FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 



Ill 



39. MARINETTE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



Importance of the fisheries. — That part of the shore of Green Bay which 

 extends from the Menominee Kiver to Green Bay City, at the head of 

 the bay, is one of the most important fishing centers of Lake Michigan. 

 It is flanked along its whole length by shoals of 5 to 18 feet iu depth, 

 which extend from 2 to 5 miles from the land and furnish an opportu- 

 nity for the setting of pound-nets in almost unlimited numbers. 



Rivers and settlements. — Besides numerous small streams, this region 

 is watered by the Peshtigo, Oconto, Pensaukee, Little Suamico-, Big 

 Suamico, Duck, and Fox Rivers. Marinette County iucludes only the 

 Menominee and Peshtigo. Peshtigo Point, just above the mouth of the 

 Peshtigo River, is continued into a narrow sand shoal reaching out 

 nearly 5 miles towards the mouth of Sturgeon Bay, which is directly 

 opposite. 



The town of Menekaunee, at the mouth of the Menominee River, is 

 the only place of importance on the bay shore, though Marinette, the 

 county seat, is not far distant, and Peshtigo River possesses a town of 

 the same name about 12 miles above its mouth. 



Character of fisheries. — The principal fisheries are with gill nets 

 through the ice for whiteflsh, trout, and herring, but the pound-net fish- 

 ing is also extensive, and there is some " bobbing" in winter. 



Trade. — The only dealer of note is at Menekaunee. He handles the 

 greater part of the products, both fresh and salt, of the section under 

 consideration, besides buying a good many fish from the fishermen of 

 other portions of Green Bay. Formerly he used a tug in collecting fish 

 during the summer months, but it was sold in 1884 and none has been 

 running during the present year. 



i he following table shows the extent of the fish trade of Menekau- 

 nee during the years 1884 and 1885 : 



Species. 



Whiteflsh .... 



Trout 



Pike 



Sturgeon 



Herring 



Black bass 



Bullheads 



Perch 



Suckers 



Total... 

 Value of same 



Fresh. 



Pounds. 



110, 000 



40, 000 



2,500 



7,500 



230, 000 



10, 000 



400, 000 

 $11, 642 



1884. 



Salt. 



Pounds. 

 150, 000 

 10, 000 

 2,000 



12, 000 



174, 000 



$7, 140 



Total. 



Pounds. 



260, 000 



50, 000 



4,500 



7,500 



242, 000 



10, 000 



574, 000 

 $18, 782 



1885. 



Fresh. 



Pounds. 



80, 530 



75, 920 



10, 036 



24, 296 



134, 381 



3,145 



1,427 



8,442 



5,561 



343, 738 

 $10, 192 



Salt. 



Pounds. 

 50, 000 

 15, 000 



40, 000 



105, 000 

 $3, 542 



Total. 



Pounds. 



130, 530 



90, 920 



10, 036 



24, 296 



174, 381 



3,145 



1,427 



8,442 



5,561 



448, 738 

 $13, 734 



Statistics. — The total number of persons employed in the fisheries of 

 Marinette County in 1885, including the dealer, was fifty-six, represent- 

 ing a dependent population of about 125. Nine gill-net boats, six 



