FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 191 



The pound-net fish are trout, whitefish, and herring, with a few stur- 

 geon. In the spring, about four-fifths of the catch are whitefish, the 

 remainder being one-fifth trout and four-fifths herring. In the fall, 

 from October 15 to November 25, nine-tenths of the yield are trout and 

 one- tenth whitefish ; after November 25, about 95 per cent, are white- 

 fish. Two-thirds of the total catch are taken in the fall. 



The capital invested in this fishery in boats was $280 ; in nets, $2,500, 

 and iu shore property and accessories, $700. The output in 1885 was 

 64,000 pounds, of which 32,000 pounds were whitefish, 24,000 pounds 

 trout, 4,000 pounds herring, and 4,000 pounds sturgeon. Four thou- 

 sand pounds of the trout and 2,000 pounds of the whitefish were salted. 

 The catch was valued at $2,310, 



Spear fishing. — This is engaged in by sixteen men during the period 

 of ice formation. The extent and value of the ice fisherman's outfit' is 

 about as follows : 



Shed .. $12.00 



Sled 3.00 



Stove 4.00 



Spear 5.00 



Dip-net 1.50 



Ice-chisel, or " spud " 2. 00 



Decoy fish 1.00 



The sheds are 4 feet wide, 6 feet long, and 6 feet high, made of 1J- 

 inch lumber. They are provided with stoves and bunks, and are drawn 

 to the fishing grounds on sleds. Holes are made in the ice with the 

 " spud ; " and these are kept clear of slush with the dip-net, and the 

 decoy fish is lowered in the water. This done, the fisherman is ready 

 for work. The spears used are 7 feet in length, the distal half being 

 of iron into which a wooden handle fits. The spear has five prongs 8 

 inches long arranged in a line 7 inches in length. When the spear is 

 launched at a fish, a line attached to the end enables its withdrawal 

 from the water. 



This fishery is fairly productive, the average catch to a man being 

 400 pounds of trout weekly during a fishing season of six weeks, aud 

 the total catch amounting to 38,500 pounds, valued at $1,550. 



Other fisheries. — These consist only in a little fyke-netting and sein- 

 ing during a portion of the year. Five fykes, fished in the spring, were 

 valued at $165 and caught 15,000 pounds of blackfins, herring, and 

 perch in 1885. Two seines were fished on the shore between GilPs Pier 

 and Northport, the fish caught being suckers, which, were salted to the 

 number of 300 packages, worth $600, in 1885. 



67. CHARLEVOIX, CHARLEVOIX COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Population of town. — Charlevoix is a town of about 1,500 people, sit- 

 uated at the western end of Pine Lake, a large body of water extending 

 far inland from Lake Michigan. In 1858 but four families lived in the 



