Our work on whitefish has not been as extensive the past 

 season as formerly, for we were unsuccessful in getting a full 

 amount of eggs, on account of the stormy weather on the 

 lakes last fall, and a few of what we did get were touched by 

 the frost, but have succeeded in hatching 16,000,000 fry, which 

 have been deposited in the waters of Lake Michigan and Green 

 Bay. 



It is very gratifying to know that the Wisconsin Fish Com- 

 mission has at last got the good will of the fishermen around the 

 lakes, and that they are beginning to realize the benefit of the 

 work done by the Commission. There has been more whitefish 

 taken during the past winter and spring, than any season in the 

 last ten years. I heard a fisherman remark the other day that 

 fishing'for whitefish was beginning to look like olden times. 

 Ever since the pound net has been in existence, the fishermen 

 have taken out the small whitefish faster than the several 

 hatcheries could put them in. I have seen as high as 2,400 

 pounds of small fish taken out of one pot, and there were not 

 ten fish in the lot that would weigh a pound each. It is now 

 unlawful in Wisconsin for a man to have in his possession a 

 whitefish of less than one pound, dressed, or one and one-half, 

 undressed, and I am proud to say that the law has given entire 

 satisfaction. The fishermen have always said that whitefish 

 would not live after being caught in the meshes of a net, but 

 last fall, while collecting spawn, I saw thousands caught that 

 had the marks of the nets on them, where they had been pre- 

 viously caught, which proves that whitefish are not the delicate 

 little fellows they have been represented to be. 



The value of the lake fishing industry, as reported by the 

 Fish Wardens to the President of the Board, for the year of 

 1887, are as follows: 



Number of pounds caught 4,460,01 5 



Value of fish $271,269 78 



Number of nets 12,750 



Value of nets. $161 ,860 00 



Persons employed i ,300 



Number of boats 700 



Value of boats $177,285 00 



