CXC REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The value of the small lakes and iulaiid water-courses as sources of 

 food supi)ly is already great and is increasing yearly with the increase 

 in ]>opulation ; and the necessity for determining their fishery resources 

 is thought to need no demonstration. It seems only a question of time, 

 when, with the rapid settlement of certain inland States, the natural 

 fishery advantages will demand and receive as mu(;h attention as is 

 now bestowed on similar water areas on the continent of Europe. In 

 some of the States of the Great Lake region it is probable that the 

 present extent of the fisheries of the small lakes will compare very 

 favorably with that in the Great Lakes, while the possibilities of the 

 interior waters for fish production and fish culture are no doubt much 

 greater from many points of view. It will probably be impossible for 

 the small available force of field agents to make a complete investiga- 

 tion of the inland fisheries in a single year, but the territory could be 

 so divided into States or river basins that definite regions could be 

 canvassed and reports issued from time to time, as has been found 

 necessary to do in the case of the coastal States. 



The following statement of the Wisconsin fish commissioners regard- 

 ing the resources of the inland lakes in that State is no doubt typical 

 of conditions in a number of other States in that region : 



We have not even the pretense of official statistics of the value of fish catches 

 from the inland waters, hut from various private sources — principally railway and 

 express companies — we are able to present a few suggestive figures. It is reported 

 to us from the Lake Winnebago district, comprising the waters of Lakes Winnebago 

 and Poygan, and Wolf and Fox rivers, there was shipped to outside markets, during 

 the season of 1889, a total of 675,224 pounds. At the low estimate of 4 cents per 

 pound, this export must have netted the fishermen $27,012.96, nearly one-tenth of 

 the value of Wisconsin's fishing industry on the Great Lakes. It is probable that 

 an eq.)ial amount was either sent to the home markets or consumed by the fishermen 

 and their families. 



Upon the Four Lakes at Madison, there are, from April to November, an average 

 of 25 fishermen in daily employment, taking out $4,000 or $5,000 worth offish in the 

 season for the home market and for export. Throughout the winter a large number 

 of men are engaged in fishing through the ice and earn fair wages. 



It is reported that during 1888 there was shipped from Lake Koshkonong some 

 200,000 pounds of fish, valued at $8,000; and it is fair to say that from scores of 

 inland lakes like Koshkonong — for instance, in Waukesha, Walworth, Racine, Keno- 

 sha and Green Lake counties — equallj' large shipments are annually made. It is 

 unfortunate that we find it impossible, in the lack of projier rejiorting agencies, to 

 present the statistics of this trade; were we able to do so, it would doubtless he 

 found that the value of the inland fisheries was at least equal to that of the Great 

 Lakes, and quite as deserving of legislative attention. — (Report of the Commissioners 

 of Fisheries of the State of Wisconsin, 1889-90.) 



There are few fisheries of the Atlantic coast that have attracted more 

 attention and occasioned more discussion and comment in recent years 

 than the menhaden fishery. The phases of the controversy between 

 the advocates and opponents of the fishery need not here be referred 

 to, but it seems proper that one of these, viz, the extent to which 

 other fish besides menhaden enter into the catch of the vessels, should 

 receive attention from this office, because it is one of the most import- 



