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SECTION 8 - GREAT LAKES FISHERIES 



United States and Canadian fishermen In the five Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair, and three of 

 the five International lakes of northern Minnesota and Canada landed 113.7 million pounds of fresh- 

 water fish — a decline of 13.7 million compared with 1969. U.S. landings, however, Increased 

 from 68.5 million pounds worth $6.1 million In 1969 to 71.6 million pounds worth $6.4 million In 

 1970. U.S. landings were 63 percent of the total production. Canadian fishermen landed 42.1 

 million pounds — 16.7 million less than In 1969. Two species (smelt and yellow perch) dominated 

 the landings and accounted for 73 percent of the Canadian harvest. 



The Increased U.S. production was caused principally by greater landings of alewlves — 33.5 

 million pounds in 1970 compared with 29.2 million in 1969. Taken chiefly in Lake Michigan, ale- 

 wlves accounted for 47 percent of the U.S. landings. Compared with 1969, landings of carp (6.6 

 million pounds); chubs(11.0 million); coho salmon(2.2 million); suckers(1.4 million); and white- 

 fish (2.4 million) increased moderately, but lake herring (1.4 million); sheepshead (1.1 million); 

 smelt (3.6 million); white bass (1.1 million); and yellow perch (4.3 million pounds) declined. 



Wisconsin led in volume of landings with 37.7 million pounds, followed by Michigan with 

 21.2milUon; Ohio, 8. 4 million; and Minnesota, 2 . 5 million pounds . Four States (New York , Penn- 

 sylvania, Illinois, and Indiana) supplied the remaining 1.8 million pounds. The five Great Lakes 

 In order of total production were Michigan, 53.1 million pounds; Erie, 9.5 million; Superior, 5.0 

 million; Huron, 2 .4 million pounds; and Ontario, 333,000 pounds. Lake of the Woods landings 

 (1.1 million pounds) accounted for 96 percent of the U.S. production in the boundary lakes. 



Fishermen and vessels . In 1970, 1,470 fishermen operated 231 vessels (5 net tons or more) and 

 614 smaller craft in the U.S. commercial fisheries — a decline of 207 fishermen, 38 vessels, and 

 133 smaller craft compared with 1969. 



Processed products . The value of processed seafood items was $36 . 5 million — an increase of $3.2 

 million compared with 1969. Ohio led with products valued at $19.5 million, followed by Illinois 

 and Indiana together with $5.4 million; Michigan, $5.1 million; and Wisconsin, $4.1 million. 

 New York, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania supplied the remaining $2.4 million. There were 2,122 

 persons employed in 199 wholesaling and processing plants in the eight States. 



U.S. landings by lake . 



Lake Ontario . Landings of 333,000 pounds worth $78,800 were 39,500 pounds and $35,100 

 more than in 1969. The harvest was the third largest since 1952. Compared with 1969, the value 

 of bullheads ($28,600) increased 89 percent, white perch ($27,600) increased 290 percent, and 

 yellow perch ($3,700) increased 127 percent. The total gain in value resulted from the higher 

 prices fishermen received for these three species. 



Lake Erie . Landings were 9.5 million pounds worth $1.3 million--a decrease of 14 percent 

 in volume and 11 percent in value compared with 1969. Landings were 5.7 million pounds less 

 than the 10-year average (1960-69) and the smallest harvest on record. Compared with 1969, the 

 production of catfish, sheepshead, white bass, yellow perch, and yellow pike declined sharply. 

 Carp was the only major species to increase in volume; carp landings of 3.4 million pounds were 

 381,300 pounds more than in 1969. 



The fisheries of Lake Erie were curtailed sharply when the States of Ohio and Michigan closed 

 the lake to commercial fishing in April 1970 because of possible contamination from high levels of 

 mercury. Ohio soon reopened its fisheries, but Michigan's remained closed during the rest of the 

 year. After the closure, a small production was taken from State of Michigan waters because net- 

 ting operations were being tested. 



