FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 75 



lated; but about once in six weeks to two months they find it desirable 

 to boil the nets. They usually have large wooden tanks expressly for 

 this purpose. These are filled with cold water and about five or six 

 bars of soap are added, after which the nets are immersed and the 

 steam-pipe from the bottom is connected with the boiler of the tug and 

 the nets allowed to boil for half an hour, after which they are taken 

 out and spread upon the reels to dry. 



Mode of oiling floats for gill nets. — Many of the older fishermen who 

 are accustomed to the float and stoue rig object to using the more mod- 

 ern lead and cork, claiming that they have great difficulty in keeping 

 the cork floats from water-logging and consequent sinking of the nets 

 to the bottom. These continue to use the cumbersome wooden floats 

 and stone sinkers, even though more labor is required in handling and 

 the crew cannot fish as many nets. Some fishermen, however, have 

 discarded the float and stone, and use exclusively the cork and lead. 

 The corks are turned out of cedar or poplar, and have a hole through 

 the center, like a bead, through which the seaming twine is passed 

 when the float is secured to the meter. Great care is required in oiling 

 these floats, and unless properly done trouble is constantly experienced 

 by their getting water-logged. 



The float to be properly oiled should be first thoroughly dried and 

 then immersed in cold linseed-oil (boiled) and allowed to remain for from 

 twenty-four to forty eight hours or until it has become thoroughly satu- 

 rated. It should then be dipped in hot linseed-oil containing about 5 

 pounds of rosin, a little japan, and a little bees- wax for each gallon of 

 oil. After being removed it should again be put in a dry place and 

 allowed to remain one or two mouths. This makes the float practically 

 impervious to water, as the first coat of oil has hardened in the interior 

 and the second forms a nearly water-proof coating on the outside. Some 

 give the floats a third bath before they are used, but most fishermen 

 consider two sufficient. Even with this protection a duplicate set of 

 corks is required to replace the others, which should be fished only 

 half of the season before being removed for the annual oiling, which 

 they should always receive. If the floats are used before the oil in the 

 interior has become thoroughly hardened the pressure of the water at 

 any considerable depth will drive all of the liquid oil out through the 

 pores of the wood, and the float will become heavy and fail to suspend 

 the net. Fully as serious a trouble experienced from water-logged 

 floats is that in warm weather the moisture from them is liable to rot 

 the nets when they are left boxed for any length of time. 



The blaclcfin fishery. — Most of the gill-net fishing is for trout and 

 whitefish. A fishery peculiar to this lake is that for the blackfin 

 variety of whitefish (Goregonus nigripinnis). Steamers and sail-boats 

 from Manistee and Ludington, and occasionally from Frankfort, en- 

 gage in the capture of blackfins for a greater or less period every year. 

 The fishing is in waterof from 60 to 80 fathoms. Some of the fishermen 



