LAKE MICHIGAN. 121 



At the entrance of Green Bay, extending around Summer Island, within a radius of about six 

 miles, we find an important gill-net ground, known as the Sag Bay ground. West of and 

 adjoining the Sag Bay ground is another, six or eight miles in diameter, called the Summer 

 Island ground. As many as three hundred and fifty gill-nets are annually employed there. 

 Extending in a southwesterly direction from the grounds already mentioned, and directly north 

 of Washington Island, is still another and much larger ground styled the Washington Island 

 ground. Every summer about six hundred gill-nets are in use here, and in the fall the number 

 swells to one thousand; The bottom, as might be expected on account of the great extent of 

 the ground, varies considerably in character, but is generally hard and sandy. The water is 

 comparatively shallow, the maximum depth not exceeding twenty-three or twenty-four fathoms. 



There are no extensive gill-net grounds in either Big or Little Bay de Noquette, although in 

 the latter some nets are used in winter under the ice. A few miles south of the entrance to Little 

 Bay de Noquette, and east of Indian Town, we find a ground which supports about one hundred 

 and thirty-five nets. The character of bottom and depth of water are about the same as those of 

 the Washington Island ground, which, in fact, it touches at its western limit. 



Between this ground and tlie next to the southward, a space of about five miles intervenes. The 

 latter ground extends from near shore, in a southeasterly direction from the mouth of Bark Eiver, 

 about nine miles. The depth of water at the outer limit is about seventeen fathoms, and the 

 character of the bottom is similar to that of those previously mentioned. 



Farther south there are no more important "open- water" gill-net grounds, or such as are 

 visited during the warmer weather, either on the west or east side of the bay, except at Green 

 Bay City. The grounds extend for about two miles along the low and marshy shores at the 

 mouth of Fox Eiver. The nets are set in the numerous sloughs running into the marsh, and are 

 visited every two days. Nothing is taken in them but rough fish. The only large ground still 

 unmentioned is the Saint Martin's ground,' which extends from the island of the same name into 

 Lake Michigan eastward, northeastward, and southeastward, about eight miles. 



As we have stated already, " open water " gill-net fishing has died out almost entirely south 

 of the Bark Eiver ground except at Green Bay City. One fisherman set a few gill-nets in 1879 

 directly north of the bar at the mouth of the Peshtigo Eiver. Summer gill-net fishing is also 

 carried on to a limited extent on the east shore, between Bay Settlement and Chambers Island, 

 especially at the entrance of Little Sturgeon Bay, where formerly it was extensively pursued. 



In winter, as soon as the ice is suflQciently firm to be walked upon with safety, the fishermen 

 begin setting their nets. The grounds are located almost anywhere outside the ten-fathom line, 

 often in the middle of the bay, and the nets are moved from time to time. Very few are in use 

 north of Meuomouee, many of the more important pound-owners not possessing any. Southward 

 as far as Peshtigo they increase in number. A few are set off Suamico and between Bay 

 Settlement and Chamber Island, on the east shore. They are set across the bay, in gangs of from 

 five to thirty, and anchored. 



The pound-net fisheries of Green Bay are very extensive and important. The larger 

 proportion of the nets are ^et on the west shore, between Cedar Eiver and Green Bay City, but 

 many are also scattered over other parts of the bay. 



On the north shore of Saint Martin's Island, at the entrance of the bay, we find the largest 

 and deepest pound-net on the Great Lakes. The pot stands in ninety-seven feet of water, and is 

 inclosed by stakes one hundred and twenty-five feet long, spliced three times. The net cuts off a 

 deep channel by which the fish appear to enter the bay, and the catch is very large. 



