78 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



cowet or deep-water variety of the trout occurs throughout the north- 

 ern portion of the lake, and especially between the Manitou and Beaver 

 Islands. In some places fully half of the trout taken are of this kind. 

 Messrs. Jordan & Gilbert, in their Synopsis of the Fishes of North 

 America, published in 1882, stated (page 318) that the siscowet was 

 then abundant in Lake Superior, but not yet found elsewhere. w 



In localities convenient to a market the fishermen realize nearly as 

 much per pound for their sturgeon as for any other species; but in 

 places more remote, especially in the northern end of the lake, many 

 of the sturgeon are thrown away, owing to the difficulty which the 

 fishermen experience in disposing of them. 



Fishing seasoyx. — The fishing begins early in May and continues with 

 slight interruptions until late in November, though in most localities 

 the operations are less extensive in midsummer. A few of the fisher- 

 men, as already mentioned, engage in the winter ice fishery, but this 

 is not followed regularly, except in Green Bay. 



Markets. — Chicago practically controls the entire catch of Lake Mich- 

 igan, and tjie leading dealers have arrangements with lake steamers or 

 railroads whereby the catch is forwarded with all possible dispatch. 

 One firm has built two steamers which are employed regularly in col- 

 lecting and marketing the fish. These are among the swiftest vessels 

 on the lake, and are kept constantly busy during the fishing season. 

 Fully three-quarters of the entire catch is marketed fresh, as, owing 

 to the lower prices of salt fish, no fisherman will salt his catch when he 

 can make other disposition of it ; and it is only at remote stations that 

 any considerable percentage of the catch is salted. 



Freezing of fish. — At Escanaba, Fairport, Sturgeon Bay, Petoskey, 

 and Traverse City, all situated at the northern end of the lake, re- 

 frigerators have been built for freezing and retaining any surplus of 

 fish caught during summer until winter, when the demand for them 

 at a higher price warrants their shipment. The largest freezing estab- 

 lishment is at Escanaba, which takes the surplus catch from Bay do 

 Noquet and the leading fisheries along the north shore, including occa. 

 sional quantities from the Beaver Islands. 



Smoking of fish. — The smoking of fish by fishermen is less extensive 

 now than formerly, when in many localities a considerable percentage 

 of small fish was smoked and packed in boxes for shipment. A few 

 fishermen still continue this practice, but the smoked -fish trade is in 

 large part supplied by persons located at the principal markets, who 

 buy at a low figure any surplus fish which the trade find difficulty in 

 handling, and cart them off to be smoked and packed in boxes for 

 distribution to the retail trade and to peddlers. Sturgeon is the favorite 

 species for smoking, though small whitefish, herring, and even trout 

 are used. 



Prices. — The price varies considerably with the season and with the 

 difficulties and cost of transportation. In the more remote regions the 



