C64 GEOGEAPHICAL EEVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



238. THE FISHERIES OF THE SOUTHERN SHORE. 



LOCUST POINT TO OTTAWA CITY. The principal fisheries ou this section of coast are at Locust 

 Point, Toussaint, Port Clinton, and Ottawa. As far as could be ascertained, during 1879, along 

 the whole shore, about fifty-six men were employed in pound and seine fishing, ten in gill-net fish- 

 ing, and thirty-six in fyke net aud hook fishing. All the firms which ship fish are also engaged in 

 fishing, to a greater or less extent. Some of them are only owners of nets, and do not carry ou 

 fishing themselves. During the height of the season a large number of men are often temporarily 

 employed, one firm often adding to its force as many as fifty or sixty men. All the nets used are 

 owned by six firms, who carry on the fisheries by me x aus of hired assistants. 



At Port Clinton the boats are large and well made, the average length being about 32 feet. 

 Smaller and less valuable boats, however, are used during calm weather and also in the hook 

 fishery. The pound-nets in use at these points are set in deeper water and are more valuable than 

 those used at Toussaint and Locust Point. In 1879 about eighty-nine pouud-nets were in use along 

 the whole shore, besides about five hundred gill-nets, thirty-five or thirty-six fyke-nets, three seines, 

 and fifteen or twenty hook-rigs. The value of these nets, together with that of the boats, fish- 

 houses, freezers, &c., according to the estimates of the fishermen, is about $37,500. 



A large variety of fish are taken in the pounds as well as in the fyke-nets. In spring the prin- 

 cipal kinds taken in the pounds are saugers and pike, but in fall whitefish and herring predominate. 

 In the fyke-nets few other kinds except catfish, river bass, and other small varieties are taken. 

 The catch of the seines consists of black bass, pike, perch, and bull-heads. The hook fishermen 

 catch catfish almost exclusively. The total yield in 1879 was not less than 2,790,000 pounds. Of 

 this amount about 1,700,000 pounds were sold fresh, being distributed to inland towns aud sent to 

 other distributing towns eastward. At least 60,000 pounds were frozen and sent to New York, 

 Philadelphia, and other cities ou the coast. Nearly all the herring caught are salted. 



Information could be obtained of but one disaster by drowning since the commencement of the 

 fisheries in this locality. In 1870 one fisherman was lost at Toussaint. As a rule, longer leaders 

 are used for the pounds, aud, in general, larger boats are employed than formerly. The mesh of 

 'the gill nets has gradually been made to conform to the size of the fish to be taken, in many cases 

 being one-half the size it was at the beginning of the decade. The fishermen and dealers generally 

 claim that there has been a decrease in the abundance of the fish, particularly in the case of the 

 whitefish. Some, however, among whom may be mentioned Mr. Matthews, of Port Clinton, argue 

 that there are as many whitefish now as formerly, aud that as many are caught, but that, being 

 distributed among a larger number of fishermen, the profit accruing to each individual is less. 



FISHERIES OF SANDTJSKT. The principal fishing stations in the vicinity of Sandusky are at 

 Cedar Point, Marblehead, Spit Island, East aud West Harbors, Mouse Island, Sugar Bluff, Moore's 

 Point, Kelly's Island, and Put-in Bay. The fishing grounds of Sandusky may be divided into four 

 great districts, each partaking of some peculiarity not shared by the others. The fisheries are 

 generally spoken of as the Cedar Point fisheries, bay fisheries, island fisheries, and the main-shore 

 fisheries. The Cedar Point fisheries, which are among the oldest and most important, occupy the 

 shore from Cedar Point eastward toward Huron, a distance of about six miles. The bay fisheries 

 are those which are carried on in the lower and upper Sandusky bays. Pounds, fykes, and seines 

 are scattered along both shores and are owned aud managed by a great many diiferent parties. 

 The main-shore fisheries occupy the shore west of the -entrance to Sandusky Bay, the nets being 

 distributed quite equally. The island fisheries are located at Bass and Kelly's Islands, which lie 

 out iu the lake a number of miles distant from Saudusky. The number cf fishermen engaged in 



