GItEAT LAKES: LAKE ERIE. 667 



leading directly into it. On account of the defects in this form of pound-net great numbers of 

 fish escaped, and, in fact, it was necessary to lift the nets two or three times each day in order to 

 secure good hauls. 



There have been no disasters among the fishermen at Huron since the establishment of the 

 business. 



VERMILLION. The fisheries at this place arc of less importance than those at Huron. The 

 pound-net fisheries are owned by a single firm who hire a sufficient number of assistants to carry 

 on the industry. Usually about ten men are employed for three months in spring, and thirty for 

 the same length of time in autumn. Besides, there are about twelve men who follow hook fishing 

 for catfish during five or six months of the year. About two-thirds of all the fishermen have 

 families. A great variety of nationalities is represented among them. 



The fishing grounds of Vermillion occupy a very small extent of shore, all the nets being set 

 at one place and comparatively near together. In 1879 the number of nets in use was about 12, 

 each of which was valued at about $400. A few gill-nets are owned at Vermillion, but they are 

 used in fisheries at other places. 



Catfishiug with hook and line is quite an extensive industry at Vermillion. The total value 

 of apparatus employed in both pound and hook fisheries, including the boats, fish-houses, ice- 

 houses, and other accessories, is not less than $15,000. The boats used in the hook fishery are 

 remarkably small, considering that the men often go at least 5 miles from shore, or even more. 

 The majority of these boats are only about 18 feet long and are sloop rigged. 



As occurs at other places, a large variety of fish is taken in the pounds ; the principal kinds 

 are herring, whitefish, blue pike, and yellow pike. A number of sturgeon are usually taken every 

 season. 



The catch for 1879 may be divided somewhat as follows: Fresh fish, 120,000 pounds; frozen 

 fish, 74,000 pounds ; salt fish, 146,000 pounds ; total, 340,000 pounds. The value of this amount of 

 fish is about $10,500, of which $7,000 worth is the product of the pound-nets, and the remainder 

 the product of the hook and fyke-net fisheries. The larger part of the salt fish was sent to Buffalo, 

 Huron, and Saudusky. The frozen fish were sent to Port Clinton, Pittsburgh, and New York, 

 while the fresh fish were chiefly shipped to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, as well as a large number 

 of small inland towns in Ohio. The fishermen state that less sturgeon were taken in 1879 than 

 ever before. 



5To other important changes have taken place in the methods of the fisheries; somewhat larger 

 and better boats are now used than formerly, and also larger and deeper nets. The nets are also 

 set much further from the shore than in former years. The change, however, has been so gradual 

 that no exact dates can be given. 



Mr. McGraw, of the firm of Lavoo & McGraw, who is well acquainted with the fisheries, is of 

 the opinion that blue pike and herring are increasing in abundance, while whitefish have decreased 

 very much. He also considers that the throwing overboard of offal has had a tendency to drive 

 the whitefish away. Twenty years ago a small seine dragged within a stone's throw of the shore 

 would have brought enough whitefish to fill a boat. At that time small shoal-pounds with very 

 light and thin stakes were in use, and with this simple apparatus more fish were then taken than 

 can now be procured by the costly and elaborate forms of apparatus employed. 



Xo disasters have taken place among the fishermen of Vermillion since fishing was first com- 

 menced at this point. 



AMHEBST, BROWNHELM BAY, AND LORAINE. The fisheries of this section of shore yield 

 large returns considering the amount of apparatus employed and the number of men engaged. 



