614 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
ber of hauls in which 10 tons of carp were taken at one time. It 
would probably be fair to assume that these fish taken in the spring 
averaged in the neighborhood of 8 pounds each, which would mean 
that each haul contained some 2,500 fish. The largest single haul of 
which I heard at Lake Erie was said to have contained 14 tons of fish. 
A recent apparently well-authenticated report from Lake St. Clair, 
however, exceeds this by more than as much again. Net fishing in 
Lake St. Clair has been prohibited by the state of Michigan until 
within a short time, and in the favorable marshes of the St. Clair 
delta and about the mouth of the Clinton River the carp had increased 
to an amazing extent, resulting in some phenomenal hauls now that 
seining for these fish is permitted. The American Fish Culturist for 
July, 1904 (vol. 1, no. 7, pp. 18-19), quotes frem the Detroit News an 
account of probably the largest haul on record, and adds further con- 
firmation of the report from Mr. Seymour Bower, superintendent of 
the Michigan state hatcheries. The article seems of sufficient interest 
to quote in full: 
‘“That despised fish known as the German carp is having a growing commercial 
value, and with the possibilities of carp fishing in mind, Carl Schweikart formed two 
companies, the St. Clair and Erie Carp Company and the Detroit Carp Company. 
The field of operations is at the mouth of the Clinton River, where the water is clear 
and the fish are supposed to be at their best. The former company has had phe- 
nomenal success in carp catching, having taken in one haul last week 7,200, which 
they suppose will average about 8 pounds. The catch was made about 8 o’clock in 
the morning, and several men were kept busy all day getting the carp out of the nets 
and into the ponds in which the carp are kept until sold. Eastern buyers are figur- 
ing for the purchase of their entire catch, but Mr. Schweikart is inclined to wait for 
better prices. The quotation in New York is now 3 cents a pound. 
‘“What do they do with the carp? Well, they are considered a delicacy by hun- 
dreds of patrons of the best hotels and cafés in the East, but the name ‘ Great Lakes 
salmon’ is preferred.”’ 
Referring to the above, Mr. Seymour Bower, superintendent of the Michigan State 
hatcheries, says: 
“The big haul was made in Lake St. Clair, near the mouth of Clinton River. Net 
fishing of all kinds was prohibited in this lake until the last legislature passed an act 
allowing the seining of carp. This lake, as you may know, is famous for its small- 
mouth bass fishing, and it is claimed that the presence of the carp in such over- 
whelming numbers is bad for the bass; hence the passage of this law.’’ 
“Mr. Schweikart is interested in two companies fishing for carp, and I supposed 
that report of the catch for the month of May, received a few days ago, covered 
everything in which he was interested, but it was for one company only. The 
report for the other company was received this morning, and the big haul is there 
all right. I then called Mr. Schweikart by ’phone and he not only confirms the 
statement made in the clipping, but says the half was not told, and I know Mr. 
Schweikart is thoroughly reliable. He states that from the big haul they impounded 
7,200 carp by count, and for want of time and facilities for handling were obliged to 
let fully as many more go, and that the fish taken will average not less than 10 
pounds in weight. The two companies in which he is interested impounded 44,900 
carp by count in May, or upward of 200 tons. 
‘Following are the rules under which eleven firms are now fishing there: 
