94 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



EXTENT OF GREAT LAKES FISHERIES IN 1893. 



The fishing industry of this region, as shown by the inquiries of 

 this division, in 1803 gave employment to 10,180 persons, of whom 1,156 

 were engaged on vessels, 7,'4G5 in shore and boat lishiug, and 1,559 in 

 various other capacities. 



The aggregate investment in fishing i)r()perty was $5,899,270. This 

 represented 197 vessels, 3,853 boats, 101,988 gill nets, 3,713 pound and 

 trap nets, 2,419 fyke nets, and 117 seines. The value of the vessels was 

 $855,729; of boats, $299,011; of gill nets, $070,572; of pound and 

 trap nets, $802,078; of fyke nets, $13,008; of seines, $10,735; other 

 apparatus, $17,192. The shore and accessory property connected with 

 the industry was worth $2,087,155; the cash capital was $1,112,500. 



The catch amounted to 90,019,671 pounds of fish, having a first value 

 of $2,270,618. The quantity and value of the yield of the principal spe- 

 cies were as follows: Lake herring, 35,710,916 pounds, $536,238; other 

 whiteflshes, 10,327,093 pounds, $393,511; lake trout, 16,279,953 pounds, 

 $603,789; sturgeon, 1,126,581 pounds, $50,138; pike and pike perch, 

 11,913,918 pounds, $110,lt 3; yellow perch, 8,611,311 pounds, $130,970; 

 suckers, 5,221,663 pounds, $58,607; black bass, 215,031 pounds, $12,395; 

 catfish, 1,063,131 pounds, $31,525; carp, 659,347 pounds, $16,980. 



The condition of the industry in each lake is given with some detail 

 in the accompanying series of tables. Lake Michigan is shown to have 

 had the most extensive fisheries in 1893; in the items of persons 

 employed, value of apparatus and number of boats used, and value of 

 catch, it surpassed any other lake; in the yield of whitefish, trout, 

 yellow perch, and several other fish this lake holds the first rank. Lake 

 Erie, which heretofore had ranked first in all major particulars, still 

 precedes Lake Michigan in the total amount of capital invested and 

 quantity of i)roducts taken; the catch of lake herring, black bass, carp, 

 catfish, wall-eyed pike, saugers, and sturgeon is larger than any 

 other lake. Lake Huron has the third position in the matter of fishing 

 population and quantity and value of products, but is led by Lake 

 Superior in investment. More suckers are taken in Huron than else 

 where, and in the yield of trout and catfish it has second place. The 

 order of rank of the other lakes is Superior, St. Clair (and tributaries), 

 and Ontario. 



Table show'mg by lakes the number of persons employed in the fisheries of the (Ireat Lakes 



in 1S93. 



How employed. 



On vessels fishing 



On vessels transporting 



In sliore fisheries 



On shore, in lish-houses, etc 



Total 



Supe- 

 rior. 



t>4 



26 

 6C3 

 133 



916 



Michi- 

 gan. 



421 

 15 



2,901 

 591 



3,928 



Huron. 



74 



8 

 757 

 105 



St. 

 Clair. 



454 

 67 



529 



Erie. 



466 



38 



2,469 



649 



3, 622 



Onta- 

 rio. 



221 

 14 



241 



Total. 



1,063 

 93 



7,465 

 1,559 



10, 180 



