III.— THE FISHERIES OF LAKE SUPERIOR. 



17. GENERAL REVIEW. 



Introductory description. — Lake Superior empties its waters into the 

 lower lakes by means of the St. Mary's River, a stream about 25 miles 

 iu length, navigable for lake craft of all sizes, except at its upper ex- 

 tremity, where the famous falls known as the Sault de Sainte Marie 

 occur, this obstacle being overcome by means of a large ship-canal and 

 a series of locks erected by the Government about thirty years ago. 

 The lake, following the natural curvature through its middle, is about 

 420 miles long, and has a maximum breadth of 160 miles. Its depth 

 varies from 80 to 200 fathoms. 



The Canadian shores, extending from the St. Mary's River at the 

 eastern extremity to Arrow River on the northwest, are very wild and 

 contain only a scattered poj)ulation of Indians and half-breeds, with no 

 settlements of importance, the same being true of the Minnesota coast, 

 stretching from that point to Duluth, 150 miles distant, at the extreme 

 western end of the lake. The only communication along this northwest 

 coast is by means of small steamers employed in collecting fish from the 

 Duluth fishermen, who camp at different i^oints along the shore during 

 the summer months, and from the few Indians living in the region. The 

 largest settlements are at Beaver Bay and Two Harbors, neither of 

 which has a population of over fifty families, though at the latter point 

 a railroad has been built, extending some distance into the interior, 

 and a regular steam-boat connection has been established with Duluth. 



The southern shores are somewhat irregular, with three peninsulas, 

 those of Bayfield, Keweenaw, and Whitefish Point, which extend in a 

 northeasterly direction. 



Off the extremity of the first-named is a group of more than twenty 

 bold, rocky islands, known as the Apostle Islands. The Keweenaw 

 Peninsula is the largest and near its base is interrupted by a short 

 canal connecting with natural lakes and rivers which allows the passage 

 of lake craft without the delay and danger contingent upon rounding 

 the peninsula. The third, at Whitefish Point, near the eastern end of 

 the lake, is small and unimportant. 



The coast is for the most part bold and rocky, covered with dense 

 forests of pine and other native woods, which are broken at intervals 

 by small turbulent streams rising some miles away in the heart of the 



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