32 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



forest, and here and there by a river of considerable size, though, owing 

 to the rocky character of the country, practically of no value for navi- 

 gation. The principal rivers are the St. Louis, the Namadji, the White, 

 the Montreal, the Presque Isle, the Ontonagon, and the Sturgeon. The 

 character of the shore prevents any extensive population. There are 

 frequent intervals of 50 miles or more where scarcely a clearing has been 

 made or a building erected, the only inhabitants being the hunters, 

 woodmen, Indians and half-breeds. At several points, however, notably 

 Duluth, Chaquamegon Bay, the Keweenaw Peninsula, and Marquette, 

 towns of considerable size have sprung up, these marking the lake 

 termini of railroads, and having important business interests. 



Duluth, for many years a mere village, has recently developed unusual 

 activity, and in 1885 had a population of 18,000, with four different lines 

 of railroad. This seems destined to be the largest city on the lake, and 

 its favorable location at the extreme western end as well as its excellent 

 railroad and harbor facilities, will probably enable it in the near future 

 to control the trade of the adjacent States and Territories of the North- 

 west. For this reason its relation to the development of the fisheries 

 at the western end of the lake is important and intimate. 



Bayfield and Ashland, 65 miles east of Duluth, in the vicinity of the 

 Apostle Islands, while places of only a few hundred inhabitants, are 

 developing new energy, and, with the aid of the railroads, are en- 

 deavoring to build up large commercial interests. Ontonagon, the 

 capital of a county of the same name, situated 75 miles farther 

 east, has extensive lumber interests, though at present it is dependent 

 wholly upon shipments by the lake steamers, and during the winter 

 months, when navigation is closed, the business is necessarily inter- 

 rupted. The Keweenaw Peninsula is thus far the only region hav- 

 ing an extensive population. The rich iron and copper mines have 

 for years offered inducements to settlers, and the entire peninsula is 

 now dotted with mines worked to a greater or less extent. Farther 

 east the only settlement of note is Marquette, a city of growing impor-1 

 tance, which serves as an outlet for the rich iron mines lying a few miles t 

 to the southward. 



General sketch of the fisheries. — Owing to the character of the coast 

 the agricultural interests are now wholly undeveloped, and it is doubt- 

 ful whether they will ever become important. Most of the business is 

 confined to lumbering, mining, and fishing, and the products of these 

 industries are conveyed to eastern markets by a fleet of several hundred 

 steamers, barges, and sailing craft. The fisheries began in a small way 

 with the earliest settlement of the country, but owing to the scattered 

 population and the distance from the markets it was many years before 

 they had grown to be of commercial importance. At first they were 

 prosecuted wholly by the Indians and half-breeds of the region, to fur- 

 nish food for themselves and their families, and it is only within the last 

 fifteen years that extensive operations have been carried on by pro- 



