58 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
FISHERIES OF LAKE PEPIN AND LAKE COOPER. 
Lake Pepin.—Lake Pepin, an expansion of the Mississippi River 
between Minnesota and Wisconsin, is nearly 25 miles long and 3 
miles wide at its greatest breadth. It supports quite extensive 
fisheries. Pepin, Wis., is the most important town in the extent of 
its fisheries along the lake. Maiden Rock, Wis., also supports impor- 
tant fisheries. ; 
In 1914 there were 137 fishermen engaged in the industry, their 
total investment amounting to $43,599. The investment included 28 
gasoline boats, worth $7,625; 53 rowboats, valued at $1,300; 1 house- 
boat, valued at $100; 295 fyke nets, valued at $24,995; 14 seines, 
valued at $3,340; 664 anchored gill nets, valued at $4,421; 8 trap nets, 
with a value of $480; $3 worth of lines, and $1,335 worth of shore and 
accessory property. The total output of the lake amounted to 
758,670 pounds of fish, with a value to the fishermen of $33,719. 
Buffalofish, German carp, fresh-water drum, and catfish made up 94 
per cent of the value of the entire catch. The most important appa- 
ratus used was the fyke net, known locally as hoop net. The catch 
therewith amounted to 337,446 pounds of fish, valued at $18,973. The 
leading species included in the catch were buffalofish, fresh-water 
drum, German carp, suckers, and quillbacks, or white carp. Seines 
ranked next in importance with a catch of 291,216 pounds of fish, 
having a value of $8,219. German carp and buffalofish were the two 
leading species taken, the value of the two being more than three- 
fourths that of the entire seine catch. The catch by anchored gill 
nets amounted to 126,198 pounds, valued at $6,432. As in the case 
of seines, the principal species taken were the buffalofish and German 
carp. Trap nets and lines were also used, but the combined catch of 
the two amounted to only 3,810 pounds, with a value of $95. 
The fishery conditions on Lake Pepin have improved very much 
within the past 15 years by the opening up of the New York market 
during the winter season. Previously there was only a local demand 
for the fish. A considerable portion of the winter fishing is done 
through the ice. Comparatively few fish are handled durmg warm 
weather, as the demand is then very light. There is a close season 
ape the lake in both Minnesota and Wisconsin from April 15 to 
une 15. 
Lake Cooper.—Lake Cooper, which is merely a widening of the 
Mississippi River formed by back water from the dam at Keokuk, 
Towa, has a length of about 50 miles. 
There was a total of 105 men engaged in the fisheries of this lake 
during 1914. These men had an investment of $16,190, and caught 
661,135 pounds of fish, valued at $23,300. Buffalofish, German carp, 
and catfish contributed 94 per cent of the value of the total catch. 
The most important form of apparatus used was the fyke net, known 
locally as bait net. The catch by this form of net amounted to 
488,005 pounds, valued at $16,210. The remainder of the catch was 
taken with lines and trammel nets. The most important species 
taken both in fyke nets and trammel nets were German carp and 
buffalofish. Catfish and German carp constituted the principal 
species taken on lines. 
The form of fyke net in general use on Lake Cooper is much smaller 
than those used on Lake Pepin, having neither leader, wings, nor 
