June 9, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



841 



canoe. This he repeats until the canoe is loaded, when he 

 shoots out of the tail of the rapids and makes for the 

 shore. The fish, will average 31bs., but individuals are 

 sometimes taken two or three times that weight. It is a 

 great resource of the Indians and of the French, and of 

 the poor generally at these falls who eat it with never 

 ceasing appetite. It is also a standing dish with all." 



Listen to his tribute to the edible character of the 

 whitefish. 



All friends to good living by tureen or dish, 



Concur in exalting this prince of a fkh, 



So fine in a platter, so tempting a fry, 



So rich on a gridiron, so sweet in a pie, 



That even before it the salmon must fail. 



And that luscious honm boucheot the land beaver's tail. 



* * * * * 



'lis a morsel aliKe for the gourmand or faster, 

 While white as a tablet of pure alabaster, 

 Its beauty or flavor no person can doubt 

 When seen in the water or tasted without, 

 And all the dispute that opinioa ere makes. 

 Of this king of lake fishes, this "deer of the lakes," 

 Regard not its choieeuess to ponder or sup, 

 Rut the best mode of dressing and serving it up. 



Sheldon, Disturnell, Strickland, Kohl, Hubbard and 

 others all unite in saying that nature here seems to have 

 lavished her bounties with no niggardly hand, so pro- 

 fusely are these lakes stocked with lish. 



From the time of tbe discovery of the lakes down to 

 the time of the establishment of the Hudson Bay Fur 

 Company, these inexhaustible supplies were drawn upon 

 only for the subsistence of tbe Indian tribes and the 

 voyagers, but gradually they became, to a small extent, 

 an article of commerce, the surplus being salted and sold 

 in somewhat inconsiderable quantities. During all this 

 time the northwestern territory was looked upon as a 

 source from which valuable furs could be obtained, and 

 but little attention was paid to the fisheries of the Great 

 Lakes beyond what the immediate wants of those who 

 lived upon them or near them demanded. 



Little is known at the early time of which I speak with 

 reference to the fisheries of Lake Erie, because of its 

 situation it was but little frequented by the early ex- 

 plorers and fur-traders. Good reason existed for this 

 condition of affairs. The blood-thirsty and cruel Iro- 

 quois, the most adventurous and warlike Indian tribe 

 which ever inhabited the continent, held undisputed pos- 

 session of all that wilderness lying about Lakes Ontario 

 and Erie and adjacent to the Niagara River, which was a 

 key of approach to the latter lake. 



The rivalry between the Dutch fur-traders of New 

 York and those of the French was exceedingly intense 

 in their attempts to control the fur trade of the North- 

 west. The Iroquois were incited by the Dutch to throw 

 every obstacle possible in the way of encroaching 

 advances by the French traders and colonists. For many 

 years the Iroquois, who by reason of their situation acted 

 as intermediaries between tbe further western tribes of 

 Indians, controlling in their own interests the fur trade 

 between the Dutch and these tribes, fiercely resented all 

 attempts at interference in this trade by the French. 

 Asa result of their attitude, the great waterway commu- 

 nication between Montreal, the seat of the French fur 

 trade, and the Great Northwestern lakes was closed by 

 the Iroquois, and communication with the upper lakes 

 was made by way of the Ottawa and the French Rivers 

 into Georgian Bay and from thence into lakes Huron, 

 Michigan and Superior. 



Meagre, however, as tbe information is that we have 

 concerning the condition of the fisheries on Lake E-ie 

 at this early period, such information as we have shows 

 beyond question that fish were exceedingly plentiful, 

 especially at the Put-in-Bay Islands and Sandusky Bay. 

 Dr. McCallum. of Dunville, Ontario, at a meeting of the 

 International Fish Conference, held at Hamilton last 

 winter, exhibited to the meeting two crude shellfish 

 hooks which were found on Point au Pelee, in the Prov- 

 ince of Ontario on the North Shore of Lake Erie. These 

 hooks were presumably made from the shell of the fresh- 

 water mussel. In appearance they resemble the rude 

 hooks employed for taking fish by the Esquimaux and 

 other aboriginal types. Tde shank and the point were in 

 two separate pieces, having holes drilled through them 

 by which they could be attached to each other with 

 thongs, the hook itself being barbless. Their form and 

 construction indicated plainly that if the aboriginal man 

 was compelled to sustain life by means of fish taken 

 with such an implement, the fish must have been exceed- 

 iugly plentiful in this lake. Facts at hand would seem 

 to indicate that Lake Erie was in these early days boun- 

 tifully stocked with fish, and although it has been fished 

 constantly for a very long period, it still yields immense 

 quantities of valuable commercial fish. 



Blois, speaking of the condition of tbe fisheries as early 

 as 1835, in his "Gazetteer of Michigan," says, "Their 

 quantities are surprising, and apparently so inexhaustible 

 as to warrant the belief that were a population of millions 

 to inhabit the lake shores they would furnish ample sup- 

 plies of this article of food without any sensible diminu- 

 tion." 



Looking at the matter from that period of time the 

 writer was unquestionably warranted m his assumption. 

 But Blois could not have apprehended at that time that 

 the census of 1890 would show that in the six States sur- 

 rounding the Great Lakes there was a population con- 

 stituting more than one-sixth of the entire population of 

 the country. Neither could he anticipate that the meth- 

 ods of preserving fish would, within thirty years from 

 the date of his writing, make it not only possible but 

 profitable for fishermen to follow their calling almost 

 continuously during the entire year. 



Michigan statistics show that in 1830 the quantity of 

 fish marketed in the State amounted to eight thousand 

 barrels valued at $40,000. 



In 1836 the whole number of barrels taken amounted 

 to 11,400. 



In 1837, to 13,500 barrels of the value of $125 800. Of 

 this quantity one-fourth was consumed in the State and 

 the rest was shipped to Ohio, New York and Pennsyl- 

 vania. 



It will be observed that the reports of the catch and 

 value of the commercial fish upon the Great Lakes 

 are somewhat meagre and desultory. The report of 

 the Detroit Board of Trade for 1857 shows that there 

 were between 80,000 and 100,000 barrels of fish taken in 

 that year, valued at $640,000. 



In 1885 the reports gathered by the Michigan State 

 Board of Fish Commissioners show that the value of the 

 commercial fish taken in the State was in value about 

 $1,500,000 at wholesale price. 



In considering such statistics as we have, we must take 

 into account the uncertainty and unreliability that must 

 necessarily prevail in their collection because of the want 

 of thoroughness and completeness with which the work 

 was done in the earlier years. So, too, we must consider 

 in comparing one year with another the varying condi- 

 tions of seasons, which is a potent factor. Severe storms 

 may prevail one year, while the next year may be an ex- 

 ceedingly favorable one, and, therefore, their reliability 

 is much impaired and the basis upon which we must 

 make comparisons is at best unsatisfactory. 



Causes of Decay. 



Until about the year 1852 the fishing industry on the 

 lakes was prosecuted almost entirely with gill-nets. Since 

 then the gill-net fishing has continually increased until 

 now the length of gill-nets fished in Michigan waters 

 alone, according to the last reliable statistics within our 

 reach, amounts to 1,725 miles. 



About the year 1850 the pound or trap-net was intro- 

 duced into the Great Lakes. Its use conclusively shows 

 that it has been one of the most destructive of fishing de- 

 vices, and is responsible for the great decay of the fisher- 

 ies which has been observable during the last twenty 

 years. 



Concerning the introduction of the pound-net into the 

 Great Lakes, I am indebted to Mr. L. Anthony, of San- 

 dusky, O , for the following facte : 



Pound-net fishing was first introduced by Messrs. 

 Spencer and Courtland, two Connecticut men, at San- 

 dusky, O., in the year 1850. The fishing with these nets 

 was at first done in shoal water in the bays and rivers in 

 a depth of about 10 or 12ft. 



In 1852 Mr. L. Anthony, of Sandusky, in the fall of that 

 year bpgan fishing with small bay nets, which was the 

 first attempt. This fishing was done at Locust Point, 

 between Toledo, O., and Port Clinton, Ottawa county, in 

 the same State, in a depth of Oft. of water. The fish were 

 plentiful and the catch was remarkably large. He salted 

 fifteen hundred half barrels of whitefish during tbis 

 season, besides selling large quantities to the farmers, 

 who came to the fishery -from long distances. 



In the fall of 1854, Mr. Spencer, the gentleman form- 

 erly alluded to, together with other parties, including 

 Mr. Anthony, conceived the idea that this plan of fish- 

 ing could be successfully done in the deeper waters of 

 the lakes. The first attempt was made by Mr. Anthony 

 of deep water pound-net fishing, in the spring of 1855, at 

 Kelly's Island and Put-in-Bay, in Lake Erie, Ohio, with 

 marked success. 



In the year 1854 he did his first pound-;net fishing in 

 Lake Huron at North Thunder Bay, fishing in 33ft. of 

 water; fish were caught here in large quantities. There 

 has also been some small fishing done near Lexington, 

 Mich., Avhich was not successful. 



Iu the year 1856 Charles Ruggles and Capt. James 

 Bennett fished with deep water pound-nets in Ham- 

 mond's Bay, on the south shore of Lake Huron, and also 

 on the north shore of Lake Michigan. At that time this 

 was the largest and most successful fishery in the whole 

 country. At the Thunder Bay fishery, on Lake Huron, 

 Mr. Anthony caught in one net in twenty-four hours, 

 four hundred half barrels of whitefish. There were not 

 100 pounds of other varieties caught on this occasion. 



In 1865 he commenced fishing with deep water pound- 

 nets at the Apostle Island, Madeline Island, Presque Isle 

 and Sand Island in Ashland Bay, off Bayfield Point, 

 in Lake Superior, and these fisheries resulted in a profit- 

 able investment. 



From this date on the pound-net fishing increased 

 beyond all conception. It is not infrequently the case 

 that pound-nets are set in gangs reaching out from the 

 shore a distance of three or four and more miles, and the 

 destruction of fish by this method of fishing is immense. 

 Unquestionably the fish so taken are superior to fish taken 

 by the gill-nets because they are preserved alive until the 

 nets are raised, but it takes everything, great and small. 



No fishculturist should condemn the taking of fish if 

 the fishing were done with judgment and with a due 

 regard for the future. 



The iniquitous feature of the business is that the 

 cupidity of tbe fisherman overcomes his better judgment, 

 and he takes from the water large numbers of small and 

 immature fish that are of little or no value as merchant- 

 able fish. The result of this system of fishing is most 

 destructive, tons upon tons of fish being thus taken which 

 have never spawned, whereas if they were permitted to 

 remain in the water to reproduce their kind, artificial 

 methods would be greatly aided. 



About the year 1868, Mr, William Davis, of Detroit, 

 patented a freezing apparatus for the preservation of 

 fish. In that year about sixty tons were frozen in De- 

 troit, and seventy-five tons in Toledo. This method of 

 preserving fish was not very kindly received at first, but 

 gradually grew in favor. Previous to this time, during 

 favorable seasons, large quantities of fish were taken 

 over and above the needs of present consumption, and 

 the only means of preserving them wa3 by the salting 

 process, which considerably reduced their value. Grad- 

 ually the freezing process grew in favor, and it was 

 found by experience that fish might be frozen and held 

 in that condition for any length of time. The result has 

 been that in almost every important town upon the lakes 

 which is the seat of a fishing industry there are to-day 

 one or more freezers with varying capacities, most of 

 which are exceedingly large. Their erection has given a 

 great impetus to the fishing industry. While formerly 

 the lake fishing was prosecuted mainly in the spawning 

 season, the methods of fishing have so changed by reason 

 of the opportunity afforded by the freezer Bystem of hold- 

 ing the fish for any length of time that now and for a 

 number of years past fishing has been carried on in nearly 

 every month of the year, and is only interfered with by 

 the rigor of the season when nature closes the waters for 

 perhaps a month or so. 



Reliable statistics furnished show that the following 

 quantities of fish were frozen from 1869 to 1884: In 1869, 

 400 tons: 1871, 600 tons: in 1873, 600 tons; in 1873, 700 tons; 

 in 1874, 600 tons: in 1875, 800 tons; in 1876, 1,100 tons; in 

 1877, 1,200 tons; in 1878, 900 tons: in 1879, 1,100 tons; in 

 1880, 700 tons; in 1881, 1,100 tons; in 1882, 1,300 tons; in 

 18S3, 1,450 tons; in 1884, 1,600 tonB. 



No information is at hand for the seven years from 1884 



to 1892, during which years it is fair to be presumed from 

 the general knowledge we have on the subject these 

 amounts were very largely increased. 



The average number of tons per year for the fifteen 

 years amounts to 1,000 tons. Averaging these fish at 

 2|lbs. weight apiece, the number of fish caught on an 

 average for each year and frozen would be 800,000, and 

 for the entire period of fifteen years it would amount to 

 12 000,000 fish. This takes into consideration only the 

 fish that were frozen, and my opinion is, that if there is 

 any error in the above figures, they are much below the 

 actual amount. But by far the greater quantity of fish 

 taken are sent to market, iced, fresh, but not frozen. I 

 believe it is within reason to say that the frozen fish will 

 not represent more than one-fifth of the total quantity 

 taken. 



When we consider this large number of fish which are 

 being constantly taken from these lakes, we can better 

 appreciate the serious inroads which are being made upon 

 the supply ; and when we add to this the wanton destruc- 

 tion of millions of small and immature fish taken that are 

 never given an opportunity to spawn, and when we 

 further consider the large number of gravid females, the 

 roe of which is lost by this capture, we can begin to 

 appreciate the problem that is set before fishculturists to 

 restore this great loss. 



Means of Arrest of Waste and Restoration. 



If the wealth of the waters of the Great Lakes is to be 

 maintained, nothing can be clearer than that this great 

 waste, which has been going on for more than a hundred 

 years and is increasing, must be arrested. There are two 

 methods by which this may be effected: 



ii By a liberal and lavish stocking of the waters. 



2. By the enforcement of just protective laws prevent- 

 ing the taking and marketing of unmerchantable, young 

 and immature fish 



As to the first point each State must act for itself in 

 protecting its own interests in the fisheries. Weak and 

 erratic efforts made now and then to make good the loss 

 by the planting of a few million fish will not do. With 

 the means at hand and with the information we now 

 have as to fishculture, and with the small outlay of 

 money necessary to carry on the work of artificial pro- 

 pagation, each State should see for itself that every 

 female fish taken during the spawning season in its waters 

 shall have her eggB taken from her, fecundated and after 

 being hatched, properly planted ; there is no good reason 

 why this should not be done, and if the States whose in- 

 terests are involved will take immediate steps to carry 

 out this line of policy, they will have taken a step in the 

 proper direction for the maintenance of their fisheries. 



As to protective laws, let me say this: No laws should 

 be passed which should rob the fishermen of the right to 

 follow his calling within legitimate limits. If our work 

 means anything it means that we are engaged in an 

 undertaking which, if properly conducted, will result in 

 a direct benefit to the fishermen and incidentally in great 

 benefit to the people at large in the maintenance of a 

 cheap and wholesome food. With this understanding of 

 the conditions, fishermen should be willing to submit to 

 such just and necessary laws as may be required to pre- 

 vent destruction of young fish which are of no special 

 value for their purposes, and the destruction of which 

 means the ultimate decadence and extinction of their 

 means of livelihood. So far as uniformity in laws can be 

 secured regulating the fishing in the different States, 

 they should be made uniform, but experience seems to 

 indicate that the fault lies not in the number or effective- 

 ness of statutes, but in the inadequacy of the means which 

 have been used to enforce them. 



Most of these laws are inherently defective because of 

 the attempt to build up a warden system by counties, 

 allowing the compensation of wardens to be fixed by the 

 boards of supervisors, who, as a rule, will grant no com- 

 pensation, or one which is grossly inadequate, which 

 results in making the warden system of no effect. New 

 York has without doubt the best warden law of any 

 State in the Union, because the pay of her wardens is 

 sure and fixed. 



The ideal law would be one giving authority to the 

 Board of Commissioners of each State to appoint a chief 

 warden with such deputies as he might require for a 

 proper enforcement of the laws, whose compensation 

 should be sufficient to secure the services of good men 

 who should be paid by the State. The State might be 

 districted, but in that event each warden could exercise 

 the functions of his office in some district other than the 

 one in which he resides, thereby removing from local 

 influence in the administration of his duty. 



The States should make and enforce their own laws. 

 No other power can do it so effectually and well. Their 

 legislatures are familiar with the necessities of their 

 States, are quick to respond to the wants of different 

 localities, and by frequent contact with their constituen- 

 cies know their wants. 



If a general awakening of the lake States can be had as 

 to the necessity of proper action to maintain their fisheries 

 as above suggested, there is no reason why the great food 

 supply furnished by these waters may not be maintained 

 at least in their present value, with a hope of future in- 

 crease. Herschel Whitaker. 



TROUT OF THE NEVERSINK. 



Woodbotjrne, N. Y. , May 23.— The Neversink is one of 

 the best trout streams in Sullivan county, and the fisher- 

 men are having good luck and come in with well-filled 

 baskets. And we also have lakes and ponds near where 

 gord black bass and pickerel fishing may be had in the 

 season. The sportsmen say there is a plenty of trout in 

 the Neversink this season. The weather and condition of 

 the streams have been rather unfavorable so far this 

 spring. We will have better weather soon. Good guides 

 can be had at reasonable rates, and there is a good hotel 

 with every accommodation. 



A young lad about ten years old, Eddie Turner, quite a 

 good fisherman, caught last Saturday, the 21st, m the 

 Neversink a short distance from here, a trout that weighed 

 41bs. good weight, and measured 22in. long and oin. deep; 

 it was a hybrid. The small fry were put in the Never- 

 sink six years ago. Of course the boy could not land the 

 fish. He called for help after hooking it, and soon three 

 men came to his rescue and the boy raised the trout 

 nearly to the surface. Then Harry Winant scooped it up 

 with his landing net. The trout was on exhibition at the 

 Woodbourne Hotel Sunday morning, and it was a beauty. 



