FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 209 



73. THE NORTH SHORE (MACKINAC AND CHIPPEWA COUNTIES, MICHI- 

 GAN). 



Geographical description. — That portion of the State of Michigan border- 

 ing upon the north side of Lake Huron, and constituting the so called 

 " North Shore," is about GO miles in length, and extends from St.Ignace 

 to False Detour Passage. The shore, which is for the most part rocky, 

 is much indented with small bays and coves, and fringed with rocky 

 islands. St. Martin's Bay, which lies northeast of St. Ignace, is the 

 largest body of water in the section. In it are two islands of consider- 

 able size known as Isle St. Martin and Groslsle St. Martin; while farther 

 east is the larger islaud of Marquette ; and finally, largest of all, Druin- 

 moud Island, forming the eastern boundary of American territory. 

 Opposite St. Ignace, in the Straits of Mackinac, are Mackinac and 

 Bois Blanc Islands, the former being a well-populated locality from 

 which much of the fishing along the north shore is carried on, and the 

 latter a low, marshy island, but sparsely settled and of little commercial 

 importance. 



St. Ignace and its fisheries. — In addition to Mackinac Island, the only 

 fishing center in this section is St. Ignace, a small community on the 

 northeastern side of the Straits of Mackinac. It is a railroad and ship- 

 ping center of some importance, and has direct steam-boat and railroad 

 connections with the principal cities to the south, including Chicago, 

 Milwaukee, Cleveland, Detroit, etc. Nearly one- third of the population 

 is more or less dependent on the fishing industry. 



The fishing-grounds frequented by the fishermen of St. Ignace lie to 

 the northeast of the town in St. Martin's Bay, where nine pound-nets 

 were operated in 1SS5 between the months of May and October. The 

 nets were set in from 15 to 45 feet of water, and were fished by nine men, 

 most of whom were French Canadians and Indians. The catch, which 

 consisted chiefly of whitetish, amounted to 31,000 pounds, valued at 

 about $1,300. The pound-net fishery of St. Ignace is the only one of 

 commercial importance carried on there. About fifty men engage ir- 

 regularly in ice fishing during a portion of each year, but their catch 

 is small, amounting to only a few thousand pounds. 



Maclcinac Island. — Mackinac Island was settled about 1800, and now 

 has a population of 500. Its importance is chiefly due to the fisheries 

 ;euteriug there, and also to the fact that it has become a favorite sum- 



ler resort. Notwithstanding the bold and rocky character of the 

 shores, the harbor is an admirable one, affording good shelter for ship- 

 ping. It has ample steam-boat facilities. No fishing is done in the 

 immediate vicinity of the island, the fishing-grounds being along the 

 north shore from St. Martin's Bay to Drummoud Islaud. 



Gill-net fishery. — Gill-nets were fished to the number of five hundred 

 and ten in 1885. They varied in length from 360 feet to 600 feet, were 5 or 

 5i feet deep, and cost $10 each. Gill- nets were introduced on the island 

 H. Mis. 133= 14 



