ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 29 
in the natural. order of events, remarkable diminution, if :not 
complete collapse, is to be anticipated in the coming decade. 
VI. The natural order of events may be averted by regulation 
of the size of meshes, preventing the pollution of the waters, and 
by artificial propagation. 
In support of the foregoing statements the following details 
are submitted : 
]. The Supply Maintained —I\n his report for 1872, Mr. Milner 
gave a table of “ the number of pounds of lake fish received by 
first handlers,” but he stated that his figures for Sandusky, Mil- 
waukee, Green Bay, and Mackinaw were incomplete. He then 
adds, “the sum tocal of this incomplete record is 32,250,000 
pounds of fish.” Mr. Kumlein’s figures for 1879 foot up 
68,742,000 pounds. That the total supply was not very much 
larger in 1879 than in 1872 is the universal opinion. It is also 
likely that the completion of the figures for 1872 would make a 
total of at least 50,000,000 pounds. In this period, the trade of 
Buffalo, Milwaukee, and some other places, fell off, but was 
compensated by the increase of trade in Chicago. This decline 
at Buffalo from 1872 to 1879 Mr. Kumlein places at from 6,374,100 
pounds to 4,001,000 pounds. It is impossible to state the exact 
decline at Milwaukee, but one house reports a decrease from 
14,000. half barrels to 2,058 half barrels. Another house sold 
8,000 half barrels in 1871, 7,000 in 1872, and but 1,908 in 1879. 
A third firm handled 6,623 half barrels in 1872, and 10,397 in 
1873, but only 2,003 half barrels in 1879. The only other whole- 
‘sale dealer gave no comparative figures. | 
In 1872 Mr. Milner put the transactions in,Chicago at 7,461,102 
pounds ; in 1875 the total is given by a Chicago firm at 11,500,000 
pounds; in1876 the total is given by this same firm at 12,240,000 
pounds; in 1877 the total is given by this same firm at 14,000,000 
-pounds; in 1879 Mr. Kumlein puts the Chicago trade at 17,247,570 
pounds. 
II. Maximum Effectiveness of Fishing.—The summaries of ap- 
paratus used in Lake Michigan, as given by Mr. Milner in es 
and by Mr. Kumlein in 1879, compare as follows : 
