8 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



of fish culture can be comprehended or intelligently understood. It is 

 apparent that statistics, and such other information as is contained in 

 this review, are necessary for the purpose of comparison, and furnish 

 the only means for obtaining a definite understanding of the changes 

 which may occur in fishing as a result of artificial propagation. 



In the preparation of the review an effort has been made to present 

 in considerable detail all the salient points, among which may be spe- 

 cially mentioned the geographical aspects of the fisheries, their com- 

 mercial and economic importance, and the history of particular events 

 which have been influential in their development. Less consideration 

 has been given to natural history and the various scientific problems 

 connected with the fisheries. 



There is a marked similarity in the fisheries of different sections of 

 each lake, which have been treated separately in this review. On this 

 account, and because of the desire to make each geographical section 

 complete in itself, in order that there might be no misconception in re- 

 gard to the relations it bore to the entire fishing industry on the lakes, 

 a certain amount of repetition was unavoidable. 



The fisheries of some localities have been discussed in great detail 

 for special reasons, while less consideration has been given to similar 

 fisheries prosecuted in adjacent waters. The same is true in regard to 

 the discussion of the methods of preparation of fish and secondary 

 products. 



Particular attention and considerable space has been given to fish- 

 eries that are unique or which have recently been introduced or devel- 

 oped, and whenever it seemed practicable to advise changes to benefit 

 the fishery, suggestions have been made for improvement in fishing ap- 

 paratus, methods, and other conditions bearing upon the industry under 

 consideration. 



2. HISTORY OF THE INVESTIGATION. 



The investigation of the lakes was prosecuted under the immediate 

 direction of Mr. R. Edward Earll during the months of August, Sep- 

 tember, October, and November, 1885. He was assisted in the field by 

 Messrs. Mer win- Marie Snell, Frank N. Clark, Seymour Bower, S. P. 

 Wires, J. Frank Ellis, and E. A. Tulian, all members of the U. S. Fish 

 Commission. 



As a preliminary step, the Lake Region was divided into sections, to 

 which the different agents were assigned. It was thus possible to cover 

 the entire coast-line, over 3,500 miles in length, in a comparatively 

 short time, and for the agents of the Fish Commission to visit each fish- 

 ing center and have personal interviews with the fishermen and others 

 interested in the fisheries. 



The particular sections of coast canvassed by the different agents 

 were as follows : 



R. Edward Earll and MerwinMaric Snell, Lake Superior entire; 



