FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 291 



ful, and the market active ; of hazard, because the ice has more than once broken 

 up suddenly while the men were out upon it, giving them narrow escapes from death, 

 and causing their friends and families great anxiety as to their safety. On January 

 20 the ice broke up under a sudden thaw and a brisk southwest wind, which played 

 havoc with it. Five hundred fishermen were out that day, it is said, and so suddenly 

 did the ice break up that many did not realize their danger until they found them- 

 selves cut off from shore by ribbons of blue water. Several drifted down with their 

 dogs and sleds on the floes until the latter jammed together with the shore ice, when 

 they were enabled to cross safely to laud. A few were carried down the river and 

 only rescued by boats. No human lives were lost, though a few dogs were drowned. 

 A more serious storm occurred on February 26, when two fishermen, Thomas Cody 

 and John Leary, were frozen to death on the ice. A party of eleven narrowly escaped 

 at the same time. 



The life of the ice fisherman, it may be seen by this, is not an ideal one, unless dan- 

 ger is considered an essential ingredient. But even he who loves danger must demur 

 at the early hour of rising necessary that the fisherman may start at § o'clock in the 

 morning for the fishing grounds. The exposed position which he must take on the 

 open ice is not conducive to comfort either, except in still weather, and still days on 

 a large body of water in winter are not so plentiful as they might be. 



The fisherman's outfit consists of a light sled with a box on it large enough to hold 

 his catch of fish, and in that are his dinner, his bait of minnows caught in the Niagara 

 at Black Rock, and an ax for cutting through the ice, and several sets of fishing 

 tackle. Some fishermen depend on two or three lines while others set a dozen. They 

 must all be long enough to land the bait on the bottom of the lake. The cutting 

 wind makes necessary a sort of screen, consisting of light canvas fastened on two 

 short sticks, for comfort or at times to prevent one from freezing. With this barrier 

 between him and the blast the angler is happy — if the fish bite readily. 



The dogs that draw the sled are an important part of the outfit. All sorts of canine 

 specimens strong enough to drag a sled are pressed into the service, though some fine 

 ones are found among them. The animals are mostly large and, as a rule, very intel- 

 ligent, and though they are tired they show that their instincts are not forgotten 

 even in harness, and when once turned loose they are at once all dog again. They 

 are generally true to their masters, though occasionally a dog comes in driven alone 

 with an empty harness hanging on the other side of the pole, an intimation that tru- 

 ancy is not unknown. The harnesses are usually very neatly made, and show the work- 

 manship of a tradesman. 



The amount of fish brought into port averages during the season from 3 to 10 tons 

 a day. From 60 to 200 pounds is counted a good day's catch for one man, Blue pike 

 or perch are the fish chiefly caught. They sell at an average of 4 or 5 cents a pound, 

 so that a day's fishing means the distribution of a round sum of money. On one of 

 the fine days last February it is estimated that over 600 fishermen were out on the ice. 

 From these figures something of an idea may be obtained of the importance of this 

 winter industry, by which Lake Erie gives subsistence to many families. 



Mr. Thomas Williams, under date of March 16, 1887, writes : 



This season's ice-fishing began in earnest about January 1, 1887, and has continued 

 with almost unabated vigor up to March 15, when the ice began breaking up. There 

 were a greater number of persons engaged in this fishery this season than ever before, 

 and the catch has been very good. The fish taken are mostly bl ue pike ; there are, how- 

 ever, a few sturgeon and an occasional lake trout caught. I took particular pains 

 one day during the latter part of January to make a close estimate of the amount of 

 fish taken that day ; the weather was fine and the fishing was good. I was surprised 

 at the result of the day's work ; over 25 tons of fish, mostly pike, had been caught. 

 This, of course, could not be said of each day's fishing, but it will be a low estimate 

 to put the amount taken daily at 9 tons, during a period of about two and a half 

 months. The selling price of the fish has ranged from 3 to 7 cents per pound, and 



