The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-01
aOOT WOULD SAVE
LAKES FISHERIES
Plans Agreement with Britain for
Protection of Fresh Water
Industry. .&
To Execute the Plan Congress
Will Have to Pass a. Spe-
cial Act.
Journal Special Service.


Washington, Jan. 1.-Preservat1on
and development of the fisheries Of the
great lakes are the purposes OF an
agreement which will be signed in the
new year by Secretary Root and Min
lister Durand. This agreement will
provide for the appointment of COM
mission to draft uniform laws and regu-
lations for the protection of fisheries Is
and for the culture Of species which
can thrive in the inland seas. Laws
and regulations are to be enforced by
the federal authorities and Canadian
authorities, thus taking control Of this
jurisdiction of the states. The laws
and regula tions are to remain in force
Ave years, after which time they may
be revised.
Few people will appreciate the great
Importance of this agreement between
the two countries. The amount of fish
taken from the lakes has steadily de-
clined There has been almost COM
plete disappearance of the maskalonge
reduction in the catch of the tooth
some whitefsh, with which the waters
ing rarity of the wall-eyed pike, and a
general falling off of the catches in the
best fishing grounds.
Decrease in Lake Superior.
This decrease is best shown perhaps,
by the experience of the fishermen
who operate in Lake Superior, which
has always been noted for tie large
quantities of whitefish an / trout taken
In it's waters. The catch Of these spe-
cies is becoming smaller each succeed
Ing year. For instance. the catch IF
whitefsh decreased in five years over
2,0t0 600 pounds. Thu decrease IN the
amount of fish placed upon the market
directly affects all the people Of the
country, who have to pay higher prices
for lake products or patronize the beef
the great lakes fisheries has been esti.
mated by the bureau of fisheries and
furnished to Secretary Root for his
information. The amount of capital in
vested is a little more than seven mil
lions. The products of the fisheries in
one year aggregated 10000, 900 pounds
valued at $2,6l4,349. Lake Erie, with
its shoaler waters, produced the most
reporting catch Of 5S,000,00O pounds
valued at $ll50.S95. Lake Michigan
was second with 34,499.000 pounds, val
ued at $S76,O0G. Lake Huron was
third with 100000 pounds, valued al
$3OS,OO0. The wholesale fishery trade
on Lake Michigan is most extensive a
Chicago and Green Bay, Wis.
Consolidation the Rule.
e. The tendency toward consolidation
which exists in the fresh fish trade O
nearly every section Of the great lake
early had it's effect on Chicago an,
g Green Bay, a certain number Of firm
in each combining under one manage
ment, which now handles the create
portion of fresh fish. Chicago is tn
most important distributing center 70
the great lakes region, the total invest
ment approximating 100000 and tn
total value of products being nearl
$5,oo0,o00. Canada s interest in til
preservation of the great lakes fshe1
les is as great as that Of the Unite
States. In order to execute the agree
mentt with the British government, tn
president will have to ask congress t
enact law comforting upon the federf
government authority to regulate lax
fisheries. There are eight states int
ested in the industries States on MOI
than one lake are Michigan, which bo
ders on four lakes, and New York an
Wisconsin, each on two. The otht
states are Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Mi
nesota and Pennsylvania.