FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 299 



rostrata), perch (Perca americana), lake trout (Salvelinns namaycnsh), 

 several species of suckers (Oatastomidcv), and minor kinds. 



The only fisheries which could be considered as separate and dis- 

 tinct from the general fisheries are those for sturgeon and alewives. 

 The latter were introduced accidentally in connection with the shad by 

 the U. S. Fish Commission about 1876. The only place where they are 

 now extensively taken is at Pillar Point, where an oil and guano factory 

 has been built for utilizing the supply. The sturgeon already mentioned 

 are taken in large quantities with gill-nets and also by means of set-lines. 



Season. — The fishing season begins as soon as the ice breaks up and 

 continues till late in the fall. The principal fishing, however, with gill- 

 nets, seines, and traps is in May and June and again in October and 

 November. The fyke-nets are used extensively in summer. There is 

 very little fishing during the winter months, though in Mexico Bay 

 there is a limited amount of net fishing through the ice, and in the 

 western end of the lake a few sturgeon are caught through the ice by 

 means of set-lines. Winter fishing has never been extensively prac- 

 tised in this lake. 



Legislation. — Of late years there has been a tendency on the part of 

 the New York legislature to limit fishing in Lake Ontario to the capture 

 of fish with hook and line, the object being to prevent any diminution 

 in the supply. Stringent laws prohibiting the use of certain methods and 

 apparatus have been enacted and a determined effort is being made by 

 the State at considerable expense to enforce them. This is unquestion- 

 ably interfering to a great extent with the development of the commer- 

 cial fisheries of the lake, since many more persons would be engaged in 

 them were it not for the enforcement of these measures. Those now em- 

 ployed in fishing for a livelihood complain that they are often seriously 

 annoyed by the State officers, and frequently their operations for a con- 

 siderable length of time are interrupted and rendered nearly abortive. 

 They are often obliged to hide their apparatus and to fish it only at 

 night or at such other times when there is little fear of detection, other- 

 wise the gear would be confiscated and a heavy penalty imposed. Cases 

 are not infrequent where fishermen have had their apparatus destroyed 

 and have been heavily fined and imprisoned for illegal fishing. 



The fish trade. — At Sacket's Harbor, Cape Vincent, and Chaumont 

 dealers have located for the purpose of purchasing and distributing the 

 catch of the fishermen in the eastern end of the lake. Most of the fish 

 caught in the vicinity of these places are brought in by the fishermen, 

 but sail-boats owned by the dealers are sent to collect them in places 

 more remote. In the portion of the lake between Stony Point and Ni- 

 agara River the fishing is largely for local supply, many catching only 

 fish enough for their own tables and those of their neighbors. Those 

 fishing more extensively ship much of their catch to cities in other por- 

 tions of the state, including Syracuse, Buffalo, and New York, though 



