FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 189 



months, and are found plentiful in 15 to 30 fathoms on mud and clay 

 bottoms. 



The whitefish taken in pounds in the spring average 2 pouuds each, 

 and the trout 6 pounds. In the fall the whitefish average If pounds, 

 and the trout 8 to 10. Blackfins are taken weighing 4 pounds, but 

 they average less. 



Preparation of products. — About four-ninths of the total catch is 

 salted; trout, whitefish, blackfins, and suckers, being the species so 

 utilized. Twelve thousand pounds of trout and blackfins were smoked 

 by two men at Traverse City and Northport and sold for 7 cents a 

 pound. The canning of Whitefish and trout was begun at Northport 

 in 1883. A practical canner was employed and many fish were put up 

 that year. There was difficulty in disposing of the products, however, 

 and in 1884 nothing was done. In the fall of that year the works passed » 

 into other hands and were devoted to fruit canning in 1885. 



Trade. — The only market for fish in this region is at Traverse City, 

 where four men were employed in 1885, who handled 159,500 pounds 

 of fish, of which 110,000 pounds were whitefish, 28,000 pounds trout, 

 20,000 pounds blackfins, 1,000 pounds herring, and 500 pounds stur- 

 geon. Four thousand pounds of blackfins and 1,000 pounds of trout 

 were salted before shipment, and 4,000 pounds of whitefish were frozen. 

 The amount invested in the business in 1885 was $5,300. 



Statistical summary. — A total of 193 men were employed in the fish- 

 eries of this section in 1885, of whom 136 were professionals, 5 semi- 

 professionals, aud 6 shoresmen and preparators. The total capital 

 invested was $29,924, of which $5,310 represented boats, $14,608 ap- 

 paratus of capture, and $10,006 shore property, accessories, and cash 

 capital. 



The aggregate catch was 935,400 pounds, valued at $32,757. Of this 

 amount 523,400 pounds, valued at $16,517, were sold fresh; 400,000 

 pounds, valued at $15,400, were salted ; and 12,000 pounds, valued at 

 $840, were smoked. The fresh fish included 272,000 pounds of whitefish, 

 223,400 pounds of trout, 9,000 pounds of herring, 4,000 pounds of stur- 

 geon, and 5,000 pounds of mixed fish. The salt fish consisted of 192,000 

 pounds of whitefish, 178,000 pounds of trout, and 30,000 pounds of 

 suckers. Equal quantities of trout and whitefish were smoked. 



Gill-net fishery. — The nets employed average 240 feet in length 

 and vary in depth from 14 to 25 meshes. The size of the mesh de- 

 peuds on the species taken, the blackfin net being 3J inches and the 

 trout and whitefish 4 inches. Four-fifths of the nets are of the float- 

 and-stone variety, costing $5.50 each, while only one-fifth are rigged 

 with cork and lead, and cost $7 each. 



Gill-nets are very extensively operated in Grand Traverse Bay and 

 on the lake side of the peninsula north of Leland. The localities from 

 which the principal fishing is done are Old Mission, Traverse City, Sut- 

 ton's Bay and vicinity, Omena, Cat Head, Carrying Point, the light- 



