jele) BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
Clair. The report of 1880 shows a catch of 21,463,900 pounds. In 1903 the catch 
had dwindled to 3,813,259 pounds. In the State of Michigan the reports of its fish- 
eries are as follows: The whitefish catch in 1891 was 8,110,000 pounds; in 1904 the 
catch was 4,197,000 pounds, and other varieties of food fish suffered a like loss during 
that period. 
The question of international control of the waters contiguous to the United States 
and Canada is a question that has disturbed the heart and soul of the average American 
citizen in a painful manner. We have seen year by year the reduction of the catch 
of the various varieties of food fish in those lakes. Worse than that, we have seen 
the continuous rise in the price of food-fish products, menacing the poor. 
The settlement of this question is a consummation devoutly to be wished, not any 
more so by anyone than by the citizens of the State of New York. [Applause.] 
Mr. Henry Hryricus (Pennsylvania). Regarding the decrease in the catches of 
fish on the Great Lakes, I regret very much that the gentleman who preceded me failed 
to take into consideration that last year (1907) and this year there was a phenomenal 
increase in the catches of whitefish. My home is Erie, Pa. I am interested in the 
fishing there. Whitefish were considered practically extinct. We did not deem it 
advisable, from a pecuniary point of view, to invest any money in fitting out nets for 
the purpose of catching whitefish. Last year and this spring, however, exceptional 
catches of whitefish have been made. The blue pike, another of the common-food 
fishes, were decidedly on the increase last year. Extremely heavy catches were made 
all along the south shore of Lake Erie. This year the herring, the most common fish 
that swims in the waters of the Great Lakes, have been found more abundant than 
ever in the history of fishing. There seems to be no end to them; and as far as the 
price to consumers is concerned, to which the distinguished gentleman referred, I wish 
to say that the scarcity of fish naturally affects the price. Owing to the heavy catches 
that have been made this year, at least on Lake Erie, the prices have been lower by 
from 50 to 75 per cent in some instances than in a great number of years. 
Whether this phenomenal increase in the catch of food fishes on the Great Lakes 
is to be attributed to artificial propagation, or to the exceedingly warm weather of this 
summer, I am not sure. However, I believe that artificial propagation is perfectly 
justified in laying claim to the phenomenal increase. 
