130 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



to 3J feet in diameter and a 3-inch mesh. They are set close to the 

 shore, the stakes being driven in 6 feet of water. The catch in 1885 

 consisted of 24,900 pounds of perch, whitefish, suckers, bass, catfish, 

 and pike, valued at $630. 



Rand-line fishery. — A number of men fish occasionally through the 

 ice, with hook and line, for herring, to amuse themselves or make a 

 little money, and some of the gill-net fishermen use herring-lines to 

 slightly increase their catch, but the fishery is altogether insignificant, 

 and not more than 1,000 pounds are caught in a season. 



44. STURGEON BAY AND CANAL, DOOR COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



Geography of the section. — Sturgeon Bay is an arm of Green Bay, 

 which extends deeply into Green Bay Peninsula about midway of its 

 length. It is an excellent harbor and is the site of the flourishing vil- 

 lage of Sturgeon Bay, with a population of 1,800. Directly opposite 

 Sturgeon Bay, and communicating with it by a steam ferry, is the much 

 smaller village of Sawyer, locally known as Bay View. 



Character of the fisheries. — Though Sturgeon Bay has been settled for 

 over a quarter of a century, there were no fisheries of importance prior 

 to 1882, except under the ice in winter ; but the cutting of a short canal 

 from the head of Sturgeon Bay to the open waters of Lake Michigan 

 admitted new currents which caused a wonderful increase in the quan- 

 tity of fish, and gave rise to important summer fisheries in the waters 

 which they affected. To this cause the extensive pound-net fishery 

 near the mouth of the bay owes its existence; but the bay itself con- 

 tains only eight nets, including those on its terminal headlands, though 

 two other nets situated in Lake Michigan just outside the caual, and 

 owned by persons living on the canal, are included here in the statis- 

 tics. The gill-net fisheries of the bay are more extensive ; in addition 

 to a number of sail- boats there was a steamer fishing in 3884, and a 

 second was added in 1885. Pound-nets and gill nets are the only ap- 

 paratus used to any noticeable extent. 



Trade. — Since 1882 therehavebeeu two firms at Sturgeon Bay engaged 

 in buying fish from the fishermen of the surrounding region, one of whom 

 also deals extensively in fish at Green Bay City. 



Both of these parties buy fresh fish principally ; one ships largely 

 to the West, especially to St. Louis, St. Joseph, and Kansas City, Mo.; 

 Leavenworth, Kaus., and Denver, Colo.; while the other disposes of all 

 his fish in Chicago and Milwaukee. 



These dealers do not control the entire trade of the locality, for a good 

 many pounds of fish are sold annually to Green Bay, Menominee, and 

 Ahnapee parties. Sturgeon Bay has a freezing establishment, with a 

 capacity for 85 tons of fish. This employs six men and in the seasou 

 of 1884-'85 froze 30 tons of whitefish, 30 tons of trout, 5 tons of herring, 

 and a few dories. In 1884 the freezing began November 1 and frozen 

 fish were on hand from that time until April 15. In 1885 the season 



