RESULTS OF THE SHIRAS EXPEDITIONS TO WHITEFISH 

 POINT, MICHIGAN: FISHES. 



T. L. HANKINSON. 



The fish of the Whitefish Point region, Chippewa County, Michigan, 

 and the organisms ecologically related to them were studied in the field 

 between July 29, 1913, and August 31, 1913, by the writer who was 

 sent there for this purpose by the Museum of Zoology of the University 

 of Michigan. The investigations form a part of the biological survey 

 of the region which is being made by the Museum and the ^lichigan 

 Geological and Biological Surve}' with the support of Hon. George 

 Shiras 3cl. 



As it is believed that the animal life of any area cannot be under- 

 stood without a knowledge of the environmental conditions and the 

 interrelations of the faunas and the habitat conditions, an attempt was 

 made to consider the fish of the Whitefish Point region from this eco- 

 logical standpoint. 



No studies have heretofore been made of the fish of this part of 

 Michigan, and very few notes relating to them can be found in literature. 

 Lists of ])lantings at Whitefish Point, statistics, and notes chiefly of 

 commercial interest on the fish there, are given in the pul)lications of 

 the United States Bureau of Fisheries, especially in those entitled, 

 "Distribution of Fish and Eggs," and also in the Reports of the Michi- 

 gan Fish Commissioners. These show that the Lake Superior fishery 

 at Whitefish Point is an old and important one. IMilner (1872) says 

 that this is one of the principal fisheries on Lake Superior. G. BroA\Ti 

 Goode (1887) discusses the importance of the Whitefish Point Fishery 

 and informs us that it first attained magnitude in 1870. Smith and 

 Snell (1887) state that in 186G fishermen from Sackett's Harbor, New 

 York, caught fish, chiefly Avhitefish, there, which thej^ salted and sent 

 to Cleveland and Detroit. C. H. Moore (1893) says, "Located at 

 Whitefish Point, are the most productive whitefish grounds anywhere 

 to be found in Lake Superior," and again (1895) he states that the most 

 important fishery upon Lake Superior is Whitefish Point, and "from 

 this point, large and comjilete outfits of pound and gill nets are fished, 

 and the catch is mainly Avhitcfish and trout. alx)ut one-half of each 

 variet}'." 



