FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 265 



Sandusky Bay. — Sandusky Bay is about 5 miles broad and extends 

 inland 16 miles in a southeasterly direction. It is very shallow and its 

 greatest depth in the channels which have been dredged for navigation 

 is only 20 feet. Its fisheries are of considerable importance. Nearly a 

 thousand fyke-nets and small pound-nets are fished in its waters, and 

 there is someseiniug in winter in its western part. It is claimed that 

 the pioneer pound-net of western Lake Erie was set on the southeast 

 side of Johnson's Island within the mouth of the bay. 



The principal kinds of fish taken are perch, saugers, sunfish, pickerel, 

 bass, bull-heads, grass-pike, suckers, red-horse, and mullet. A number 

 of whitefish are said to have been taken in a seine near Mixer's Point, 

 in 1846, but none have been found in the bay since that time. The 

 catch of Sandusky Bay, like that of all the island region, is sent fresh 

 to Sandusky, except a portion of the winter yield, which goes to Port 

 Clinton. 



Sandusky. — The city of Sandusky is located just within the entrance 

 of Sandusky Bay, on its south side, back of Cedar Point. It is the 

 largest market for fresh-water fish in the world. Its location is very 

 favorable, and, besides controlling the fisheries of Sandusky Bay and 

 the islands, as well as those of the main shore between Port Clinton and 

 Huron, it is the market for large quantities of fish that are taken in 

 Canadian waters on the other side of the lake and at Pt. Pelee Island. 

 It has a population of 22,000, of which the greater part are dependent 

 upon the fisheries or the fish trade. All the methods of preparing and 

 utilizing fishery products which occur on the Great Lakes are repre- 

 sented herein their most improved forms, with the exception of canning 

 and the making of fertilizers. The latter business was carried on here 

 for some years, but the factory was burned and has never been rebuilt. 



The manufacture of fish packages is engaged in, in connection with 

 general cooperage, by two Sandusky firms, who supply all the fish-deal- 

 ers of the city and many of those at other points. About $70,000 are in- 

 vested in the business and over a hundred men are steadily employed. 



The approximate yearly output of packages for salt fish is 334,000 

 kits (graded to hold 15 and 20 pounds), worth $53,440 ; 105,300 quarter- 

 barrels, worth $26,578, and 85,700 half barrels, worth $35,394. To these 

 should be added 21,000 barrels (each being of large size — a " barrel and 

 a half"), for fresh fish, worth $5,030. 



In addition to the packages manufactured expressly for fish, from 

 12,000 to 15,000 empty sugar barrels are bought from grocerymen and 

 vintners to be used in shipping fresh fish from Sandusky. 



Most of the boats used in the island region are built at Sandusky or 

 by Sandusky boat carpenters, who go to the fishing regions and there 

 construct the boats.* 



* About 1887 a new type of pound-net boat was introduced in this region. It lias a 

 comparatively narrow, flat bottom, round sides, is carvel built, and has a long, sharp 

 bow like that of other boats, but has no skag, since the latter would interfere with 

 entering the cribs. I had the opportunity to see and examine this type of boat in 

 the autumn of 1888, when I visited Sandusky and Put-in-Bay. — J. W. Collins. 



