540 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



abundance is attributed to over fishing. In heavy weather these fish leave for deep water. In 

 the vicinity of Vermillion, Ohio, the White-fish have no spawning grounds. A great decrease in 

 their abundance has taken place during the past few years. In 1879 thirteen nets succeeded in 

 taking but three tons of this fish. 



InBrownhelin Bay, Lake Erie, and at and in the vicinity of the mouth of Black River, White- 

 fish rank fourth in importance. They were more abundant in 1877 than during many previous 

 years. Between Black River and Dover Bay is a small spawning ground, on a rocky-bottomed 

 reef. During spawning time no White-fish are taken at Black River or Brownhelm Bay. They 

 are most abundant in this part of Lake Erie during southwest winds, when on their way from the 

 shore to deep water they are caught in the pounds. At Brownhelm Bay a great number are taken 

 in the spring at a point just above Beaver Creek. At Black River but few can be taken, because 

 the nets can be set but a short distance out from the shore; farther to the westward, however, the 

 nets can be set at a greater distance from the shore, by which means the catch is greatly increased. 



In the neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, and in Dover Bay the White-fish are not very 

 abundant, ranking about fourtl| in importance. The runs are irregular, the largest ones occurring 

 in the spring, that of 1879 being the most abundant ever known up to that time. The fishermen 

 there say that on approach of a wind storm they will run into deep water; if they are frightened 

 when feeding or spawning they will not return to their grounds for a long while. They are taken 

 only in mild weather. In the waters off Conneaut and Ashtabula, Lake Erie, it is supposed that 

 White-fish are not one-third as abundant as in 1870, but since 1876 the annual decrease has not 

 been perceptible. Near Painesville, Ohio, no spawning or feeding grounds for the White-fish have 

 been found; but on a shoal some miles to the east the gill-netters take a great many during the 

 spawning season. 



Toward the east end of Lake Erie, around Dunkirk, New York, the first run of White-fish 

 takes place early in the spring. In June, July, and the early part of August also, large hauls of 

 these fish are made; the best time is, however, from the latter part of September until November, 

 when a larger grade of fish, and one which is preferred for freezing, is taken. Lately (in 1880) six 

 thousand pounds from forty nets and thirty-five hundred pounds from twenty-five nets are reported- 

 The largest haul in 1879 was nineteen hundred pounds from one gang of nets. 



At Port Ontario, on Lake Ontario, White-fish rank first in importance. Near Oswego this fish is 

 far from being common, and never enters the river. White-fish, up to the year 1807, have been on 

 the increase since 1855 in the vicinity of Port Clinton, especially so during the years 18G5, 1860, 

 and 1867. Since that time they have decreased in numbers to a small extent. This decrease is 

 largely merely a supposition, arising from ignorance regarding the movements of this fish, and the 

 application of the latest and best methods in fishing. Probably it is true that the decrease is in 

 the number that is caught, not in the number that might be taken. In 1859, forty-nine thousand 

 White-fish are said to have been taken at one haul; many were small and young; fully a half of 

 this catch were thrown away before the net could be hauled in. At Stonington Beach it is claimed 

 that seventy-five thousand fish have been taken ashore by one haul of the seine. At Chaumont, 

 where the White-fish ranks second commercially, there has been a great decrease during the 

 past twenty years. Now, there are no spawning grounds in the bay, the fishing necessarily being 

 carried on outside in the lake. Formerly, in this locality, sixty to seventy men, taking three to 

 . five tons a day, were engaged in this fishery; now, sufficient fish cannot be caught to pay the men 

 for their time and labor. 



An alarming decrease is reported from Sacket's Harbor, where they are taken inside only 

 during their spawning season. The fish caught here are usually large. In 1876 an immense 

 school of small ones came into the harbor. 



