234 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



Previous Abundance. — The two tables given below, showing for certain years the 

 total catch of all varieties, and of herring and whitefish separately, for the whole 

 lake, and also for Erie and Chautauqua counties, will doubtless prove interesting. 



The most important point in the table for the whole lake is that the catch of all 

 varieties, and of herring also, for 1899 exceeds that of every other year shown 

 except 1890, while the whitefish catch for 1899 is the greatest since 1890. This is 

 very gratifying, as it shows there is no present danger of a serious decline. 



The enormous increase in the catch of whitefish in Erie county in 1899 over every 

 other year is especially noteworthy. It is only within the last few years that the 

 fishermen of this county have gone into this fishery to any extent. The catch of 

 all varieties in this county in 1899 has only been exceeded in one year, 1885. In 

 Chautauqua county the catch in 1899 was only surpassed in 1890. 



