FINS, FEATHERS AND FUR 
11 
allowing- no hunting on the farm. Another is 
providing them with groves and building places. 
Birds should be attracted to our homes by 
providing them with water and building places 
and in the winter by feeding what few remain. 
Few things are more pleasant than 'having the 
birds build around our homes, hear their songs 
and music throughout the summer and feel that 
it is through our kindness that they choose to 
live and make their homes near ours. 
HERRING FISHING PREDOMINATES 
Thanks to the provision of the law which was 
passed by the Minnesota legislature in 1917 re¬ 
gulating commercial fishing in Lake Superior 
which requires the making of reports to the game 
and fish department by the fishermen, it is now 
possible to collect accurate and reliable statistics 
relating to the fishing in these waters and to 
know at the end of a period of years whether 
the fishing is diminishing or not. It is only by 
having access to such information that effective 
legislation can be devised and adequate provi¬ 
sion be made for the preservation of the in¬ 
dustry. It has been known in a general way 
for a long time that the production of fish of 
several varieties has been diminishing. Fisher¬ 
men have been compelled, in order to keep up a 
considerable volume of production, to use more 
and more twine from year to year. 
the business, requires marking of packages by 
fishermen for the purpose of identification in 
case of spoiled fish or other improper handling, 
forbids placing offal in the waters of the lake, 
confines fishing to citizens of the United States 
and residents of Minnesota, and requires reports 
to be made. 
The reports of last season’s fishing which 
closed December 1, 1917, disclose the following 
facts with reference to the fishing on the north 
shore of Lake Superior from Duluth to Grand 
Portage, a distance of about 150 miles of shore 
line: 
FROM APRIL 1 TO DECEMBER 1, 1917. 
Number of licenses issued. 273 
Number of skiffs licensed. 324 
Number of boats, 1 ton or less, licensed. 43 
Number of boats, 1 to 5 tons, licensed. 4 
FISH PRODUCED 
Trout . 121,649 lbs.: value $16,856.35 
Herring . 3,840,400 lbs.; value 135,852.69 
Ciscoes . 169,670 lbs.; value 6,518.50 
Ciscoets . 2,872 lbs.; value 238.12 
Suckers . 360 lbs.; value 7.09 
Whitefish . 800 lbs.; value 109.94 
Menomonees . 455 lbs.; value 43.50 
Total . 4,136,206 lbs.; value $159,626.19 
It will be noticed that the production of white- 
fish is negligible and that the fishing of import¬ 
ance is confined to three varieties, herring, 
trout and ciscoes. The above figures are practi¬ 
cally complete and correct as only 12 licensees 
Whitefish in Process of Curing by the Chippewa Indian Method.—Photo by 
Carlos Avery. 
This applies to herring as well as to other 
varieties. Last year was no exception. The 
herring catch was not up to standard on the 
north shore, although the high price made the 
industry more profitable than usual. It is now 
recognized by all fishermen of Lake Superior 
who have given the matter thought that close 
seasons in spawning time, artificial propagation, 
larger mesh nets, and other conservation meas¬ 
ures are necessary to maintain the industry. The 
Minnesota law now provides, for a close season 
on herring just as soon as Wisconsin will follow 
suit. Michigan should fall in line when Wiscon¬ 
sin does. 
The Minnesota law now fixes the size limit on 
twine for each kind of fish, provides for licensing 
failed to make the reports required by law, and 
the figures are valuable for comparison with 
future reports. 
It would seem that the fishing is overdone, as 
there is almost one fisherman for every half mile 
of shore all the way from Duluth to Grand 
Portage. The amount of twine used is not re¬ 
ported, but will be required to be stated in the 
next reports, as this is an important factor in 
considering regulations and the tendency of the 
production to increase or diminish. 
At present it appears that more licenses will 
be called for this year than last. 
Minnesota is preparing to do her share in 
artificial propagation by the establishment of 
another fish hatchery on the north shore. 
