GKEAT LAKES: LAKE MICHIGAN. 651 



The number of fishermen at these two places is a varying one, owing to the fact that at 

 certain seasons some come from other places, and have no residence here. During 1879 the whole 

 number of professional fishermen did not exceed twenty-six, representing fifteen firms. Of these, 

 four firms belonged in other places, one coming from South Chicago, two from Sheboygan, and 

 one from Saugertauk. In addition there were thirty-four hired assistants, fifteen of whom have 

 families, and eight peddlers and smokers. In all, fifty men having families, and twenty single 

 men were connected with the industry. The majority of the fishermen are Germans, but there 

 are also a number of Swedes and Americans among them. 



Pound-net fishing takes precedence in importance, twelve firms being engaged in that branch, 

 while but three are engaged in gill-net fishing. Fishing with liook-and-line is also quite exten- 

 sively carried on. In 1879 the apparatus of capture consisted of twenty-five pound-nets, nine 

 hundred gill-nets, and hand-lines carrying fifteen thousand hooks. In the management of the gill- 

 nets one steam-tug is employed, besides three sail-boats. The value of the apparatus employed 

 in 1879, including that already mentioned, together with twelve pound-boats, twelve fish-houses, 

 and twelve hundred shipping-boxes, and the cost of repairs made upon the pound-nets amounted 

 to about $32,300. 



The yield of the fisheries for 1879 was a comparatively small one. The pound-net fishing was 

 not very successful. The fishermen pronounced the catch to be below the average. At Michigan 

 City the products consisted of 500,000 pounds of fresh fish, 25,000 pounds of salt fish, and 70,000 

 pounds of smoked fish, principally sturgeon. About 2,080 pounds of caviare were manufactured. 

 At New Buffalo 75,000 pounds of fish were taken and all sold fresh. 



A large part of the fish are sent directly to Chicago, but considerable quantities are also sent 

 to the following places, named in order of their importance: Lafayette, Ind.; Kalamazoo, Mich.; 

 Jackson, Mich.; La Porte, Indianapolis, South Bend, Valparaiso, Peru, in Indiana; Cincinnati, 

 Ohio ; and Sakit Louis, Mo. Besides those sent to these places, certain quantities are retailed in 

 the towns in the vicinity of the fisheries. Twelve wagons leave Michigan City twice every week, 

 taking loads of about 400 pounds each. 



Considering the distance from the shore at which the fishermen habitually prosecute their 

 business, it is remarkable that so few accidents have occurred. There is one, however, which we 

 must record. It occurred in 1874. One boat in which were four men was lost, and all on board 

 perished. Another disaster occurred three years later, but fortunately no lives were lost. On 

 the 22d of June, 1877, a tremendous northerly gale struck the shore, and tearing up all the pound- 

 nets carried them as far as South Chicago. The amount of the loss was estimated at $18,000, 

 fully equal to the value of the products obtained during the prior part of the season. 



The gill-net fishery was pronounced as prosperous in 1879 as at the beginning of the decade, 

 lu 1862 and 18G3 it became entirely unproductive in July, while ordinarily the season lasts until 

 August. 



Many years ago this part of the shore was famous as a seining-grouud. About 1860 it was 

 not unusual to take 1,000 or 1,500 pounds of fish at a single haul, but within ten years nothing has 

 been done in this branch, the fish having kept farther from shore than formerly. 



In 1874, the first year in which pound-fishing was carried on, three firms engaged in it made 

 together not less than $19,500, clear of all expenses. 



SAINT JOSEPH, SOUTH HAVEN, AND SAUGERTAUK. The fisheries of Saint Joseph are more 

 important than those of the other two villages. In 1879 ten sail-boats and one steam-tug were 

 employed here, carrying together about sixty-four men. At South Haven but one boat was 



