The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-06
GREAT LAKES FISHERIES.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
The census report for 1900 of the
great lakes fisheries is expected to con-
tain surprises in respect to the extern
sion of the fisheries during the last ten
years in the great lakes OF Superior,
Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario.
From 1880 to 1890 the number of fisher
men actually engaged in these waters
increased SO per cent. The capital in
vested during the same period in
crease 10 per cent. and the fish taken
increased from 6S,C00O00 to lis, 900, 600
pounds, or 20 per cent. Lake Ontario
was the only one to show a loss. In
fact, the great lakes fisheries are now
the fisheries of the great lakes to the
west of Buffalo, and Lake ontario is
no longer a factor in the matter.
Since 1890 the increase in the num-
Der OF fishermen, in capital invested in
these fisheries and in the amount of
fish taken has shown a ratio even
larger than prior to 1890. and it Is for
this reason that some important sur
prises are expected in the next national
census. Very few persons have any
very clear idea of the wonderful pro-
ductiveness in fish Of the waters of the
great lakes. AN estimate based on the
known production showed that in the
decade terminating with the census of
1890 1000 100000 pounds of fish were
taken, which yielded the fishermen $25,
000,000. In 1890 6,99S persons were en-
gagged in the capture of fish in the great
lakes. These employed 107 steamers,
valued at $3.50, 900, and 1876 vessels and
boats, worth S325,OOO. The apparatus
used consisted of $500 pounds net and
trap nets, the value of which was $685.
900; gill nets to the value of Si000 900; 176
seines and other apparatus. The capt.
tai invested in shore property directly
connected with the fisheries was nearly
$1,000,000. These items give, as the
total investment in fishing property,
about S3,000000. The quantity of fish
taken was 11S.0O0,O0O pounds, the value
Of which at wholesale was 81 615, 7S4,
and at retail probably $5,0GO,00O.
One curious reason to account for
the increase of the lake fisheries is the
advent, especially in the more western
lakes, of many immigrants from the
fishing and maritime countries of Eu-
rope particularly Norway, Sweden,
Germany, Denmark and Finland. The
Scandlnaians and naties of the Bal-
tic provinces of Germany, as is we'll
known, are excellent fishermen, and
many of these Scandinavians and Ger
mans, after coming to the United
States, haev taken up here the same
avocations as they pursued in their
own countries. with the result that
there is near each of the great lakes
what may be called a fisherman popu-
of Canada are largely in the control
of the descendants of two classes of
emigrants-the Bretons from France
and the Scotch and north of Ireland
fishermen. In similar fashion much of
the extensive fishery business of the
Pacific slope is in the hands of Scan
dnavians or Portuguese fishermen, and
New Bedford, Mass, still the headquar-
ters of what remains Of the once-cel-
ebrated and lucrative whale fisheries,
has still a considerable local Portu-
guese population devoted to the busi-
ness of whaling. Two thirds of the
catch of the fisheries of the great lakes
is made up of four kinds of fish-her-
ring, trout, whitefish and sturgeon. The
catch of lake trout, which is one Of the
most important and highly esteemed
fishes of the great lakes, increased from
4 .397 0S1 pounds, or 65 per cent, from
1850 to 1890. 1t is most abundant in
Lake Michigan. Next to herring white
fish is the most abundant and most
profitable catch in the great lakes.