REPOliT OF COMMlSSlUNEli OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CXLVII 



L.AKE ST. CLAIK, ST. OLAIE AND DETROIT RIVERS. 



This lake, with its two tributary rivers, altliougli not one of the Great 

 Lakes, is sufficiently distinct from Lake Huron on one side and Lake 

 Erie on the other to warrant separate consideration of its fisheries, 

 which, although less extensive than those of any of the Great Lakes 

 proper, are nevertheless important, especially in view of the relatively 

 small area of the fishing-grounds. The principal fishing is done with 

 pound nets and seines, and the chief fish taken is the whitefish, the 

 abundance of which, as judged by the catch, seems to have consider- 

 ably increased in the past five years. The fisheries in 1890 were as a 

 whole much more important than in 1885, which year exhibited an 

 increase over 1880. The number of persons employed has increased, 

 and the quantity and value of the catch have advanced, but the aggre- 

 gate investment is somewhat less. A very important trade in fish is 

 carried on in Detroit, and four steam vessels, fitted out with gill nets, 

 are owned in the region, butprosecute fishing in Lakes Erieand Huron. 



These fisheries had the following extent in 1890, the figures includ- 

 ing the vessels fishing in the other lakes but owned in this section: 



Persons employed in Lake St. Clair fisheries. 



* Includes outfit. 

 Products of Lake St. Clair fisheries. 



