The Newtown bee., 1879-03-04
A CITY ON THE ICE.
How Fish are Caught in Saginaw Bay
 Winter.

Winter
 A correspondent If tho Chicago 71S- bat'se, writing om East Saginaw, Mich. says T. @ business of fishing through the ice on Saginaw bay has been prosecuted or several years, and has attained large proportions, giving employment to large numbers of men, and forming city as distinct as it is novel and picturesque. At present there are about 700 buildings compos- ing the city on the ice, and active opera tions are progressing. The soil on which this city is built is not of that permanent alluvial which has given Chi- cago the cognoment of fs Garden City, J nor yet is it susceptible to the cultiva- tion of ordinary summer crops; but it is of a character peculiarly adapted to the crops which are being raised (through the ice) at the present time. The city is irregularly laid out; in fact, no atten- tion whatever is paid to right angles and it is not likely that the ordinary rules for finding given location in a city would avail here. The buildings in this peculiar and interesting town have all been erected since cold weather set in and, with very few exceptions, the dwellers are all of the sterner sex. The city commences three or four miles from the lighthouse, and extends several miles out. In former years there existed regularly organized municipal government, with mayor and common council; but believe no such constituted body exists this season, and the peaceable denizens are at hb- erty to erect wooden building inside of the fire limits, if they choose.
 The houses are nearly of uniform size, about four by eight feet. They are cheaply though warmly constructed; generally made of thin pine boards, lined or covered with building paper. The bunk is placed in the end opposite the door, and the pantry is shelf on one side of the hut. A small window in the side admits light; but, while en- gagged in fishing, this is usually covered. The little houses are warmed with sheet iron stoves, about sixteen inches long, round except at the top, where is grid dle for cooking the frugal meal of the occupant.
 In the floor of the shanty is trap door, about twenty inches square, which, on being raised, reveals hole through the ice. The fisherman seats himself on 8 block at one side of tba bola op5 loxuaro into 4ba xcatar herring attached to one end of a string-the opposite end being fastened to the top of the building. The her rings are used for decoys, and are caught as needed. In getting the decoy ready piece of lead, about four inches in length, is forced down the herring's throat (for sinker), a slip-noose, is placed over his head, and he is let down. If alive, he swims unaided; but if dead the fisherman resorts to artificial methods, by dangling the line. The water where the shanties are located is from ten to fifteen feet deep, and the bottom, being usually sandy, is easily discernible. Attached to another string A bles it to be hung on the edge of the floor, whence it is quickly taken when ever the fish come up to the decoy. It is then darted swiftly, and, before an inexperienced person could hardly realize it the victim is pierced and pulled through the ice into the shanty.
 The fish run best early in the morning and after P. M. After dark, lamp with reflector is used. and the busi- ness is prosecuted as consistently as in the daytime. The bulk of the fish caught are pike and pickerel, with oc- casionally trout and whitefsh. When the fishing is good, an industrious fish erman will take out from fifty to 150 pounds per day. The fish run in schools, and the water is often fairly black with them. The fish are sold to wholesale dealers at Bay City and Saginaw, and shipped in every direction. As high as 2,000, 900 pounds have been caught in 9 single season. This year the season commenced rather late, and the product will be smaller.
 The occupation is not without danger, especially in the early spring, when the ice cracks; and there is scarcely season that some of the hardy fishermen are not carried out to sea, from which they are rescued with great difficulty. Last year your correspondent went out in 8 tug with party and rescued half a dozen fishermen, whose retreat had been cut off by the moving out of the ice. When the ice begins to crack and act un- easily, the careful fisherman packs his little domicile on a sled and hauls it to the shore, where it is slowed away for another season. Numbers of shanties are lost every year-the venturesome fishermen remaining on the ice so long that it is impossible to take the shanties across the cracks. The little houses dotting the blue expanse of ice for miles in every direction, present picturesque and curious spectacle, and the city is visited annually by large numbers of in terested strangers.
 About Colds.
 The late Charles Summer was a mem