FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 165 



chiefly because strong* gales from the northeast injured or destroyed the 

 nets, the waves frequently driving them upon the beach. 



At first the pounds were set in March, but now the 1st of May is the 

 opening of the season. They are left in until the middle or latter part 

 of September, unless they are sooner injured by gales. 



The nets in 1885 were set along the beach north of Waukegan for a 

 distance of 7 miles in 18 to 26 feet of water, eight being, arranged in 

 pairs and five set singly. The leader is from 660 to 990 feet in length, 

 and begins in water about 8 feet in depth ; the mesh is 8 inches. The 

 heart is made of netting with a 5-inch mesh, and approaches to within 

 10 feet .of either side of the end of the leader. It is continued forward 

 to form the tunnel, which extends into the pot a distance of 15 feet and 

 has a 10-foot entrance and a 2-foot exit. The pot is located 30 feet be- 

 yond the end of the leader, is rectangular in shape, stretches 12 feet 

 either side of the entrance of the tunnel, and has sides 30 feet long. 

 When complete with stakes the nets cost $500 each. If patched they 

 last three years. 



The stakes used in the construction of the nets are from 28 to 35 feet 

 long, 6 or 7 inches in diameter at the base, and 3 inches in diameter at 

 the top. They are made of white or "bur" oak, and are cut by the 

 fishermen in the woods near Waukegan. If cut when the sap is in the 

 tree, the stakes last only from three to five years, but if cut in Novem- 

 ber they can be used for six or eight years. Each stake is worth $2. 

 The stakes are driven into the bottom to the depth of 5 or 6 feet; it 

 costs $25 to put down the stakes for each pound. The apparatus used 

 for driving the stakes is 18 feet high, with uprights 10 inches apart, 

 between which the hammer (weighing 110 pounds) plays. It is lashed 

 upon two small boats which serve for its support when it is in operation. 



The species taken in the pound- nets at Waukegan are whitefish, 

 trout, sturgeon, herring, suckers, perch, and lawyers ; none of them are 

 abundant except the first named. In 1884 the total catch was 72,000 

 pounds, valued at $3,000. The yield in 1885 was less, the diminution 

 being chiefly due to the influence of the winds, which have a marked 

 effect on the abundance of fish in this section. If southerly winds pre- 

 vail fishing is good, but if there is a continuance of northerly winds 

 the fish move over to the Michigan shore, and are correspondingly 

 scarce on the west side. 



The catch in 1885 amounted to 44,900 pounds, of which 35,000 pounds 

 were whitefish and 4,000 pounds trout. Seven thousand five hundred 

 pounds of whitefish were smoked, yielding 5,000 pounds of the smoked 

 article. All the other fish were sold fresh locally or shipped to Chicago, 

 ^he value of the catch was $1,980. 



Preparing the fish for market, — W T hen the catch is landed it is taken 

 to the fish-houses to be prepared for sale and shipment. The buildings 

 are small frame structures, each provided with ice chest, scales, bins, 

 Iressing table, washing trough, offal trough, etc. They often have a 



