FISH POUNDS AND FOOD-FISHES. 317 



NUMBER AND EXTENT OF NETS EMPLOYED. 



The fishery has 150 pounds or stationary nets, set in waters 

 from 20 to 42 feet deep. The length of each net is 100 rods, 

 and the cost $1000 each. Amount total, $150,000. The cost 

 of fish-pounds are the principal expense, though the company 

 has in continued use 1000 gill-nets, twenty seines, and numer- 

 ous small boats. The fishery is very prosperous, and owned 

 by men of energy and business capacity. 



The extensive coast and estuary fisheries of the United 

 States, having been regularly worked ever since the eastern 

 border was first settled by Europeans, have to such a degree 

 absorbed the capital and enterprise of fishermen and fish-deal- 

 ers that the lake and river fisheries were not thought of until 

 within the past twenty years, with one solitary exception. 



Prior to that date the establishment of fisheries in the inte- 

 rior of the United States was not even spoken of. Now there 

 are many, from which I have selected the foregoing exemplars 

 to illustrate results of this growing industry. 

 Throughout the interior of our vast territory there is an 

 ornamental tracery of running, sweet, and healthful waters, 

 well supplied with food-fishes. The working of these waters 

 is free to all fishermen, with the tin-important exception of a 

 few depleted rivers, consequent on their having been over- 

 worked, but which are now being restocked and protected by 

 legislative enactments during the process of recuperation. 

 These are all near the sea-board. The lakes and lengthy riv- 

 ers of the interior are still free ; and where no regular fish- 

 eries are established, the inhabitants take what fresh fish they 

 want, either with ttye angle, net, or spear. The poaching pro- 

 clivity of some indolent persons has induced them to use the 

 spear too freely in our small lakes during winter. In the 

 State of New York there is a law against it, with fine and 

 penalty attached, but it is still done in defiance of law. These 

 poachers erect a board shanty on sleigh-runners, furnished 



