XXX KEPORT OF THE COMMTSSIOXEK OF FISHERIES 



tliis canvass show tliat there were 19,122 persons enoaoed. an invest- 

 ment of $7,345,084, and a production of 105,733.To4 |)onnds of fishery 

 products vahied at $4.503.r)21 in the Mississippi Eiver and tribu- 

 taries. The })rincipal ])roducts taken, in the order of their vahie, 

 were: Mussel shells, Hl.TOS.lTS pounds, valued at $1,050.51)2: ])utfalo- 

 lish, 1T,2()7,1TT pounds, valued at $l,()l;j.(){)2; carp. 18.338,371 pounds, 

 valued at $872,128; cattish and bullheads. 8,01)2.(>1M) pounds, valued 

 at $713,461; fresh-water drum, 5,2(;0.8!)2 pounds, valued at $290,480; 

 paddletish, or spoonbill cat, 1,398,991 pounds, valued at $132,545: 

 suckers, 699,539 pounds, valued at $63,028. 



A comparison of the statistics for 1922 with previous statistics 

 ranging- back as far as 1894 shows some very interesting facts con- 

 cerning the increase and decrease of the catch of certain of our 

 species. The mussel-shell fishery, which in 1894 was hardly touched, 

 onl}' 195,500 pounds having been taken that year, grew to 76,000,000 

 pounds in 1908, but in 1922 the catch of this product was less than 

 52,000,000 pounds. It is evident that this indnstr^^ has reached its 

 maximum development and only the most careful administration 

 will guarantee its perpetuation. 



The carp fishery is one based wholly upon a species introduced 

 from Europe. In 1894 about 1.250.000 pounds of tliis fish were taken. 

 This grew to nearly 31,000,000 pounds in 1908, but in 1922 dwindled 

 almost to 18,000,000 pounds. The catch of l)urtalofish has been remark- 

 ably constant throughout the period mentioned, being between 11,000,- 

 000 and 16,000,000 pounds in each of the five canvasses taken during 

 this period. The catches of catfish and bullheads and the fresh-water 

 drum, like that of the buffalofish, have been fairly well maintained. 

 Although decided fluctuations have been indicated in the statistics, 

 no decided trend can he detected. 



The story of some of our game fishes is somewhat different. The 

 catch of black bass, for instance, in 1908 amounted to 1,500,000 

 pounds. In 1922 the catch of this fish had decreased to 73,554 

 pounds. When the white, rock, and yellow basses are considered we 

 find there has been a continuous decline since 1894. The catches of 

 these fishes in the vears in which canvasses were taken were as fol- 

 lows: 1894, 511,000 poimds; 1899, 278.000 pounds: 1903, 105,000 

 pounds; 1908, 83,000 pounds; 1922, 75,000 pounds. A large part of 

 the decline may be attributed to the fact that the basses are being- 

 protected from c'onnnercial fishing and reserved for s))orti]ig pur- 

 poses. This action, however, is more likely the result than tiu» cause 

 of depletion. 



FISHKHtKS OF Tl IK (UJKAT LAKKS 



A canvass of the fisheries of the (xreat Lakes, Lake of the Woods, 

 and Kain}' Lake was nuide for the calendar year 1922, and the re- 

 sults were published in condensed form as Statistical Bulletin No. 

 618. The results of this canvass show that there were 8,162 per- 

 sons engaged in the fisheries, an investment of $12,186,413, and a 

 production of 1 10.410.442 pounds of fisherv products, valued at 

 $6,799,633. 



These totals, when compai-ed with such previous statistics as are 

 available, shoAV that the catch of fish as a whole is being well main- 

 tained. On Lake Superior, howev<>r, the catch in 1922 was over 



