FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 41 



18. MINNESOTA SHORE NORTHEAST OF DULUTH, AND ISLE ROYALE (COOK 

 AND PART OF ST. LOUIS COUNTIES). 



Fishing centers. — The only places along the main shore, stretching 

 about a hundred and fifty miles northeast of Duluth, from which fishing 

 is carried on are Horseshoe Bay and Grand Marais. 



Horseshoe Bay. — This is a good harbor, where fishermen from Duluth 

 occasionally locate and build rude shanties during the fishing season. 

 There is no settlement, and the fish are taken away by the Duluth 

 steamers that run in solely for the purpose of purchasing the catch and 

 supplying the fishermen with provisions. 



Grand Marais. — Grand Marais, the county seat of Cook County, is a 

 small lake village containing three or four families of whites, and from 

 twelve to fifteen families of half-breeds and Indians. There is one store, 

 the proprietor of which trades with the Indians and provides them with 

 small nets, in which they catch fish for their own use, and occasionally 

 a few pounds for sale. He also buys the catch of one or two gill-net 

 crews from Duluth that remain here for a few months to fish, and 

 sells them to the Duluth steamers that come regularly to purchase. 

 In 1884 he handled 25 tons of fish, but in 1885 the business was greatly 

 reduced, the total for the year not exceeding 5 tons, all of which went 

 to Duluth, and are included in the statistics of that city. 



Description and history of Isle Royale. — This island is 50 miles long 

 by 15 to 20 miles wide. It is situated 150 miles northeast of Duluth and 

 40 miles northwest of Keweenaw Point. Eight or ten years ago it had 

 extensive mining interests, and a village named Minong contained 

 fifteen to twenty families in addition to the miners. Since that time 

 the mining has been wholly discontinued and one after another the 

 miners have moved from the island, the last one leaving in the fall of 

 1883. The island is quite rocky, and in some places is heavily wooded 

 with small trees. Its waters abound in fish of unusual size, whitefish 

 of 15 to 18 pounds weight being, according to Mr. La Vaque, of Duluth, 

 not uncommon, while those of even larger size are occasionally caught. 

 The trout also are very large, averaging 15 or 20 pounds in weight. 



History of Isle Royale fisheries. — The numerous excellent harbors 

 make it a favorite resort for fishermen, and for quite a number of years 

 those from Houghton, Bayfield, and Duluth have fished along its shores. 

 They usually provide themselves with gill-nets and camp on the Island 

 during the fishing season. Formerly they salted their catch and brought 

 it back with them at the close of the season. In 1883 there were 

 no less than sixty crews, forty of which were from Bayfield alone, and 

 in 1884 there were about two-thirds as many, but as the fishing was 

 poor in that year there were very few in 1885. For ten years pound-nets 

 owned by fishermen of the south shore have been set in these waters, 

 aud as early as 1878 three from Houghton were fished with excellent 

 success. In 1883 three pound-nets were set there by Duluth fishermen. 



