386 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



tbose of tlie Fish Coininission in 1885 aiul of the census in 1880 and 1880. 

 A statement of the oateh of these tisli in 1885 and 18'J0 will be found in 

 footnotes to the products tables. 



Tlie habit of these fish of frequenting- the deepest parts of the lake 

 makes their capture in the appliances set in the inshore \yaters uncom- 

 mon. They are sought mostly in steam vessels, and are taken in gill 

 nets set CO to 110 fathoms deep. A feware occasionally caught in pound 

 nets. The principal fishery for them is carried on from IJenzie, Leclanaw, 

 Otta\A'a, Schoolcraft, and Charlevoix counties in Michigan, and in 

 Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Manitowoc counties in Wisconsin. 



The .Menominee whitetisli is not abundant. It is taken in tlie north- 

 ern part of the lake, the principal catch being in Green Bay (where it is 

 known as the blackback), around the Manitou Islands, and along the 

 north shore. The fish weighs from 4 to <J pounds, and has about the 

 same market value as the blacktin, viz, 3 cents per pound, The aggre- 

 gate yield is not more than 30,000 pounds. In the tables this fish has 

 been included with the common whitefish. 



The sturgeon, while more important than in any other lake except 

 Erie, is not abundant anywhere in this lake, and is annually decreas- 

 ing in numbers. Like several other species, it is found in greatest 

 numbers in the northern part of the lake. The catch is nowhere 

 uoticeal)ly large excej^t in Delta County, Mich., where it is, next to 

 the whitefish, the iwincipal fish taken in pound nets. 



The yellow perch is another fish caught in larger quantities in t^jis 

 lake than elsewhere in the lake system. It is of lehitively greater 

 value in the southern part of the lake tban any other species, being 

 taken in es])ecially large numbers in Cook County, 111. 



As an incidental element of the output, suckers are not u)iimi)ort;uit, 

 nearly 2,000,000 pounds being disposed of by the fishermen. They 

 figure most prominently in the fisheries of Delta County in }.lii'lii;;an, 

 and Brown, Kew aunee, and Oconto counties in Wisconsin. 



Wall-eyed pike, pike, and the various basses, which com])lcte the 

 list of prominent si)ecies of this lake, are not of great general value, 

 although in a few fishing communities they have a relatively im])oitant 

 place. The fresh water drum, which in most localities is not utilized, 

 on account of the low price received, is in a few centers marketed; in 

 Allegan County, Mich., for instance, 20,Oi.O pounds caugLt in piiuiul 

 nets were sold for $100. 



Notes on apparatus and methods. — Tlie fisliery which gi\es to 1.:;' e 

 Michigan the special prominence whicii it holds in the (ireat I.:ike sys- 

 tem is that prosecuted with gill nets. While the number of pound 

 nets employed is larger than in any other lake except Ei ie, and while 

 the pound-net catch is very important, the gill-net fisheiy represents 

 the larger investment and yields the largei- <puintities of fish having 

 the greater money valne. This fishery is here more extensive than in 

 any other lake as regards the value of ajtparatus used, the number of 

 vessels employed, and the value of fish taken. 



