FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 245 



first nets off Swan Creek were set in 1865. At present there are twelve 

 pound-nets at Poiute Mauillee, live just north, and three south of the 

 mouth of Swan Creek, fifty-six at Stony Point, twelve in a string about 

 5 miles farther south, thirty at the mouth of the Raisin River, thirteen 

 in a string at the mouth of Otter Creek, and sixty-seven just north of 

 the entrance of Maumee Bay. Besides these, four nets at West Sister 

 Island, owned in this section, are included in the statistics. 



The nets used are set in water from 12 to 35 feet deep. The leaders 

 are staked and start from 330 feet to 1,650 feet from the shore. The 

 mesh of the leaders is from 5 to 7 inches, of the hearts and funnels from 

 4 to 5 inches, and of the pots or cribs 1J inches at the sides and from 

 1£ to 4 inches on the bottom. While the mesh used in pots and funnels 

 is now of the same size as formerly or a little larger, that of the leader 

 and hearts has been increased in size, as the larger mesh is cheaper, 

 and, by offering less resistance to the currents, causes less strain upon 

 the stakes and lines, while it is claimed that it is just as effective in 

 guiding the fish into the crib. The twine for the nets comes from man- 

 ufacturers in the East, sometimes directly, but more commonly through 

 dealers and agents at Toledo. The fishermen buy it by the pound al- 

 ready knit into strips and sheets of various sizes and shapes according 

 to order, and they cut, seam, and tar it themselves. 



Most of the pound-nets are fished throughout the season of open 

 water, except during the months of July and August. About forty, 

 however, are not put in until September and a dozen others are set only 

 in the spring. 



The total value of the two hundred and four pound-nets in 1885 was 

 $41,725. These were fished by one hundred and two fishermen, who 

 used sixty-nine boats. 



Seine fishery. — Four seines, 96 to 440 fathoms long and 14 to 16 feet 

 deep, were used in Pleasant Bay and at the mouth of Raisin River 

 in 1885. The fishing is carried on continuously from November 15 to 

 May 15. Mr. Bower says : " When the bay is frozen over the bottom 

 lines are held in position by stakes set in a circle and frozen in the ice, 

 and at every haul another line is drawn into position. The first line is 

 laid before the ice has formed." Large holes are kept open at intervals 

 through which to drop and spread the seine, and the ice is also re- 

 moved at the landing point on the shore. About one-quarter of the 

 catch, in weight, consists of bull-heads, weighing about half a pound 

 each. The remainder is made up of black-bass, rock-bass, grass-pike, 

 " pickerel," perch, saugers, suckers, herring, and red-horse. The bass, 

 pike, and pickerel bring, on an average, 6 cents a pound, the -bull-heads 

 2£ cents, and the others 2 cents. The business is profitable, as the price 

 in winter is much better than could be obtained during the summer 

 months. 



The number of men who are engaged exclusively in the seine fishery 

 is ten, besides several others who are already included as pound-net 



