American Fisheries Society 83 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Frank N. Clark : It is very interesting indeed to note these 

 increases. If I remember correctly, we have members of this Society — 

 I think my friend Mr. Fullerton is one of them — who tells ns that fish 

 are not increasing. 



Mr. S. F. Fullerton : I still claim it for Lake Superior, Lake Michi- 

 gan and Lake Huron. 



Mr. Clark : I am anxious to compare the report for the whole of 

 Lake Erie and Detroit River for the present year with that of previous 

 years, 1894 to 1899 and other years. We have kept a little run of this 

 matter from year to year through the satistical agent of the Michigan 

 Fish Commission. I have some figures that were compiled by him 

 and given to me yesterday. On the American side of the Detroit 

 River, in 1906, there were caught 68,000 pounds of whitefish ; 69,000 

 liounds in 1907, and last year the catch was only 25,000 pounds. Un- 

 (|uestionably the cause of the decrease was due to the extensive dredg- 

 ing operations by the Government near the mouth of the river before 

 and during the fishing season. 



The figures for the first district of Michigan above Detroit show 

 an increase, but for the Detroit River alone a decrease : while in Lake 

 Eric and in Lake Michigan there has been a very marked increase. 

 \\"itli(int doubt the decrease is caused by the blasting referred to, coffer 

 dam construction and other features of the Detroit River channel im- 

 ])rovcment work. This kept the fish back last year, and it may continue 

 to do so for four or five years. But certainly it is going to be interest- 

 ing to take Lake Erie and the Detroit River together, and see what 

 the increase is. Then we will know whether we were right in stating 

 that on account of the large number of fish planted the fishing in Lake 

 Erie has increased much more than in the other lakes. 



Mr. Fl'Llerton : No one would be more pleased than I to see an 

 increase in tlie Great Lakes fishing : and I am glad to hear this of Lake 

 Erie and some of the other lakes. But as to conditions on Lake 

 Superior I refer you to the paper I read before this Society three years 

 ago. In 1879 I went to live on the shore of Lake Superior, at Duluth, 

 and know the conditions then existing there in regard to whitefish and 

 trout. Today you have to go 100 miles from Duluth before you can 

 get any trout or whitefish. I was in hopes tliat some of these statistics 

 would apply to Lake Superior. 



Mr. Charle.s H. Stevenson : Unfortunately the figures for Lake 

 .Superior, because of the lateness of the season, could not be obtained. 



Mr. Fullerton : There is no question but that the fish are dis- 

 appearing there. I know from personal observation. 



One of tlie noteworthy things shown by Mr. Stevenson's report is 

 tlie increase of liass and crappie where the carp have increased in the 

 Mississippi River. We gathered some statistics ourselves and found 

 that from the Iowa line to the St. Croix River $750,000 worth of fish. 

 over 80 per cent, carp, were marketed in a single year. In the same 

 territory the bass and crappie have increased along with the carp, which 

 is very gratifying. I have been an enemy of the carp, but am changing 



