3G4 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



but the inipoitaiu'e wliicli the fisheries of this ^reat basin are destined 

 to attain in the not lar distant future overbahmces the mere question of 

 their present extent. The development of other industries, the increase 

 in population, especially in the more western and northern parts of the 

 chain, and the growing dennmd for food-fish in the country at large, 

 will undoubtedly lead to the advance of the lake fisheries. 



In anticipating the continued growth of the lake fisheries, the serious 

 effects of overfishing must not be disregarded, and the possibility of 

 practical extinction of some of the more imi)ortant fishes nuist not be lost 

 sight of. While the natural resources of the lakes, their large size, 

 and their physical features coiuluce to the preservation of the su})ply 

 even when exceedingly large quantities of fish are caught, the histcjry 

 of the fisheries, in the two smallest lakes at least, clearly indicates the 

 influence which man may exert on the abundance of the lake fishes and 

 suggests what may be the case in even the largest lakes if the fishing 

 operations are sufficiently extensive and if no regard is given to the 

 question of needed protection. In looking, therefore, for the continued 

 increase and prosperity of the lake fisheries, the necessity for rational 

 regulatio!is in certain lines must be recognized. 



Of fully as great importance and, in some instances, of even greater 

 consequence, is the resort to adequate artificial methods for the coun- 

 teraction of the effects of fishing and for the regeneration of depleted 

 grounds. 



The investigation of the Commission in 1891-02 disclosed the fact 

 that the lake fisheries gave employment to about 0,740 persons, that 

 the amount of capital invested was over $5,362,000, that nearly 

 114,000,000 pounds of fish were taken, and that the value of the catch 

 was about $2,471,700. 



The different capacities in which the persons were employed were as 

 follows : 



Persons employed in the fisheries of the Great Lakes. 



How engaged. 



Num- 

 ber. 



On fishing vessels 



On transporting vessel.s. 

 In shore or boat fisliiug. 

 On shore 



Total 



598 



133 



7,393 



1,GU 



9,738 



The details of the investment are shown in the following table. The 

 prominent features of the lake fisheries disclosed by the statistics are 

 the relatively expensive class of vessels employed, the great imjjor- 

 tance of the pound-net and gill-net fisheries as shown by the number 

 of pound nets and gill nets operated, and the expensive shore property 

 devoted to the industry. 



