 4 per cent on Lake of the Woods, Rainy 

 Lake, and Namakan Lake. 



Trap nets. — There were 6,221 trap nets fished during 1928. Of 

 this number 69 per cent were fished on Lake Erie, 22 per cent on Lake 

 Huron, 5 per cent on Lake Ontario, 4 per cent on Lake Michigan, 

 and less than one-half of 1 per cent on Lake Superior. 



Fyke nets. — ^There were 2,455 fyke nets fished during 1928. Of 

 this number 48 per cent were fished on Lake Erie, 33 per cent on 



