064 



EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



1370,039, and the shore lisheries 25,549,217 pounds, worth ^714,611. 

 The principal species in point of value was trout, of which there were 

 taken 9,049,299 pounds, valued at $430,431. Herrino- amounted to 

 13,8t!3,G17 pounds, worth |347,34S, includino^ 94,871 packages of 

 salted herring, for which the tishermen received $240,163. The 3deld 

 of white-fish was 1,972,594 pounds, worth $118,684; j-ellow perch, 

 3,313,388 pounds, worth $63,241; suckers, 2,917,541 pounds, worth 

 $45,262, and bluelin white-tish, 634,664 pounds, for which the fisher- 

 men received $24,862. The yield of the fisheries of this lake is 

 divided among the diii'erent states as follows: Wisconsin, 19,403,111 

 pounds, worth $555,469; Michigan, 13,268,476 pounds, worth $500,661; 

 Illinois, 597,689 pounds, worth $23,729, and Indiana, 310,222 pounds, 

 worth $10,691. 



The yield of the fisheries of Lake Michigan in 1903 was greater in 

 value than for any previous year for which there are returns, exceed- 

 ing that for 1899 by $213,807. This is due solely to an increase in the 

 selling price per pound, the average in the earlier year being 2.54 

 cents, compared with 3.25 in 1903, The product in the two years 

 under comparison shows a decrease in weight of 920,498 pounds. The 

 persons emploj^ed in 1899 numbered 3,255, or 14 more than in 1903, 

 and the investment was $2,915,241, or $573,946 less than in the year 

 herein reported. 



In 1903 the fisheries of Lake Michigan were more extensive than 

 those of any of the other Great Lakes, exceeding those of Lake Erie, 

 the second in rank, by 514 in the number of persons employed, 

 $1,'292,790 in the amount of capital invested, and 10,390,942 pounds in 

 the quantity and $310,535 in the value of the products. 



The following tables show the extent of the fisheries of Lake Michi- 

 p-an in 1903: 



Table showing hij states and counties the number of persons emploijed in the JisJieries of 



Lake Micliigan m 1903. 



