American Fisheries Society. 85 
show apparently considerable increase ; the gill nets show an in- 
crease of about 80 per cent., as I figure it roughly. The total 
catch of the fish showed an increase of about 50 per cent. over 
1891. Those figures, of course, I want to verify. Now, if one 
important method of catching did not increase and the other 
increase was about 80 per cent., in the second important method, 
then it would seem that the fish are not much less abundant in 
the lakes now than in 1891—somewhat less abundant. but not 
greatly so. One who is familar with the statistics could un- 
doubtedly work out a much closer correlation, and show the 
significence of these figures as bearing on the relative abundance 
of these fish at the stations fished by the Michigan fishermen 
fifteen years ago and at present. 
President: I think that all these figures and suggestions 
lead to this conclusion, especially in view of what has been done 
in the several states in the way of protection, that there is an in- 
crease of fish in the lakes. But if you turn to the protective laws 
in the several states, while they were in existence in 1891, they 
were not enforced as well as they are today. Now, I know that 
Michigan has done better in the last six years than ever before, 
and I think it is true to a considerable extent in the other 
states; and therefore if | am right about that it rather strength- 
ens the argument of Mr. Fullerton, that if we would put it under 
a uniform system, such as federal control, the protection would 
be far more effective and far more useful than now. But I think 
that some of these results shown by the chart are due to the pro- 
tective measures that have already been taken. 
Mr. Nevin: Is the two pound lake trout law enforced in 
Michigan in regard to the protection of the small fish ? 
President: I don’t know. 
Mr. Nevin: I know it is not in our state. 
Mr. Clark: It is in force in Michigan. The lake trout law 
is enforced just as well as the whitefish law. 
Mr. Seymour Bower: In regard to the immature whitefish 
our statistical agent is very familiar with the grounds in Michi- 
gan; knows just what kind of fish are caught and how they are 
