102 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



LAKE ONTARIO. 



' The coiulitiou of the Lake Ontario fisheries in 180.'} was very poor, 

 the decline noticed in previous reports continuing. In every important 

 item a marked decrease lias occurred, and general and special com- 

 parisons with previous years probably disclose more pronounced 

 changes than have characterized the fisheries of any other body of 

 water in the United States. While restrictive legislation has had some 

 effect on the fisheries, there is little reason to doubt tliat the most 

 potent factor in the decline has been the depletion of the lake's fishery 

 resources. The following summary shows the catch of the principal 

 fishes in 18S0, 1885, 1890, and 1803, and is to be considered in conjunc- 

 tion with the comparative figures for persons employed and capital 

 invested. The number of fishermen Avas 3()1 in 1800 and 221 in 1803. 

 The decrease in the apparatus used in the two years was as follows: 

 Gill nets, from 2,345 to 1,185; trap nets, from 288 to 77; fyke nets, from 

 681 to 130; seines, from 27 to 7; boats, from 373 to 175. 



The yield of the Lake Ontario fisheries in 1803 was less than one- 

 third tliat in 1800, two-fifths that in 1885, and one fonrtli that in 1880. 

 Between 1880 and 1803 the decrease in whitelish was 00 percent; in 

 trout, 09 per cent; in sturgeon, 77 per cent; in herring, 73 per cent; 

 and in other fish, 31 per cent. In the thiee years intervening between 

 the last two investigations the quantity and value of the catch 

 decreased 7.) per cent. The yield of trout and whitefish, wliich had 

 already reached a remarkably low point in 1800, was fnrtlier reduced 85 

 per cent and GO per cent, respectively. 



/Comparative table showituj the yield of the fiKherien of Lake Ontario in ISSO, ISSo, 1S90, 



and 189S. 



BISCAYNE BAY, FLORIDA. 



In February, 1805, the writer visited this bay, located on the southern 

 part of the east coast of Florida, for the puriiosc of gathering informa- 

 tion as to its physical features, animal resources, and fisheries. The 

 U, S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries had under consideration the 

 establishment of a marine hatching and experiment station at some point 

 on the Florida coast, and was desirous of ascertaining the advantages 

 alforded l)y Biscayne Bay for fish-cultural and biological work, this 

 region having been favorably mentioned in this connection. A report 

 on the results of the examination was submitted to the Commissioner 



