FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 159 



53. RACINE, RACINE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



Relative importance of the fisheries. — The fisheries of Racine County 

 are centered in Racine, a city of 18,000 or 20,000 people, situated on a 

 small river 20 miles south of Milwaukee. The inhabitants of the place 

 are extensively engaged in manufacturing of various kinds, the ex- 

 cellent harbor and two railroads affording good shipping facilities. 

 Fishing has never been a leading industry of the city, although from 

 the earliest times fish have been taken in small quantities for market 

 or for home consumption. 



History and present condition of the fisheries. — The only fisheries which 

 were of commercial importance in 1885 were prosecuted exclusively with 

 gill-nets and set-lines. Pound-nets have formerly been employed, but 

 neverin great numbers. Twenty years ago a small pound wassetnear the 

 mouth of the river r but its use was discontinued after two years, and no 

 other similar apparatus was used till 1878, when another net was set in 

 tbe same place and operated for several seasons ; since that time none 

 have been employed. The catch of the pounds consisted largely of 

 perch, suckers, and herring, whitefish failing to approach near enough 

 to the shore to enter the nets. Oapt. Peter Marks, who has fished con- 

 tinuously at this point since 1866, states that at that time small seines 

 were hauled on the beach and that there was one crew fishing with gill- 

 nets from a sail-boat. In 1868, a steamer owned elsewhere was char- 

 tered by Racine fishermen and fitted out with gill-nets for whitefish and 

 trout, the work continuing but one season. From that time till 1880 no 

 steamers were employed, the fishermen depending wholly upon sail- 

 boats. 



During the winter of 1880-'81, however, a steamer which had been 

 employed at other seasons in towing, fished with set-lines and continued 

 in the business the next winter. In the fall of 1884 the fishing steamer 

 Albatross, 14.79 tons, was purchased by Racine fishermen, and in the 

 spring of 1885 the steamer George B. West, 11.42 tons, was built for 

 fishing from this locality. 



Species.— The species occurring at Racine are trout, sturgeon, white- 

 fish, ciscoes (used for bait), and minor fish. Fully 80 per cent, of the 

 catch is trout. Sturgeon and whitefish, which are now very scarce, 

 were formerly taken in considerable quantities, and there was a special 

 fishery for the former species, which occurred in large numbers. 



Statistics. — Twenty-five men, in the capacity of fishermen and shores- 

 men, were engaged at Racine in 1885. They employed steamers and 

 boats valued at $8,205, gill-nets worth $4,043, set-lines and minor ap- 

 paratus of capture valued at $600, and $5,000 invested in wharves and 

 buildings, $1,200 in accessories and fixtures, and $400 cash capital. 

 The total amount invested in the fisheries was $19,448. 



The catch in 1885 was 201,900 pounds, valued at $9,710 ; the yield 

 in the previous year amounted to 106,000 pounds which sold for $5,030. 



