654 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
attached to the main line about 8 to 10 feet apart. A number of these 
short lines are fastened together, forming one long line of 500 to 
1,000 hooks. These are anchored at distances of every 50 hooks and 
buoyed from 5 to 20 feet below the surface in from 75 to 100 fathoms 
of water. Set lines are never used near the shore or in shallow water. 
Troll lines with spoon hocks are employed from June 15 to August 1, 
the fish at that time being near the shore. 
During the fishing season the fishermen and their families camp on 
several of the numerous islands near the fishing grounds. Their fish- 
ing boats, except 3 gasoline launches, are small, strongly built sail- 
boats. The islands are not connected by cable with the mainland, the 
nly commanication being by steamers and small boats. There are no 
stores or post-oftices. The mail is carried by steamers and delivered 
at the various fishing camps. A number of ‘fishing clubs have camps 
on the islands. Washington Harbor, at the southwest end of Isle 
Royale, is a rendezvous for fishermen and summer campers. The log 
houses of the fishermen and two hotels, one of which has several cct- 
tages connected with it, form quite an attractive settlement during 
the fishing season. In this section trout constitute the greater part of 
the catch, white-fish being taken only occasionally in the fishing near 
shore. A ton of fish caught in this vicinity usually consists of about 
1,500 pounds of siscowet trout and 500 pounds of lake trout and bluefin 
white-fish. In August there is not much fishing by the shore fisher- 
men, the fish being farther out in the lake than the fishermen care to 
venture in their small boats. From the last of August to the first of 
October the fish are near the island, and are then taken in gill nets in 
from 1 to 30 fathoms of water. They will not notice the trolling hooks 
at this time in the season. At the end of October the fishermen with 
their families remove to their permanent homes, which are mostly at 
Duluth. They usually spend the winter in preparing their fishing 
apparatus for the next season, or at work in the mines and lumber 
camps. After the fishing season closes no regular steamers visit the 
islands, and they are deserted by all except a few watchmen who 
remain to care for the hotels and property left by the fishermen. 
The following tables give, by states and counties, the extent of the 
fisheries of Lake Superior in 1903: 
