210 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



about 1840, at which time the fishery was carried on exclusively by 

 Canadian French and Indians, who used board floats about 2J feet 

 square and stone sinkers. About 1860 cork-and-lead-rigged nets were 

 brought to the island and the old method was abandoned. In the same 

 year the first fishing steamer of this section was built. The size of the 

 mesh was then the same as it is at the present time, namely, 4 to 5J 

 inches. In the earlier times, however, heavier twine was used, No. 30 

 being the kind in most demand, while now No. 50 is the size generally 

 employed. The twine was imported from Scotland and made into nets 

 by the women of the island. In the early history of the island, linen, 

 which was brought from Europe for clothing, was unraveled by the 

 women and made into primitive nets. 



Pound-net fishery — The first pound set in this region was brought from 

 Ohio about 18G0, and was located in the Straits of Mackinac, costing 

 when completed $1,500. Forty one nets, operated by Mackinac parties, 

 were fished along the north shore in 1885. Eight were set in St. Mar- 

 tin's Bay and vicinity and the others in stands of one to three between 

 Marquette Island and Detour Passage and on Drummond Island. The 

 fishing season for most of the nets was from May to October, although 

 some were put in as early as April 15 and not taken up till December 1. 

 September and October are the best months for fishing along this shore. 

 The nets were fished in Vater from 20 to 62 feet in depth, and required 

 the services of three to five men to each stand. The nets were valued 

 at from $300 to $100 each, and stocked about $125 each in 1885 on 

 wbitefish, trout, and pike, the first-named species being most numerous. 



Seines and spears. — Seines were introduced about 1840, but were not 

 a success, and were abandoned ; later attempts to make the use of 

 seines profitable have also failed. In the early history of the place the 

 Indians were largely dependent on their spears fo%their fish supply, and 

 that kind of apparatus was extensively used; of late years, however, 

 no spearing of fish has been done. 



Species. — Whitefish is the most abundant species taken in this region, 

 the quantity caught being more than that of all the other kinds combined. 

 Trout rank next in importance, closely followed by pike and pickerel. 

 Sturgeon are fairly numerous. Suckers and herring complete the list 

 of marketable species, neither being taken in any considerable quan- 

 tities. 



Prices. — The prices received by the fishermen for their catch vary 

 from one-half to 4J cents a pound, according to the species. Whitefish 

 command the highest prices, 3 to 3 J cents being the prevailing rates for 

 fresh fish. Trout, pike, and pickerel bring about 3 cents. Sturgeon are 

 sold at 75 cents apiece. Herring are worth 2^ cents, and suckers and 

 other minor varieties from one-half to 2 cents. Salt whitefish are sold 

 at 4 to 4J cents, salt trout at 3 cents, and salt suckers at one-half cent 

 ii pound. 



