THE GREAT LAKES FISHERIES IN 1899. 597 
FISHERIES OF LAKE MICHIGAN. 
The persons engaged in the fisheries of Lake Michigan in 1899 
numbered 3,255, of whom 463 were employed on vessels, 2,045 in the 
shore fisheries, and 747 were shoresmen. 1,330 are credited to the State 
of Michigan, 1,184 to Wisconsin, 685 to Illinois, and 56 to Indiana. 
The total investment in the fisheries of this lake was $2,915,241. 
The number of vessels fishing and transporting was 80, valued with 
their outfits at $254,905. The number of boats was 1,098, worth 
$67,968. The apparatus in the vessel fisheries was valued at $205,582, 
and in the shore fisheries at $299,157. Shore and accessory property 
was valued at $869,629 and cash capital at $1,218,200. The greater 
part of the investment, $1,871,341, is credited to Illinois, $554,399 to 
Wisconsin; $456,287 to-Michigan, and $33,214 to Indiana. 
The fishery products of this lake amounted to 34,499,996 pounds, . 
valued at $876,743. The largest item is that of herring, of which 
21,573,716 pounds were taken, worth $434,029. The trout fishery 
yielded 5,488,947 pounds, worth $244,681; white-fish, 1,510,364 pounds, 
worth $73,492; yellow perch, 3,077,741 pounds, worth $57,972. Other 
important items were Menominee worth $14,307, and bluefin worth 
$12,794, all other products being represented by lower values. 
To the vessel fisheries are credited 10,383,011 pounds of products, 
valued at $351,199, and to the shore fisheries, 24,116,985 pounds, valued 
at $525,544. 
More than 90 per cent of the catch in Lake Michigan is taken in 
pound nets and gill nets, the yield of the former being 16,947,029 
pounds, valued at $338,862, and of the latter, 14,517,998 pounds, valued 
at $470,578. 
As compared with 1893, the year when these fisheries were last can- 
vassed, it appears that a decrease of 673 has occurred in the number 
of persons employed, a falling off having taken place in the number 
engaged in the shore fisheries. During the same period there has been 
an increase in the investment in the fisheries of this lake amounting 
to $851,744, owing principally to the large amount of capital now 
invested in the wholesale fish trade of Chicago. 
In comparing the yield of the fisheries it may be noted that the 
quantity of fish taken is now greater than in any other year for which 
statistics are available. With the exception of the year 1885 the same 
is true of the value of the catch. 
Since 1893 there has been a slight increase in number and value of 
pound nets, and a corresponding decrease in number and value of gill 
nets. While the vessels employed in the fisheries have increased 
slightly in number there has been a noteworthy decrease in their value. 
