FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 20 



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The catch is composed largely of whitefish, with a few trout in May 

 and October and a small number of sturgeon in the fall. Formerly, 

 three or four men constituted a crew for fishing a gang of pound-nets, 

 but now the number never exceeds three, and frequently the work is 

 performed by two, in order to reduce the running expenses. 



The Lake Ontario trap has been tried here on two occasions, and the 

 fishermen are of the opinion that it might be introduced into the fish- 

 eries with good results, but those using them in the past have not 

 given them a fair trial. 



Seines. — Seines have been owned and operated here for over thirty 

 years. They were at one time used along the outer beach for white- 

 fish and herring, but none have been fished for these species since 1875. 

 The four employed in 1885 were operated in St. James 7 Harbor in spring 

 exclusively for suckers, of which about 200 half-barrels were secured. 



Rand-lines. — u Bobbing" is occasionally practised by the residents of 

 the islands, though usually only for pleasure or to supply the tables of 

 the fishermen with fresh fish. It is hence of little commercial impor- 

 tance. 



Set-lines. — Set-lines have been fished from time to time with fair suc- 

 cess, and one or two fishermen have used them exclusively, in connec- 

 tion with herring-nets which supply the bait. Some years ago it was 

 customary for the gill-net fishermen to use set-lines in the intervals of 

 their other fishing. No set-lines were used on the islands in 1885. 



Fylce-nets, trammel-nets, and spears. — The Indians have for some years 

 been engaged in the capture of sturgeon with spears 25 or 30 feet long, 

 having detachable points. They paddle about in the smooth water in 

 the vicinity of the islands watching for sturgeon, which usually lie 

 motionless on the bottom. When one is seen the spear is lowered in 

 the* water, its position being clearly marked by a white quill which 

 shows plainly at a depth of 30 feet. When near the sturgeon the spear 

 is quickly plunged into its flesh, the handle becomes detached, and the 

 fisherman seizes the line fastened to the iron and plays the fish until it 

 becomes exhausted, when he draws it to the surface, kills it, and pulls 

 it into the canoe. One or two Indians were making good wages by 

 spearing sturgeon in the summer of 1885, and seven fish, averaging G5 

 pounds, dressed, were brought in by an Indian as the result of one 

 day's labor. All caught in this way were formerly dried or smoked 

 for home use, but they are now sold to the fresh-fish buyers. 



No fykes or trammel-nets have ever been fished about the islands. 



Dependent industries and secondary products. — Caviare and isinglass 

 have never been prepared by the Beaver Island fishermen. Many fish- 

 ermen try out the refuse fish and the waste products when dressing 

 their fish for salting, and secure considerable quantities of oil. In 1884 

 between 50 and GO barrels of oil were produced, and the following 

 season the quantity was considerably greater. 



