164 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Capt. S. J. Martin and Mr. F. F. Dimick, local statistical agents of 

 the division stationed at Gloucester and Boston, continue to submit 

 monthly reports on the fisheries at those places. The information is 

 tabulated in the office and distributed regularly to the fishery trade 

 in the New England States. 



The results of the work of this division are presented elsewhere 

 from year to year in the publications of the Commission as detailed sta- 

 tistical reports on the commercial fisheries of different sections of the 

 country, or special papers on the methods of conducting the fisheries. 



Single-sheet bulletins containing advance statistics in condensed 

 form are distributed for the information of the fishery trade in the 

 regions to which they refer. The following have been issued during 

 the year: 



No. 13. Fisheries of New York and New Jersey, 1898. 



No. 14. Statement of quantities and values of certain fishery products landed 

 at Boston and Gloucester by American vessels during the year 1899. 

 No. 15. Fisheries of the New England States, 1898. 

 No. 16. Fisheries of Lake Erie, 1899. 



FISHERIES OF LAKE ERIE. 



An inquiry respecting the commercial fisheries of Lake Erie in 1899 

 shows an important increase in the yield of these fisheries since they 

 were last canvassed. This applies not only to the quantity of prod- 

 ucts, but also to their value, the amount of capital invested, and the 

 number of persons employed. Decided increases are shown in the 

 yield of white-fish and lake herring. The yield of pike perch continues 

 to be large, although it has not increased over that of former years. 

 These species are extensively propagated artificially, and it is believed 

 that their cultivation is producing excellent results. In 1899 the fish- 

 eries of this lake yielded 58,393,364 pounds of products, valued at 

 $1,150,890. The total number of i^ersons engaged was 3,728, and the 

 investment amounted to $2,719,654. 



The vessels employed numbered 104 and were valued, with their 

 outfits, at $439,077. The apparatus of capture which represented the 

 greatest value was pound nets, of which 1,298 were in use, valued at 

 $313,125. Gill nets are next in importance, 41,678 being in use, and 

 valued at $229,182. 



Among the products herring are preeminent, 33,470,633 pounds hav- 

 ing been taken, worth 1431,894. The catch of pike and pike perch 

 was 9,325,991 pounds, valued at $302,296. White-fish was taken to 

 the amount of 2,066,314 pounds, worth $152,009. It is interesting to 

 note that carp, now abundant in this lake, are extensively utilized, 

 the catch amounting to 3,633,697 pounds, worth $51,456. 



The two following tables show the persons, apparatus, and capital 

 employed in the fisheries of Lake Erie in 1899, and the quantities and 

 values of the different species obtained in the fisheries of the lake in 

 that year. 



