264 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



vicinity of Sandusky Bay for the purpose of gatheriug the whitefish 

 which were thrown on the beaches by northeast storms. Prior to 1855 

 no whitefish were caught by the white settlers in spring, but since that 

 time they have been taken in large numbers at that season. The white- 

 fish secured near the shore are said never to be so large as those caught 

 farther out, but those from the vicinity of the islands are as large as 

 any taken in the lake. Very few lake trout are ever seen west of Hu- 

 ron. Black-bass fishing is very good around the islands in the spring 

 and fall, and anglers come there every season to enjoy this sport, but 

 the catch is much less than in early years. In 1850 Mr. Andrew Cam- 

 eron, who was fishing for black bass for profit, caught in the first three 

 days, with the assistance of his wife and a young man, twelve hundred 

 of this species, weighing from half a pound to 5 pounds each, and after- 

 wards caught on one occasion 300 pounds in two hours. Such catches 

 are of course unheard of at the present time. 



The catch of the islands is classified as follows in shipping to the 

 dealers at Sandusky : 



(1) Hard fish; includes whitefish, pickerel, black bass, grass pike, 

 muskellunge, large blue pike, and large rock bass. 



(2) Herring. 



(3) Sturgeon. 



(4) Catfish. 



(5) Soft fish ; includes saugers, blue pike, very small pickerel, sun- 

 fish, and rock bass. 



(6) Miscellaneous, or trash ; includes suckers, redhorse, mullets, etc. 



(7) Perch. 



All are sold by weight except sturgeon, and rank, according to their 

 value per pound, in the following order: Hard fish, catfish, soft fisb, 

 herring, and trash. Sturgeon sold for $1 each in 1885. 



Most of the island catch is sold on contract. The contract price of 

 whitefish during the fall of 1885 was 5 to 5£ cents per pound, less the 

 steamer freightage, and that of herring was 75 cents per hundred- 

 weight, less the freight. The herring were bought at this price by the 

 dealers and sold again at $1.25 per hundred. The price of herring was 

 lower than usual on account of the enormous run of that species. On 

 November 17, 1885, the steamer Jay Cooke brought to Sandusky from 

 the islands 7 tons of whitefish and over 100 tons of herring, most of the 

 latter from Kelley's Island. On the same day the steamer Eagle brought 

 in about 80 tons of herring from Put-in Bay and Middle Bass islands, 

 leaving 20 or 25 tons behind ; and the steamer Ferris landed a full load 

 from Catawba Island. During the week ending November, from 50 to 

 100 tons of herring were dumped into Sandusky Bay. 



The fish are placed for transportation in open boxes furnished by the 

 freighting steamers. These boxes hold about 180 pounds of herring or 

 200 pounds of whitefish each, and are provided with rope handles for 

 convenience in handling. The fish are weighed on the boat just before 

 unloading. 



