FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 215 



Dunkirk and Buffalo than in the other harbors, and as a result the boats find diffi- 

 culty in getting out even when all the other harbors are open. 



The nets are fished directly from the deck of the vessel. They are run out in 

 strings, or gangs, at right angles to the shore, the length of the strings varying with 

 the number of nets being fished. The nets are usually lifted every other day, but 

 frequently storms prevent the vessel from getting out and they are allowed to 

 remain in the lake three or four days. In the latter case the fish are usually all 

 spoiled and must be thrown away. 



Owing to the ice remaining in the harbors very late in 1899 the vessels could 

 not get out, and thus lost a considerable part of the whitefish season. 



Shore Fisheries. — In the shore fisheries trap nets, gill nets, seines, set lines and 

 hand lines are used. The gill nets are practically the same as those used in the ves- 

 sel fishery. Very few trap nets are used owing to the existence of a law forbidding 

 the setting of nets within one-half mile of shore. Set lines constitute a very com- 

 mon form of apparatus and are set principally for sturgeon and catfish, although a 

 few other varieties are taken incidentally. Sturgeon lines are usually about 4,000 

 feet in length, and have at intervals of about eight feet branch lines three or four 

 feet in length, with hooks at the ends. The lines are usually put out in the evening 

 and lifted in the morning, when the fish and the branch lines are removed and freshly 

 baited branch lines attached. The catfish lines vary from these only in being of 

 shorter length and having smaller hooks. 



Ice FisJiing. — This fishery, which is one of the most interesting in the country, is 

 carried on from the city of Buffalo each winter. It is a favorite occupation with the 

 sailors, dockmen and laborers who are thrown out of work during the winter months 

 by the suspension of lake traffic. In 1899 about 600 persons engaged in the business 

 somewhat regularly. If all who participated in the fishery were counted there would 

 be over 2,000, but most of these only fished for a few days or a week and then gave 

 it up. 



As soon as the ice freezes sufficiently, which is usually about December 1st, the 

 fishing commences and continues until the spring break-up, about March 1st. Some 

 years thaws occur, which very materially shorten the fishing season ; the season 

 usually lasts about ninety days. Blue pike form by far the greater part of the catch, 

 the other species taken being saugers, wall-eyed pike, yellow perch and a very few 

 ling. 



The fishing grounds are located from one to ten miles from shore, and the men 

 usually start for the grounds about 5 in the morning. A number of the fishermen 

 have sleds, which are drawn by dogs, to carry the apparatus and bait required in the 



