536 NATU-EAL HISTOEY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



October 26, 1880. They were reset and were again destroyed at the end of November. From 

 Bay View to Evanston pound-nets are used exclusively. 



Across the northern end of Lake Huron, from the Straits of Mackinac to the Detour Passage, 

 the White-fish are followed by the fishermen with pound-nets as far as twelve or more miles from 

 shore, and with gill-nets fifteen to twenty miles. At Port Ontario, Lake Ontario, gill-nets are 

 extensively used in the capture of White fish, and at Wolfe Bay it is remarked by Mr. Peter Kiel 

 that they cannot be caught with hook and line at any season of the year. Mr. Lanman says 

 that they are occasionally taken along Madawaska Eiver, and that he has caught them with rod 

 and line below the falls of that river, at its confluence with the Saint John, in the early part of the 

 summer. The same writer states that in Eagle Lakes the White-fish is caught abundantly by torch- 

 light with dip-nets. Of its capture in the Grand Lake, Mr. Lanman writes : 



"Some years since this fish was abundant in the Grand Lake, where the writer, in the month 

 of May, saw great numbers taken out of gill-nets set for gaspereau, and thrown away by the fish- 

 ermen as worthless. At the same time, the writer caught a number of them with rod and line, in 

 one of those small pieces of water connected with the Grand Lake, usually called ' key -holes.' It 

 is occasionally taken in the Saint John, throughout its whole extent. In the harbor of Saint John, 

 in spring, it has been often caught in the seines and weirs with the gaspereau, and salted witli 

 that fish, because its value was not known." 



The White-fish caught in Green Bay, Lake Michigan, are thus prepared for shipment, if as 

 fresh fish : the gills and viscera are removed and the fish carefully washed. 



Eeferring to the west shore of Lake Michigan, down as far as Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Kumlien 

 thus writes in 1880 in regard to th% White-fish market : " The demand for No. 1 White-fish is steadily 

 increasing, and as high as seven and eight cents are often realized when the supply is not abun- 

 dant. The average price for the whole season Mr. Niquette estimates will be a trifle over four 

 cents per pound, three and a half being paid to the fishermen. The demand for fresh fish is such, 

 and the facilities for shipping so good, that very few White-fish are salted now. In 1870 there 

 were about 3,000 packages sent from Two Elvers, while in 1867 there were above 6,300, and for 

 1879 there were not over 1,000 ; but a much larger amount of fresh fish has been shipped. The 

 vicinity of Two Elvers has long been a noted White-fish ground, and still keeps up its reputation ; 

 but only a few miles to the south, off Manitowoc, it no longer pays to fish for White-fish." 



At Waukegan, Lake Michigan, White-fish are largely smoked. At Oswego and vicinity. Lake 

 Ontario, no White-fish have been salted fon five years. Of those shipped from Port Clinton' and 

 vicinity, at least two-thirds to three-fourths come from Canada. Five years ago not more than 

 one-half were received for shipment from Canada. At the present time more are being sent from 

 this place than ever. This business has steadily increased since 1855, the increase being the most 

 striking since 1865. " At the falls, on the Madawaska Eiver," writes Mr. Lanman, " the inhabitants 

 take about forty barrels every autumn, which are cured in pickle for winter use." 



Abundance.— The following observations on the abundance of White-fish in the Great 

 Lakes were made by Mr. Kumlien : 



At Duluth, at the extreme west end of Lake Superior, and in this vicinity, the White-fish 

 ranks first in importance. Mr. McClau thinks that their numbers have not decreased since 1870, 

 but that the fishing must be carried on in deeper water than was then necessary. 



Three reasons are assigned for the decrease of White-fish in Huron Bay, south of Keweenaw, 

 Lake Superior, and vicinity, during the past fifteen years: sawdust, navigation, and overfishing. 

 The fish are here placed in a "live-box" until required for shipping. As many as seventy-two 



