FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 205 



V.— THE FISHERIES OF LAKE HURON. 

 72. GENERAL REVIEW. 



Physical characteristics. — Lake Huron lies to the east of the southern 

 peninsula of Michigan, and separates that State from Canada. The 

 general contour of the lake is crescentic, and its greatest length, follow- 

 ing the curvatures, is 280 miles. The average breadth is 70 miles, al- 

 though it is 105 miles wide at the broadest part. The depth of this 

 lake is greater than that of any other, averaging 1,000 feet. The deep- 

 est portion is off Saginaw Bay, where soundings 1,800 feet deep have 

 been made without reaching the bottom. The waters are remarkable 

 for their purity and sweetness, and for their clearness, which is particu- 

 larly noticeable in the northwestern portion. Three thousand islands 

 of considerable size break the surface, these being largest and most 

 numerous along the north shore. 



The American shores of the lake extend from Druminond's Island, 

 in the upper peninsula of Michigan, to Point St. Ignace, thence south- 

 ward, on the opposite side of the straits, from Mackinaw City to Port 

 Huron, a distance of about 400 miles. Saginaw Bay is the only inden- 

 tation of large proportions, although Thunder Bay, in Alpena County, 

 deserves mention. 



Population. — Along the north shore there are no settlements of note, 

 and, with the exception of Cheboygan and Alpena, there are none in 

 the northern half of the lower peninsula. Bay City, at the head of 

 Saginaw Bay, is the only place of importance between Alpena and Port 

 Huron, at the head of the St. Clair River. 



The shore line of the northern peninsula is very irregular, and dotted 

 with small islands. There is almost no resident population, although 

 fishermen from other localities make their headquarters there during 

 portions of the year. The more northern parts of the southern penin- 

 sula contain only a sparse population, largely dependent on the lumber- 

 ing interests. Railroads do not follow the shore, and the only method 

 of transportation is by means of the lake steamers which touch regu- 

 larly at the principal points. 



Alpena, it is said, is now the largest city in the United States with- 

 out railroad communication. Proceeding southward towards Saginaw 

 Bay the railroad facilities improve, but the lumber interests predomi- 

 nate ; while still further south the agricultural occupations gradually 

 become more extensive, and railroads touch at all the chief shore set- 

 tlements. 



