FISHERIES AT CHICAGO AND VICINITY. 787 



Net 2. — The lead extended from about one-third the length of the govern- 

 ment pier north from the south end, out 86 rods. At the pier there were 20 

 feet of water, andat the pound there were 24 feet. Owing to the meshes of 

 the pound being large the smaller grade of fish escaped, and so lessened 

 the amount of the catch. The fish are graded by the dealers as No. 1, No. 

 2, or 3, according to size ; No. 1 including all those exceeding 1^ pounds in 

 weight. No. 2 including all weighing from f pounds up to 1^ pounds. 

 No. 3 all under f pounds in weight. No. 1 fish are in greatest demand, 

 as they find a readier sale to consumers. In net No. 2 the catch con- 

 sisted of first and second grade fish, the first grade predominating; 

 there being, according to the owner, at least 900 out of every 1,000 

 pounds first grade. This net was visited daily when the weather per- 

 mitted. After the 15th of July the run of white- fish and herring being 

 over, the net did not pay expenses, the catch averaging about 20 pounds 

 of perch {Perca americana) per day, with a few chance specimens of cat- 

 fish, buffalo fish, and others. During May and the 1st of June, when 

 the run of white-fish and herring was at its height, but few other 

 species w^ere taken. An occasional lake trout {Salmo namaycush), 

 sturgeon {Acipenser rubicundus), and a few perch were the principal 

 ones ; but as the run commenced to decline the 1st of June the 

 other species began to come in more abundantly, and kept increas- 

 ing in numbers as the white-fish and herring decreased, until near 

 the 15th of July, when the most of them suddenly left, and 

 scarcely any but perch and occasional stragglers of other species, were 

 taken. The largest haul of white-fish made at one time in this net was 

 during the first week of June. The pound was lifted and 3,000 i>oundS 

 of fish were removed, and the boat being loaded to the water's edge 

 they were compelled to let the net back, still containing a large number. 

 This haul consisted of large size No. 1 fish. The third net consisted 

 of a long leader with two pounds, one at each end. The two pounds 

 were set about the middle of May. The 1st of June a leader 60 rods 

 long was added, commencing at the outer pound and extending out to 

 24 feet of water, where a third pound was placed. The two inside 

 pounds were set about one-third of a mile south of the end of the Gov- 

 ernment pier, one pound being 50 rods inside the pier, and the other 50 

 rods outside. The inside pound (A) was in 16 feet of water, the next 

 pound (B) in 21 feet of water, and the last pound (C) in 24 feet of water. 

 Pound B in 21 feet of water was the most successful of the three. The 

 haul from this pound often exceeded the amount contained in both the 

 others. The largest catch in B was 2,600 pounds the first week in June, 

 and varied from that to 100 pounds daily until the 1st of July. In the in- 

 side pound (A) the maximum was 200 pounds, and the average for the 

 season nearly 100 pounds daily. For the next pound, (B,) as just stated, 

 the maximum was 2,600 pounds, and the daily average 1,000 pounds. 

 In the outside pound (C) the maximum was 1,000 pounds, and the daily 

 average from 300 to 400 pounds. The principal obstacle to successful 



