GREAT LAKES: LAKE MICHIGAN. 647 



fish, but the statistics in the report of the late Mr. James Miluer, published by the United States 

 Fish Commission in 1874, the only reliable ones available, do not show such an alarming decrease 

 as, according to their opinion, exists. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that there have been im- 

 portant changes, especially at Two Eivers. within the past fifteen years. About five years ago 

 the salt-fish trade became so unprofitable that many of the fishermen of Two Eivers left the town 

 in search of more lucrative grounds. The fresh fish trade, on the other Land, received a new im- 

 petus at that time, greatly encouraging the fishermen engaged in it. 



SHEBOYGAN, OOSTBUKGH, CEDAU GKOVE, AND POET WASHINGTON. These four villages, 

 situated on the west shore of Lake Michigan, are about equally interested in the fisheries. Inves- 

 tigation showed that the number of fishermen at Sheboygan in 1879 was about twenty; at Cedar 

 Grove, about twenty; at Oostburgh, twenty one; aud at Port Washington, thirteen; making a 

 total of seventy-four men. Those residing at Cedar Grove and Oostburgh are principally Hol- 

 landers, while those at Port Washington are Americans, and at Sheboygan Germans and Ameri- 

 cans in about equal numbers. 



Pound-net fishing is the only branch engaged in, except at Sheboygan, where gill nets are 

 used exclusively. The apparatus employed, comprising 54 pound-nets, about 750 gill-nets, two 

 steam-tugs, and a number of smaller boats and accessories, is valued at about $39,000. Four 

 steam-tugs are, in reality, owned at Sheboygan, but two of them were employed at other places 

 during the year 1879. 



The catch on this shore consists almost entirely of the four kinds, whitefish, herring, trout, 

 and sturgeon. During 1879 not less than 865,000 pounds of fresh fish, 500 half-barrels of salt 

 fish, and 33,500 pounds of smoked fish were shipped to market, together with about 400 gallons of 

 fish oil. 



At least three-fourths of the products are sent to Chicago, the remainder being partially con- 

 sumed in the villages about the fisheries, and in part sent to Saint Louis and other inland cities 

 and towns. 



In 1866 the grounds at Sheboygan became entirely depleted, and the fishermen crossed the 

 lake and for two years fished along the east shore. On returning, at the end of that time, they 

 found the old grounds were again productive, and they fished there with success. Pound-net 

 fishing was attempted at Sheboygan in 1871, but the experiment ended in utter failure, and gill- 

 netting was consequently resumed. The principal change which has taken place in connection 

 with the latter mode of fishing is one which has occurred along the entire shore, namely, the sub- 

 stitution of steam-tugs for boats. 



At Cedar Grove gill-nets and seines were formerly extensively employed. Gill-net fishing 

 was abandoned on account of the remoteness of the grounds and the lack of a good harbor which 

 the boats might enter in stormy weather. Pounds were not introduced until 1862. In the opinion 

 of some of the fishermen of this place there has been a marked decrease in the abundance of fish 

 during the last twenty years. 



Pounds were introduced at Oostburgh and Port Washington about the year 1865, and have 

 been constantly in use since that time. The fishermen state that, although the number of nets 

 has greatly increased within a decade, the yield of the fisheries has remained about stationary, 

 and that consequently the fish are decreasing in number. 



MILWAUKEE. The fisheries of Milwaukee, although of considerable importance in themselves, 

 do not occupy a prominent place among the industries in which the people of that city are engaged. 

 During the year 1879 only about eighty men, one-half of them fishermen and the others dealers, 

 clerks, and peddlers, were employed in the business. It is a singular fact, but one which shows 



