St. Paul daily globe., 1895-03-21
Wonders of Rainy Lake.

Exchanging greetings with friends
about the Windsor yesterday was Jean
La Motto, of Montreal For many
years Mr. La Motto has made yearly
visits to the Northwest, and he has just
returned from business trip to the
Rainy Lake country. Apropos to a
hight in the house yesterday over a
ish bill Ire the tolloW,n. utterances
of this obse servant traveller: 'I was
really surprised at the magnitude of
the fshing industry in that region.
Inc hsh taken are sturgeon, and hun
dfeds OF men are engaged all the year
A large amount of money must be
already Invested, and ;,ddilioral large
amounts are being invested every year.
a fleet of steamers is employed in the
business, and besides these the Cana
dian Pacific reaps a handsome revenue
for transportation. From Rat Portage
shipment is made in bond to the United
States. There is m Ich talk of possible
railroads up that way; and well in
formed men are looking to James J
Hill to be the first to tap their country
by railroad. The Duluth & Iron
Range and Nissabe & Northern roads
may, however, get in ahead of him.
At any rate, the first railroad that
touches any point N the navigable
waters of Rainy Lake or river will.
in my opinion, strike paying business
from the start.
Some large Eastern firms are eStab-
fishing branch houses at various points
onsthe lake. They are driven to do this
because Eastern sources of supply are
almost exhausted, while the demand
Tor sturgeon and caviare is steadily in
creaSlng. Everywhere sandwiches
made Of the black paste made of stur-
geon's eggs are becoming popular.
Fishermen are looking for heavy run
of sturgeon this year, and the dealers
in caviare are building high hopes on
this prospect. You must remember
that sturgeon meat will bring an aver
age of five cents a pound, and the
caviare as high as S25 $50 keg, for it
is packed like oysters used to be
twenty years ago. The sturgeon is
caught only in nets, and will run to
300 pounds in weight A buck stur-
geon is not very profitable to the fisher
man, but roe sturgeon of large size
will often net him S., and perhaps sS.
Fertilizer is made from the offal, and
sturgeon oil is also a valuable prod
uct. When the people of Minnesota
come to realize it, they will find in
these sturgeon fisheries a really great
industry, that will add a great deal to
the material prosperity of the state in
the future.
There is great field for the sports
man as well as the gold hunter in that
region. One of the oldest and most
beautiful species of duck ever saw is
native there. The head is almost like
that of a mallard, but there the re-
semblance to any other duck ends
They stay in the waters of the lake
all the year, and in winter are to be
found in the neighborhood of water
falls. 1 was told the Indian name for
them is wood duck. But to come to
mining, let me say that Rainy Lake
City and the surrounding country is
destined to make even st. Paul and
Minneapolis people open their eyes in
aStonishment within a very few years.
The best mines yet shown up are on
Canadian territory, but a class of men
is taking hold on the American side
that will develop verything above or
below ground. And there is evidently
riches to be gained, too for the most
reliable experts say so. Improved
and costly machinery is being put in,
and in some instances money is be-
ing spent like. water. Owners of
stock in good mines are not selling
cents worth, and the class of men in
terested are solid enough to stay by
the country until success is assured"