666 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



whitetish, sturgeou, and black bass are decreasing very rapidly. Some i'ew, however, affirm that 

 during 1878 and 1879 the schools of whitefish which visited the shore were larger than those during 

 the three or four years preceding, and are of the opinion that this condition of affairs is due to 

 the effect of artificial propagation. Others, again, have no faith whatever in "planted fish," as 

 they call them. It seems quite evident, however, that the present supply of whiteflsh is not one- 

 third what it was twenty years ago. 



H TRON. At Huron, fishing is the most important occupation in which the people are engaged, 

 and a large number of persons, besides those professionally engaged, are indirectly dependent 

 upon the results of the industry. The number of professional fishermen in 1879 was about seventy- 

 five, in addition to which about forty-six were engaged for a short period. The fisheries are con- 

 trolled by twelve firms, who hire the necessary assistance. About two-thirds of the fishermen are 

 married and have families. Almost every nationality is represented among them, but the Ameri- 

 cans largely predominate. The Huron fishermen are considered a better class of men than the 

 Lake Erie fishermen generally. As a rule, fishing is not hereditary with them, most of them 

 having begun the business late in life. They are not so reckless and improvident as at many other 

 places, and are said to be more energetic, hard-working, and temperate than those at Sandusky 

 and some of the other large fishing towns. No fishing is now carried on upon Sunday, although 

 the icverse was formerly the universal custom. The fishing at Huron is prosecuted almost entirely 

 by means of pound-nets, no gill-nets or seines being used. There are about twenty fyke-nets set 

 in the river, owned and operated by six or seven fishermen. 



The only kind of boat used is the regular pound-boat, which is about 30 feet in length. There 

 are no steam fishing-vessels in use at Huron, although steam-tugs are occasionally used for towing 

 the scows to and fro. 



In 1879 there were seventy-four pound-nets in use in these fisheries. They were set at differ- 

 ent points along the shore for a distance of five miles east and about the same distance west from 

 the mouth of the river. The nets are usually set in lines, six or seven together, the largest number 

 in one line being ten. All the nets in any one line seldom belong to a single firm. The value of 

 boats, nets, and other apparatus employed is not less than $58,000. 



The Huron fishing grounds are considered the most profitable for herring fishing 011 Lake Erie. 

 There has never yet been a total failure since fishing began. Whitefish and other migratory 

 species are only taken in transit. The catch in 1879 amounted to about 2,392,000 pounds, making 

 an average of about 32,000 for each pound-net. Of this amount about 840,000 pounds were sold 

 fresh; 1,462,000 pounds salted; and 90,000 pounds frozen. 



The greater part of the fresh fish was sold in various inland towns and also sent to the cities on 

 the coast, New York receiving a large share of it. The salt fish were largely sent to Buffalo, New 

 York, and to Philadelphia. Frozen fish found their principal market in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, 

 and New York. Most of the sturgeon were sent to Sandusky to be smoked. A small amount in 

 1879, however, was sent fresh to Pittsburgh. There is one establishment at Huron at which 

 caviare and isinglass are prepared. The amount of caviare prepared in 1879 was about 8,100 

 pounds, and of isinglass 154 pounds. 



There have been some changes in the fishing-boats used in this locality since the origin of the 

 business. Twenty-five years ago the only boats employed were small row-boats; after that sloops 

 were introduced, and they, finally, have been replaced by the pound boats. The latter have in- 

 creased considerably in size and quality of material used since they were first introduced. In fact, 

 the pound-boats in use at Huron are among the best and largest built on the lakes. When pound- 

 boats were first introduced no tunnel was used, and the pot had an opening 2 feet wide, the hearts 



