582 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
valued at $2,691,866. Since then there has been some decrease in the 
number of persons employed, but a steady increase in the number of 
pound nets and gill nets, the two most important forms of fishing 
apparatus used, and also in the total amount of capital invested. The 
yield of products, except in 1893, has greatly increased in quantity, 
but has not in any of the years conse equaled that of 1885 in value. 
In 1899 it was slightly exceeded in quantity by that of 1890, but was 
next in value to that of 1885. 
A noteworthy feature of these fisheries is the change that has taken 
place in the abundance of the different species of fish. In 1880 the 
white-fish was more abundant than any other species and constituted 
nearly a third of the products, but in 1899 the catch had decreased 
to 5,094,014 pounds. In the same period sturgeon decreased from 
1,5 557,383 pounds to 1,129,348 pounds. The yield of trout was larger in 
1899 than in 1880, but it < decreased considerably as compared with 
1885, L890, and 1893. Offsetting these decreases, herring has increased 
from 15,967,517 pounds to 59,913,576 pounds, while the aggregate 
quantity of several other species, not shown separately in the statistics, 
increased from 16,948,600 pounds to 36,078,714 pounds. The decline 
in the abundance of some of the more valuable species is therefore 
being compensated for by an increase in the cheaper varieties. 
Comparative table showing the number of persons employed in the fisheries of the Great 
Lakes in 1880, 1885, 1890, 1893, and 1899. 
| 
Lakes. 1880. 1885. 1890. 1893. 1899, 
SUC UO espera cintn me aya torss iain asa te lasers lane Go's o> ease eee ee 414 } 914 653 916 613 
MIC Sal soe cece eee cameee enone tele cece: 1,578 | 3, B79 2,877 3, 928 3, 255 
FRUTOUG ee oe che somes s sn 6 Sanne eee AR cco aos eas 470 | 892 726 | 944 1,241 
Si ClaI Tee cee Grn seo ae a ele aa oe ceases 356 ra fA 611 | 529 442 
STIG teeeeniecee faces: owes. Paes acc eek Ns. ce teenies 1,620 | 4, 298 4,482 3, 622 3, 728 
ONTATION coe coos cece ecacls cco dees oc2c Soeeceeceenies os 612 600 389 | 241 391 
ALG Cel Leena car eerie coca kw ote tAeene meteiatae 5, 050 10, 855 | 9,738 | 10,180 9, 670 
*Ineludes St. Clair and Detroit rivers. 
Comparative table showing the apparatus and capital employed in the fisheries of the Great 
Lakes in 1880, 1885, 1890, 1898, and 1899. 
| Vessels and Pound nets re ee 
boats. land trap nets. Gill nets. peace Other | Shore : 
Lakes and |__ ee —si appa- | property | Total in- 
years. ratus, |and cash| vestment. 
| No. | Value. | No, | Value.} No. | Value.| No. /Value.| value. | capital. 
Superior: | | 
1 Rots {0 ee eee ae 161) $26, 240 43] $14, 950 , 680, $25, 280 32} $2, 010} $200 $12, 700 $81, 380 
USS80u ees e- 519} 100,735) 230) 67,520 5) 78, 082 43) 2,920 1, 155 177, 521 427, 933 
TOO See Ss 328| 85, 275 140) 34,485 9,974) 63,476 19 95) 2, 763 179, 778 366, 682 
1G eee 447) 139,035} 276) = 63,415] 8,899 87,680} 14 500; 1,565} = =209,512) 529, 024 
1899.22... 315} 69,045] 162} 25,820] 7,229) 99,283] 1 50| 1,058} 167,023] 372,088 
Michigan: | 
d Rots 0)S eo eee $36) 476) 185,425) 24,599) 124, 740 19) 2,040 1, 455 104,100} 551,135 
W885. 22.22 2- 1, 402 715) 253, 840} 58, 516) 326, 902 87| 6,950} 13, 457 788, 356) 1,757,831 
18902. 2... - 1,102 844) 244,880] 40,896) 215,914 3 3,480} 138, 460 698, 159} 1, 487, 224 
a s\¢ bh eae 1,549 785| 181,385] 54, 232} 352, 084 28) 2,520) 27, 863] 1,092, 219} 2, 063, 497 
1s}! 8 eae ee 1,178 805) 186,349} 49,857) 288, 395 iG! 510} 29, 285) 2,087, 829) 2, 915, 241 
Huron 
1880 5-22 << 111 20, 905 189 49, 42 25) 3,860 20,600) 28) 5,600) 38,500 8,700} 103, 730 
1885. $e 561 72, 946 58 d, 3,444] 35,333].....]...-... 23, 100 140,620) 885, 349 
1890. Be 417 36, S98 55 ,O15 2,206) 21,665 6 600) 7,155 254, 025 408, 858 
WSUS sa0—sie< 520 87,645) 731) 108, 508 4,923) 53,071 1k 75| 3,807} 286,285) 503,700 
1899....... 539] 87,585] 996] 111,839] 5,676) 54,384 9 673] 8,188] 203,989] 474, 953 
