REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. 



CLIII 



111 a precediiig general table the statistics of the fisheries of this 

 lake in 1880, 1885, and 1890 appear. The fisheries for the last year 

 show a marked decline in the essential features of the industry as 

 compared with 1880, although the capital invested and the value of the 

 products were somewhat greater than in 1885. The aggregate decrease 

 iu the quantity of fish taken between 1880 and 1890 was only 193,522 

 pounds, an amount which is in itself insignificant; but an inspection 

 of the statistics shows that a more unfavorable result was obviated 

 only by a very large increase in the production of the cheaper grades 

 of fish, while the catch of the two most valuable fishes in 1880, viz, 

 whitefish and lake trout, was reduced nearly 90 per cent. A slight 

 improvement, made up chiefly of minor species, such as might arise 

 from seasonal variations in the abundance of fish, is seen to have 

 occurred between 1885 and 1890. The following comparison of the 

 production of the fishes in 1880, 1885, and 1890 exhibits the variations 

 in the catch of all the species for which it is possible to give separate 

 figures for 1880: 



Comparison of the yield of the fisheries of Lake Ontario in 18S0, 1885, and 1890. 



In this lake larger quantities of fish are caught with gill nets than 

 Avith any other kind of apparatus. The principal part of the catch 

 consists of sturgeon and the minor species of whitefish usually desig- 

 nated herring. More common whitefish are also taken with these nets 

 than in any other manner, although the actual yield is small. Trap 

 nets and pound nets rank next to gill nets in the amount and value 

 of the fish secured. Pike perch or wall-eyed i^ike represents more than 

 half the value but less than one third the quantity of the trap-net 

 production, and is the most important fish now taken in the lake. 

 Fyke-net fishing is of considerable extent, catfish, pike, and yellow 

 perch being the chief products. All other kinds of apparatus used are 

 unimportant. 



The following table indicates the efficiency of the different means of 

 capture employed in Lake Ontario, the quantity and value of each fish 

 taken being shown: 



