726 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The most valuable species taken in this part of the Mississippi River 
are cat-fish, buffalo-fish, shovel-nose sturgeon, German carp, wall-eyed 
pike, pike and pickerel, and lake sturgeon. The value of cat-fish 1s 
over one-third that of all the other species combined. Most of these 
were taken on set lines. The larger portion of the German carp were 
caught in haul seines, trammel nets, and fyke nets. 
The principal species taken in the St. Croix River are buffalo-fish, 
lake sturgeon, shovel-nose sturgeon, and cat-fish. The catch of buffalo 
is divided almost equally between pound nets and spears. Sturgeon 
are taken principally by means of spears through the ice, but consider- 
able quantities are secured in pound nets and haul seines.  Cat-fish 
are taken almost entirely on set lines. 
Several varieties of fish are obtained in the lakes of Minnesota, the 
most important of them being pike perch (wall-eyed), crappie, pike 
and pickerel, and bullheads. The most valuable product of these 
fisheries is the frog, the value of the catch in 1899 constituting nearly 
one-fourth that of the entire fishery yield of the State. The species 
taken is the ‘‘meadow frog,” which is quite small, the average weight 
being between 1 and 2 ounces each. Frogs are caught in various ways, 
but chiefly in pits dug between sloughs and the adjoining high grass. 
The season for their capture in this manner is usually in the fall, when 
they are returning to the water. These pits are about 3 feet long, 2 
feet wide, and 2 feet deep. Frogs are also taken by sticks and gunny 
sacks. In using sticks the frogs are usually killed and then sold in a 
dressed condition for food. Gunny sacks in a wet condition are used 
in their capture by being thrown over the frogs. Frogs are kept alive 
for market in gunny sacks placed in running water and covered with 
hay or straw to keep out the frost. About one-half of the frogs 
shipped out of the State are of small size and are sold for bait, most of 
them weighing less than 1 ounce each. Professional frog-catchers are 
said to make from $5 to $10 per day during the best of the season. 
Most of the catch is shipped direct to Chicago. 
The frog industry in this State was started about 1895, and has 
grown in importance. In 1899 over $5,006 worth were taken in the 
vicinity of Minneapolis alone. Litchfield was the next greatest frog- 
producing center in the State in that year. In 1900 this industry had 
shifted from the latter place to Smith Lake, where one dealer pur- 
chased over $5,000 worth during the year. 
Table showing, by waters, the number of persons employed in the fisheries of Minnesota in 1899. 
Fisheries in which employed. 
iar ] aay aes = = ae d otal; 
= 3 7) aN ee o o 15 Auys exclu- 
Waters. a4 2 g:| a > & z “a | Sy | 23 E | sive of 
Z = 2 |} go] o a = = & | $e | 38 | 2 | dupli- 
‘ = onl be 
= ~ =| ela etree = 2 | 8 d | oO | S¢ | & | cation 
; 2) a | m |e BR |o}/a | ala |o JOo*!e 
Mississippi River ... 5 31 | 67 10 Bie aces | 2 eines ya ere 38 161 
St. Croix River....- | ) Cae | ee 1 2 | 7A eee WUD Bepeee neuer 3 77 
Miscellaneous'lakes|” 165: |z<2.5.). 2.02. |oc0c e cleSeccc|- sc cic|ec ccc | 8 33H [Seenee 9G 7 268 
| | (oe | ee eee ee oy 
EDO Cet reristeietetsl= | 179 | 35) 88 10 39 | 2 | 23 | 8 93 | 5 90 | 48 506 
