784 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



A slightly difierent classification* has been adopted since, and they are 

 arranged as follows for 1874-'75, the numbers representing half- bar- 

 rels or packages coutaiuing 100 pounds each : 



t "White fish, lake-trout and pickerel, (Stizostedium Americanum) (Kaf.) Cope, come under the term 

 " hard-fish ; " cat-fish, if they are skinned, do also, hut if not, are " soft-fish."— J. W. M. 



This amount (90,G51 half-barrels, or 9,005,100 pounds) is simply what 

 has been inspected and packed for shipping. Besides this there were 

 30,000 half-barrels, or 3,000,000 pounds, in the hands of the dealers at 

 the end of the year that had not been inspected, thus making the 

 amount received by the wholesalers during the year ending December 

 1, 1875, 12,000,000 pouuds in round numbers. The greater part of this 

 amount came from the various fishing-stations around Lake Michigan, 

 and a portion came from Lake Superior and Lake Huron. 



The fish is dressed and salted at the fishing-station enough to pre- 

 serve it until it reaches the market. It is then shipped in boxes by rail 

 or boat. After the fish is received by the dealers, and before it can be 

 repacked, it must be inspected. A few years ago one man was sufiS- 

 cient for this duty, but the trade has increased to such an extent that 

 the head inspector has been compelled to appoint a deputy for each 

 wholesale-house. 



The inspector informs me that the trade has increased from 12,000 to 

 15,000 half-barrels per year for the last five or sixj'ears. He also states 

 that the demand greatly exceeds the supply, and that nearly twice the 

 amount obtained could be disposed of. 



The fresh-fish trade is also quite extensive. Nearly all the fish caught 

 off Chicago, South Chicago, at Calumet, and various other places near, 

 are sold fresh. 



The amount of fresh fish sold yearly in Chicago must equal one-fifth 

 of the quantity used in the wholesale trade. It is impossible to get 

 definite information on this point as the fishermen sell directly to ped- 

 lers and retail dealers and no account is kept. 



* The classification used in the report referred to, is the one of Sandusky, Ohio, slightly 

 modified so as to conform the statistics of other centers to common terms, by means 

 of -which a comparison of the different markets along the lakes is made possible. 



