REPORT OP COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, CXLIX 

 LAKE ERIE. 



Lake Erie, though one of the smallest of the chaiu, maintains fisheries 

 that are much more extensive than those of any other lake. In the 

 items of persons employed and capital invested, Lake Erie surpasses 

 any other three lakes combined, aiid the value of its jiroducts is one- 

 and-a-half times greater than the aggregate fisheries of all the other 

 lakes, omitting Lake Michigan ; the latter it exceeds by nearly $200,000, 

 Although surpassed by Lake Michigan in the number of vessels engaged 

 in actual fishing, it takes the lead in the quantity of netting used aiul 

 in tlie quantity and value of the catch, Tlie transportation of fish from 

 the fishing-grounds to the markets, which in all the other lakes is an 

 inconspicuous feature of the fisheries, is here ])rominent, 22 steam ves- 

 sels being so employed in the year covered by the investigation. One- 

 half the pound nets, nearly one-half the gill nets and fyke nets, more 

 than one-third of the boats, and more than one-half the shore and cash 

 property emi)loyed in the Great Lakes fisheries are found in Lake Erie. 

 More than one-half the fishery products credited to the entire lake 

 region is here taken, and two-fifths of the money value of the products 

 represents the operations of Lake Erie fishermen. 



Lake Erie is peculiar in having a relatively large number of fishes of 

 great commercial importance. In the other lakes the important species 

 are only two to four in number, while in Lake Erie there are eight 

 fishes of which very large (piantities are taken, iiu^luding several that 

 are iirominent in no other lake, as, for instance, the blue pike and the 

 Sanger. 



The preeminently important fish of Lake Erie is the lake herring, which 

 constitutes much more than half the total quantity of fish taken and 

 about two-fifths of the value of the catch. The remaining fishes, ii>the 

 order of their value, are blue pike, whitefish, wall-eyed i>ike, sturgeon, 

 Sanger, catfish, and percli, and in order of quantity taken, blue pike, 

 Sanger, perch, whitefish, wall-eyed pike, sturgeon, and catfish. 



Tlie following tabular statements exhibit in some detail the extent of 

 the fisheries of this lake: 



Persons employed m Lake Erie fisheries. 



How engaged. 



No. 



Vessel fishing. . . 



Sliore fishing 



Slioro industries , 



Tbtal 



3,198 

 969 



4,482 



