CHAPTER I. 
LAKE FISHERIES. 
Statistics of a couple of Fisheries on the Western Lakes. 
As [have before stated that this is not a school-book, I will 
add that it is not intended for the counting-room. The few 
statistics given are mere glimpses at a branch of industry 
which is a sealed book to the public. The lake fisheries of 
the United States are confined to the southern half of the 
range of lakes to which the River St. Lawrence is the outlet. 
Later in the history of this country important fisheries will 
be established on Lake Superior and at intervals far beyond. 
At present the few fisheries are controlled by private indi- 
viduals or companies, who have not cared for the publicity 
which would enable reporters to make a correct estimate of 
this industry. 
FOOD-FISHES OF LAKE SUPERIOR. 
The catch of fish in Lake Superior averages about ten 
thousand barrels, of which nine thousand are whitefish, and 
the remainder ciscoquettes (ciscos) ; but this only applies to 
the fish which are salted for an Eastern market; for large 
quantities are shipped while fresh, of which no correct ac- 
count is kept. In Detroit one firm alone ships annually some 
three hundred tons of whitefish, which, however, is a portion 
of the harvest of Lake Huron. 
The largest whitefish are caught below Copper Harbor, in 
Lake Superior, and weigh about 8 pounds, or 60 to a barrel ; 
those caught above Copper Harbor average 14 to 2 pounds, 
and about 130 to the barrel. 
From an estimate made in dollars by the dealers in Lake Supe- 
rior fishes, the catch of last year, when salted, amounted to...8200,000 00 
300 tons fresh whitefish, shipped by one house, at 10 cts. per Ib. 60,000 00 
$260,000 OO 
