788 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



pound net-fisbing here at present seems to be the danger the nets are in 

 from the numerous tug-boats and propellers which are continually cross- 

 ing and re-crossing the harbor in every direction. Last season, through 

 carelessness and in fogs, the leader on No. 3 was badly damaged sev- 

 eral times, once about 80 rods being carried away and destroyed by the 

 wheel of a tug catching in the net as it passed over. In September 

 the herring commenced running again, and were abundant for three 

 weeks, when they again disappeared. At the middle of September 80 

 rods of lead net and pound B were placed out again, but severe storms 

 came on and destroyed the lead and damaged the pound so it had to 

 be taken up. At this end of the lake white-fish seem to frequent the 

 vicinity of the mouth of a river while near shore, and sturgeon to pre- 

 fer the shore at a distance from a river. In proof of this I have gained 

 the following facts from the fishermen : At Evanston, Ills., 12 miles 

 north of Chicago, Mr. Lawson, owner of the pound net formerly set 

 there, tells me that during several years fishing be only caught a few 

 white-fish until within the last two years, when they became more plen- 

 tiful than before. Could the filth from Chicago Eiver by means of a 

 lake current have affected the fish at such a distance? The net at Ev- 

 anston was situated nearly a mile from shore, in 24 feet of water. At 

 Lake View, G miles north of the Chicago Kiver, seining is done in 

 spring and fall, the catch being almost exclusively sturgeon, which are 

 placed in a lagoon a few rods back from the lake-shore, and large num- 

 bers are kept alive until disposed of to the market-men. Occasionally 

 a good haul of perch and herring is made, but this is of rare occurrence 

 i#the case of the herring. At South Chicago the pounds nearest the 

 mouth of Calumet River take much larger quantities of white-fish than 

 those at a distance. As the distance the net is from the river increases, 

 the quantity of white-fish taken decreases, and the amount of sturgeon 

 taken increases. 



2. — FISHERIES AT SOUTH CHICAGO. 



There are twelve pound-nets at this place, ten of which were in use 

 last season, (1875). The first net was situated a little to the northeast 

 from the mouth of the Calumet River, and the others were scattered 

 along the lake shore east for about 10 miles. They are situated in from 

 26 to 31 feet of water, the length of the piles used determining the 

 depth. The leaders are from 75 to 80 rods long. Their distance from 

 shore is dependent upon the depth of the water and varies from one- 

 half a mile to a mile. The season for white-fish generally commences 

 here the 1st of May, occasionally opening several weeks sooner, and 

 commencing one year as early as March. Formerly there were good 

 fall seasons and large quantities of white-fish, herring, and sturgeon 

 were taken, but during the last few years the falls have been so stormy 

 that it has entirely prevented any fall net-fishing whatever. 



The white-fish seasons are quite irregular; some years extending 

 from the 1st of May to the middle of July, and not coming in shore in 



