682 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
catch has remained nearly constant; in those lakes or parts of lakes in which 
there has been a small plant of whitefish fry (2,000 per square mile) or no plant, 
there has been a reduction in the catch of whitefish (26 percent). (Certain 
exceptions to this statement are also noted.) It is shown that under Canadian 
restrictive legislation the whitefish have diminished in waters where planting 
of fry has been at a minimum and have increased in waters where planting 
has been liberal; that whitefish have increased in American waters where there 
has been no restrictive legislation (or little) and have diminished in Canadian 
waters of the same lake under restrictive legislation. These increases and 
decreases are stated to be, therefore, in relation to the plant of whitefish fry 
and not to legislative control. 
4. Discussion of the effect of legislation on whitefish production leads to 
the conclusion that (a) a close season during the breeding period is probably 
advantageous to the production of whitefish, although the data at hand do not 
furnish any evidence on that score, and (b) that a practicable regulation of the 
number of nets or the length of nets to be used in unit area of the lake does 
not increase the production of whitefish, but does tend to greater economy in 
the fishing, since the same number of pounds of fish are taken with fewer nets. 
MEASURES RECOMMENDED AS MEANS OF INCREASING WHITEFISH PRODUCTION IN THE 
GREAT LAKES. 
1. It is recommended, as a result of the foregoing study, that the output 
of whitefish fry be increased as rapidly as possible, as affording the most certain 
means of increasing the whitefish production. 
2. That an intensive plant of at least 100 fry per pound of whitefish caught 
be made on depleted areas. (Lake Ontario and the southern waters of Lake 
Michigan are in need of especial attention.) 
3. That a close season be observed during the breeding season of the 
whitefish as at present, but only for such waters as are not under federal con- 
trol (see sec. 4, below). 
4. That commercial fishing with pound nets and seines be permitted 
in the waters of the Great Lakes during the breeding season of the whitefish 
wherever the state or national authorities are prepared to undertake to care 
for the spawn of the fish taken; the fishermen to be under legal obligation to 
permit the use of the fish taken by them for the purpose of spawntaking. 
5. It is suggested that central control of the fishing operations of the 
Great Lakes is highly desirable. Whether this is possible in American waters 
through federal control or through concerted action of the states is a 
question that can not be discussed here. A central control, under which 
fishing grounds should be leased and fishermen licensed, would, if properly 
administered, reduce the cost of fishing and make possible more extended 
