2 14 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



The fisheries of this lake are of immense importance and far surpass those Of any 

 other of the Great Lakes or of any other body of fresh water in the world. When 

 one considers the enormous increase of the fishery apparatus used in this lake during 

 many years, it is surprising that the catch has been so well sustained. One cause of 

 the important position occupied by the lake is the unusually favorable conditions 

 for the operation of certain forms of apparatus. Owing to the shoal water pound 

 and trap nets can be set at almost any distance from the shore, which is not possible 

 in the other lakes, owing to their great depths. In the western end of the lake, in 

 the vicinity of the Bass Islands, are vast spawning grounds, where millions of eggs 

 are taken annually and hatched by the U. S. Fish Commission. 



As the purpose of this article is to show the extent of the New York 

 fisheries on Lake Erie, the fisheries of the other States will only be mentioned when 

 necessary. 



Vessel Fisheries. — For a number of years steam tugs were not employed in the 

 New York fisheries of the lake, although much used in Pennsylvania and Ohio. In 

 1899, however, there were 7 tugs used in Erie county and 3 in Chautauqua, hailing 

 respectively from Buffalo, Dunkirk and Barcelona. These vessels are small tug 

 boats, averaging about 17 tons each. The crew vary from 4 to 7 men, including 

 captain, engineer and cook. In this section of the lake the captain generally 

 receives $21, the engineer $20, and the others $16.32 per week in wages. The crew 

 furnish their own food. The tugs are provided with iron-lined holds fore and aft, 

 ill which to carry the fish. The vessels carry gill nets exclusively, the different sizes 

 being known as herring, sturgeon, trout and whitefish nets. Other varieties of fish 

 besides those enumerated are also captured in them. On board the vessel the nets 

 are kept in plain unpainted boxes with flaring sides and ends, the boxes having 

 hand-holes at the ends for facility in handling when full. A box will usually hold 

 five or six nets, except in the case of the herring nets, which, owing to their smaller 

 size, occupy considerably less space. A vessel in this section of the lake carries 

 from 250 to 300 of the various nets. As fishing for the different species is carried 

 on at different times, only the nets specially adapted are carried. Of the nets 

 employed in each fishery only about two-thirds are in the water at one time, a por- 

 tion of the remainder being on shore to be dried, cleaned and repaired, while the 

 balance are stowed in the hold of the vessel to be brought forth in case of an emer- 

 gency. The fishing is almost continuous, the only intermission being when the 

 boats are tied up on account of ice. When thaws occur during the winter the boats 

 frequently break their way out and fish until a change in the weather occurs. This 

 does not often happen in New York, however, as the ice seems to set more firmly in 



