40 AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY 



Wednesday, May 6th, 18S5. 



The meeting was called to order and the reading of paper 

 continued. 



RESULTS OF PLANTING WHITEFISH IN 

 LAKE ERIE. 



BY FRANK N. CLARK. 



After the close of the fishing season of 18S4 in Lake Erie, I 

 began an inquiry to ascertain whether there had been an in- 

 crease or decrease in the catch of whitefish as C(jmpared with 

 that of former seasons. The investigation was conducted by 

 personal interviews, through a representative, a practical fisher- 

 man, with the leading fishermen and dealers, and covers most of 

 the important fisheries of that part of the lake from Erie, Pa. 

 westward to Toledo, Ohio. The results are most gratifying, as 

 it is conceded by all and shown by the reports, that the aggre- 

 gate catch of whitefish was considerably in excess of that of any 

 season for several years. The results are especially encourag- 

 ing to fish-culturists, as all the facts and statements point to but 

 one conclusion, namely, that the increase is due to the planting 

 of voung fish from the hatcheries. 



No disappointment would have been felt had there been no 

 perceptible increase, as much was required to offset the exten- 

 sive and exhausting fishing carried on all over the lake, on both 

 the spawning and feeding grounds, which was causing a grad- 

 ual decrease of the catch. For many years every spawning 

 ground had been literally covered with nets during the spawn- 

 ing season, while hundreds of gill-nets have been employed 

 on the feeding grounds in deeper water, and thrown across the 

 path of the runs towards the spawning grounds. In no other 

 of the great lakes has the fishing industry been pursued with 

 greater persistence and skill than in Lake Erie. Notwithstand- 

 ing this, however, we find that not only has the decrease been 

 arrested, but that there is a tangible and satisfactory increase. 



The figures given below show in round numbers the aggre- 



