FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 195 



Gill-net fishery. — This is largely conducted by Indians, who have ten 

 to fifteen nets each and fish along the shore. These are joined in the 

 fall by farmers, who fish for about six weeks or two months when the 

 trout are spawning. There are five crews along the north shore of the 

 bay between Harbor Springs and Appleton, one at Harbor Springs and 

 three along the south shore between Petoskey and Burgess. These 

 crews number two men each, the average catch amounting to about 

 4,000 pounds to a boat. The boats are smaller than those farther north, 

 and have an average value of only $50 each. Prior to 1883 a larger 

 number of people were engaged in gill-netting; but a very severe storm 

 in the fall of that year carried away a majority of the nets then in the 

 water, aud many fishermen have not been able to replace them. Until 

 recently net-fishing through the ice has not been attempted, but in the 

 winter of 1884-'85 parties from Harbor Springs fished regularly for 

 eight weeks with fifteen nets and caught whitefish and trout of the 

 value of $400. 



Pound-net fishery. — Little Traverse Bay has the deepest pound- 

 nets to be found along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. The first 

 one was set in the vicinity of Harbor Springs in 1879, but was not very 

 successful. It was at first 103 feet deep, but it has since been cut down 

 to 87 feet. Another of the same depth, a third of 85 feet, and two 

 others each 80 feet deep have also been constructed. In 1884 seven 

 nets were set here by residents of Harbor Springs and four addi- 

 tional by Petoskey fishermen. In 1885 thirteen nets were used, nine 

 of them belonging to Harbor Springs fishermen. Six were set on the 

 south shore in the vicinity of the hamlet of Carpenter, and the other 

 seven near Harbor Springs on the north shore. The fishing season 

 begins early in May and continues till the middle or last of November. 

 The catch is three-fifths whitefish and the remainder trout. Ten per 

 cent, of the whitefish taken at Harbor Springs were black-fins. Almost 

 the entire catch is sold fresh to the Petoskey dealers or to the hotels at 

 Petoskey and Harbor Springs. 



Ice and other fishing. — From twenty to thirty huts are owned in the 

 locality, and during the winter months these are moved about from 

 place to place on the ice. Their owners, who are mostly Indians and 

 half-breeds, do not fish with much regularity. Many of them spear 

 only enough fish for their own use, while others get small quantities, 

 which they sell to the residents of the villages. According to those 

 best informed it is estimated that not more than 15,000 pounds were 

 taken during the entire winter of 1884-'85, these being almost exclusively 

 trout. No seines are at present fished in the locality, and set-lines 

 are now seldom, if ever, used. 



Preparation and trade. — One man at Harbor Springs buys and smokes 

 a few small whitefish, caught in the pound-nets, supplying the local trade 

 and shipping small lots to the interior of the State. This business is very 

 limited, hardly exceeding a ton for the entire year. At Petoskey per- 



