FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES IN 1885. 327 



Angling. — The fine facilities for line -fishing in the vicinity of Cape 

 Vincent attract many anglers ; and a number of fishermen make a liv- 

 ing by transporting visitors to the fishing grounds in boats. Quite a 

 trade in minnows used for bait has sprung up ; one case is cited where 

 a dealer sold $500 worth of such bait in a year. The minnows bring $1 

 per hundred, and a careful estimate shows that about 600,000 were con- 

 sumed in 1885. 



Apparatus employed. — The fishermen use gill-nets, trap-nets, and fyke- 

 nets, or " hoop-nets," as they are locally called. Gill-nets are employed 

 chiefly in the capture of sturgeon, the use of these nets for taking white- 

 fish and trout having been to a great extent discontinued about four 

 years ago, up to which time they were operated very extensively. Trap, 

 nets have in a measure taken the place of the whitefish and trout gill- 

 nets, and have, with a single exception, entirely superseded the pound- 

 nets which were in vogue about five years ago. Trap-nets differ from 

 pound-nets in that they are smaller, are not staked, and are closed at 

 the top. The bottom of the net is held in position by weights, and the 

 top is buoyed with wooden floats. The trap is much cheaper than the 

 pound and possesses a decided advantage in its being readily moved 

 from place to place. The trap is provided with a leader about 500 feet 

 in length, with a 7-inch mesh, and wiugs 40 feet in length, with a 5-inch 

 mesh, while the body of the trap has a 3-inch mesh. A few sturgeon 

 and all the smaller kinds of fish are taken in these trap-nets. The fyke- 

 nets are similar to those used in other parts of the lake. Bull-heads, 

 bass, pike, and eels are the kinds of fish to the capture of which the 

 fyke-net is adapted. One pound-net and one seine complete the list of 

 apparatus ; these were used during a portion of the season on Grenadier 

 Island. The fishermen usually make their own nets, getting twine and 

 other materials from the fish-dealers of Cape Vincent, who take their 

 pay in fish. 



Abundance of the different species. — Of the species of fish landed at 

 Cape Vincent sturgeon rank first in importance. They are taken almost 

 exclusively in gill-nets, which are set at all times when there is no ice. 

 Pike are perhaps the most abundant fish, with the possible exception of 

 bull-heads. They are readily sold and some men fish only for them. 

 Bass occur in considerable numbers, and are caught principally by 

 anglers. Whitefish are very common ; in fact in 1885 they were in 

 greater abundance than they had been for many years, although their 

 size was somewhat below the average. Trout are fairly common ; the 

 quantity actually landed, however, has been greatly reduced since stur- 

 geon fishing was inaugurated, and the same may be said to be true as 

 regards whitefish. About a hundred and fifty shad were taken in 1885, 

 this species having been introduced by the U. S. Fish Commission. 



Fish trade of Gape Vincent. — Nearly all the fish landed at Cape Vin- 

 cent are bought by two dealers, who ship them to New York City. The 

 wharves, buildings, and working capital devoted to this business were 



