GEE AT LAKES: LAKE MICHIGAN. 



Detailed statement of the quantities and values of the products. 



639 



232. THE FISHEEIES OF THE WESTERN SHORE. 



ESCANABA AND THE NORTH SHORE OF GREEN BAY. Escauaba, Micli., the capital of Delta 

 County, is situated 011 Green Bay, at the moutli of the Escanaba River, and of Little Bay de No- 

 quette. It is the center of au extensive iron and lumber trade, being on the line of the Xorth- 

 westeru Railroad. 



The fisheries of Escanaba are not unimportant. A large proportion of the fishermen who visit 

 the islands at the entrance of Green Bay reside here, and avail themselves of the facilities for ship- 

 ping which the direct railroad connection affords. In 1879 they numbered about ninety-two, 

 thirty being employed in the pound fisheries, fifty-three in gill-netting, and nine in seining. They 

 belong to different nationalities, but native Americans predominate. 



The gill-net fishery, as appears from the number of men employed, ranks first in importance, 

 the pound fishery taking the second place. Seining is carried on only to a limited extent. 



The grounds are very extensive, occupying almost the whole northern portion of Green Bay, 

 including Little and Big Bays de Noquette. Those about "Washington and Saint Martin's Islands, 

 which had been quite depleted, are again becoming very profitable. The fishermen disagree, how- 

 ever, in their statements regarding the abundance of fish. At Fish Creek, near Escanaba, they 

 asserted that the Washington Island grounds were ruined and unproductive, but it was ascer- 

 tained later that a thousand nets were in use there in 1879, and that the catch was not small. 

 The general impression seems to be that whitefish are growing constantly more abundant in some 

 places. 



During the year 1879 about 300,000 pounds of fresh fish and 2,3CO half barrels of salt fish were 

 received at Escauaba. The fresh fish were almost entirely whitefisk and trout. About one-half 

 of the salt fish were whitefish and trout, and the remainder suckers and herring. 



The amounts given do not represent the entire yield of the fisheries of northern Green Bay. 

 Among the islands probably seven-eighths of the amount taken is bought by traders and taken 

 to Chicago and other centers of distribution. 



The fresh fish received at Escanaba are shipped to other points by rail. About two-thirds of 

 the whole amount is sent to Chicago, and the remainder to Saint Louis, Kansas City, and other 

 inland towns. 



About $40,000 are invested in boats, nets, and other apparatus. 



During the past decade only two disasters occurred. In 1873 two fishermen were lost off the 

 Gull Islands, and in 1879 one fell through the ice and perished. 



The most important event which has taken place in the history of the fisheries is the intro- 



