226 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP' FISH AND FISHERIES. 



which places have one crew each, and at Sand Beach and Port Sanilac, 

 where there are two and three crews, respectively. — 



Only nine pound-nets were fished in 1885. Four of these were owned 

 and operated at Forester, where they were introduced in 1883; one 

 was set at Lexington, and four, owned by Detroit parties, were located 

 on the shore south of Lake Port. 



The gill-nets now used are from 130 to 580 feet long and 5 feet deep. 

 The largest are at Grindstone and Sand Beach. 



At Port Sanilac the season is from the middle of April to the middle 

 of September; the crew at Grindstone City fishes in the spring and fall, 

 laying up for a while in the summer, and that at Forester carries on 

 its operations only in winter. The pound-nets are from 16 to 30 feet 

 deep, and are fished in spring and fall. 



Theproducts. — The catch consists principally of trout, except in the 

 vicinity of Forester, where the whitefish is still the most abundant 

 species. Prior to 1875 all were salted; but at that date the practice 

 came into vogue of shipping in a fresh condition. 



Statistics. — The total number of men employed in the fisheries along 

 this coast in 1885 was 34; boats, 19, valued at $2,085; pound-nets, 9, 

 valued at $3,300; and gill-nets, 615, valued at $4,318. The minor ap- 

 paratus and accessories had a value of $830 and the shore property of 

 $1,175. The products in the same year amounted to 188,070 pounds of 

 trout, 50,500 pounds of herring, 17,700 pounds of whitefish, 7,200 pounds 

 of sturgeon, 6,900 pounds of pike and pickerel, and 600 pounds of minor 

 species, the total catch being 270,970 pounds, valued at $8,803. Of the 

 Jierring, 20,000 pounds were salted, but all the other fish were sold 

 fresh. 



