FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 317 



Statistics of the fisheries. — The fishermen in this locality in 1885 

 numbered 6, none being professionals. The apparatus was as follows : 

 6 boats, 10 herring- gill-nets, 4,125 feet loug; and 20 fyke-nets. The 

 total value of the fishing property, including shore accessories, was 

 $565. 



The catch in 1885 was 7,000 pounds of bass, 6,700 pounds of bull- 

 heads, 1,000 pounds of pike, 500 pounds of eels, and 300 pounds of her- 

 ring. Ten thousand minnows were bought from dealers and used for 

 bait. The total catch was valued at $950. 



112. PORT ONTARIO, OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Past and present fishery interests. — This place is situated on Salmon 

 Creek, three-quarters of a mile from the lake. What was once a good 

 harbor is now filled with sand, the wharves have been washed away, 

 and the whole village has a run down aspect. The 300 people who live 

 here are nearly all Americans and are engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

 There was a time when Port Ontario was a fishing center of considerable 

 importance and a live business community; and it is thought that the 

 increase of fish which fishermen are hoping for, and which some even 

 predict for the near future, will restore it to its former state of activity 

 and enterprise. The fishing grounds are at the mouth of the creek and 

 in the lake as far as 20 miles from the shore; there is also a little sein- 

 ing on the smooth, sandy beach north of the town. Prior to 1880 

 seining was the principal mode of fishing, but since that date gill-nets 

 have been used almost entirely, aud the seining grounds are practically 

 deserted. 



Kinds offish taken. — The whitefish is the most important species at 

 Port Ontario. It appears to be periodical in its abundance, owing to 

 peculiarities in its migrations the causes for which are as yet imper- 

 fectly understood. Fishermen think that the direction of the prevail- 

 ing winds has some influence on the appearance and movements of the 

 fish. In 1885 the fish taken were rather larger than those caught the 

 previous year, and there was also a slight increase in their abundance. 

 The spring and fall are the times when fishing for whitefish is carried 

 on. Next in importance is the sturgeon, which is caught in gill-nets 

 and on set-lines during the entire open season. Bull-heads and eels 

 are plentiful. Pike, herring, and bass are not common. 



Markets and prices. — The fish are sold to peddlers or shipped to New 

 York, Syracuse, and Oswego. Only a very few herring are salted. 



The prices received for fish at Port Ontario are : Whitefish, 8 cents a 

 pound; sturgeon, 4 and 5 cents; bull-heads, 4 and 5 cents; herring, 1 

 cents ; pike, 5 cents; eels and suckers, 3 and 4 cents. 



Enumeration of men, apparatus, and catch.— There were 24 men en. 

 gaged in fishing at Port Ontario in 1885, 10 being professional and 14 

 semi-professional fishermen. The apparatus they possessed consisted 



