114 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



sled is about 2 feet wide and 5 feet long, with oak runners 5 or 6 inches 

 wide and 2 or 3 inches thick, shod with iron. It is surmounted by a 

 box, and when a large quantity of fish has been obtained, additional 

 boards are placed so as to project at the sides and increase the carrying 

 capacity of the vehicle. In most cases the sled has a mast and sail, by 

 which it can be transformed into an ice-boat when the wind is favorable. 



The nets are lifted twice a day, and the fish, as they are removed 

 from the meshes, are thrown upon the ice, where they are frozen 

 solid in a very few minutes. They are almost entirely herring, 

 with only occasionally a perch or trout. Great care is taken to protect 

 them from the gulls, which are always on the alert to provide them- 

 selves with a meal at the fishermen's expense. If, while the fish are 

 lying on the ice, a line, or a row of sticks, is placed around them, the 

 birds do not dare to approach. Towards spring the fish are often 

 shipped without being frozen. In that case they are packed in snow to 

 keep them from being touched by the frost while in transit. 



As many as 450 or 500 pounds have been taken at one lift, but that 

 is an exceptional case. The most successful fisherman in the wiuter of 

 1883-'84 obtained $400 worth, from sixteen nets, selling his fish at 3 

 cents per pound. The average quantity of herring per man marketed 

 in the season of 1884-85 was about 4 tons, and the price received did 

 not average over If cents a pound. The herring weighed only a third of 

 a pound apiece. On account of the decreased demand and fall in prices, 

 caused by the freezing of a great many spoiled herring in the fall of 

 1884, a considerable part of the catch was left on the ice and devoured 

 by the gulls. One of the Menominee dealers sometimes comes in a 

 wagon to buy the fish, but they are usually brought in by the fishermen 

 on their sleds and sold to the firm at Menekaunee. When the prices 

 are very low a good many of the fishermen peddle their catch arouud 

 the town. 



"Bobbing" through the ice. — Thirty years ago a considerable portion 

 of the inhabitants of this and surrounding regions made a practice of 

 trout-fishing through the ice every winter, with hook and line. Twen- 

 ty-five years ago the number engaged in this fishery was still large. 

 At that time it was customary to spend the winter on the fishing-ground. 

 Three or four men usually lived in a shanty about 12 feet long and 10 

 feet wide set on runners. The shanties were built on shore and hauled 

 out by teams hired for the purpose to the place selected for the season's 

 quarters, which was usually 5 or 6 miles from the shore and over water 

 16 or 18 fathoms deep. It was not uncommon for twelve or fifteen of 

 these shanties to be seen in one group. Two herring-nets were usually 

 owned by the crew of the shanty, and were set for herring to be used 

 as bait upon the hand-lines. Six or seven baits may be obtained from 

 one herring. The fins and tails were used with the rest, and frequently 

 the heads also. Sometimes the trout bite the heads better than any 

 other part of the herring, but at other times the fisherman has to sub- 



