

Adams and Hankinson. — Oneida Lake Fisheries 159 



THE FISHERIES OF ONEIDA LAKE. 



The large amount of animal food produced by the lake 

 and taken in that vicinity is a subject not generally 

 appreciated even locally. The eels and frogs easily lead 

 in importance. At our request the food fish of the lake 

 has been rated by Mr. Hiram N. Coville, a fish dealer 

 living at Brewerton, at the outlet of the lake : 



1. Eels. 



2. Pikeperch, Yellow Perch, Bullheads and Pickerel. 



3. Pumpkinseed, Black and Red-fin Suckers. 



4. Rock Bass. 



5. Catfish (the kind with a forked tail). 



6. Oneida Lake Whiteftsh or Tullibee. 



The Tullibee or Oneida Lake Whitefish is sold fresh 

 or salted. For salting they are opened along the back, 

 salted to draw the blood, then packed in dry salt. In 

 this manner 400 to 500 pounds are salted each year of 

 the four to five tons of whitefish handled. Pikeperch 

 and Yellow perch are taken by "tipups" through the ice. 

 Small minnows are used for bait for Perch in this ice 

 fishing. 



At the State Hatchery at Constantia special attention 

 is given to Pikeperch, Small-mouthed Black Bass, Yellow 

 Perch and Oneida Lake Whitefish or Tullibee. 



EEL INDUSTRY. 



We are indebted to Mr. C. F. Davison and Mr. H. N. 

 Coville for the following items concerning their fish 

 business. Eels are taken in various parts of the lake, 

 but the main catch is made at Caughdenhoy, four miles 

 down the Oneida River, just below the large dam, which 

 controls the level of Oneida Lake. Here there are two 

 rows of weirs, each consisting of three traps or pots. 

 The eels when mature descend the river to spawn in the 

 sea and are trapped on this journey. The eels are taken 

 from the traps and stored in cages until a sufficient num- 

 ber has been accumulated to sell. These are sold at Brew- 

 erton to Davison and Coville, who smoke and market 



