The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-27
ROUGH FISH ARE
TAKEN FOR. SALE
Commercial Fishing Activities
Cover All Sections of
State.
BY J. r. GOULD,
Commissioner of Game and Fish


Minnesota's commercial fishing &C.
tivities are varied, and confusion
sometimes arises as to their scope and
purposes.
Most persons probably are more
familiar with the inland fishing indus.
try, important from the standpoint of
revenue, but conducted primarily to
remove from the lakes and streams
so-called rough fish, whose presence in
large numbers is held inimical to game
fish conservation and to the main
tenance Of aquatic plant life neces-
sary to the welfare of both game fish
and wild fowl.
The fish, largely carp, which are
shipped principally to the Eastern
market, are taken by commercial
fishermen under contract with the
Game and Fish department awarded
on bids, percentage of the revenue
derived from such operations accruing
to the state on basis stipulated in
the contract.
This practice of awarding contracts
on bids is not generally approved, and
it is contended by many that the con-
tractor should be required to pay
fiat rate per pound for the fish pro-
duced. AS matter of fact, there is
dissatisfaction in relation to other
features of the law governing this in
dustry, and proposals for amendments
frequently are offered.
Seins Freely Used
Much of the inland commercial fish
N &c in, int nv dy-ov rir
the seins under the ice, the season
provided by law being from October 20
April 1, following. Fish other than
the varieties specified sometimes are
taken in the seins, but the operations
are under supervision of the depart
ment, and the protected species are
returned to the water unframed.
Licensed fishermen are permitted to
take non-game fish with nets and seins
from the st. Louis river, the st. Croix
river, including Lake st. Croix, and
in the Mississippi river below the
mouth of the st. Croix and including
Lake Pepin, where such waters form
a common boundary between this and
other states, from June Is to April Is,
following. License fees are based on
the size or character of the nets or
seins, and the fish so taken may be
shipped and sold within or without the
state. Considerable quantities of
carp, buffalofish, sheepshead and few
other varieties are taken by the river
fishermen, who derive good revenue
from their operations.
International commercial fishing
embraces operations in Canadian boun-
Diary water within the jurisdiction Of
the State of Minnesota, including
Lake of the Woods, Rainy and Name
kan lakes. Residents of Minnesota
who are citizens of the United States
are licensed to use specified kinds of
nets in these water during seasons
which vary, and license fees are based
on the type and size of the nets en-
ployed.
Rough Fish Are Taken
In these operations, the fishermen
are privileged to take any variety of
fish except black bass, rock bass, mus
kellunge and sunfish. Their catch is
principally of pike perch (wall-eyed
pike), pickerel, whitefish, perch, stur.
geon and miscellaneous varieties,
which are sold fresh, frozen or cured,
and for which there is a ready mar
ket. Fish buyers and peddlers are
licensed as well as the fishermen.
= The North Shore country skirting
Lake Superior is dotted with fishing
villages. Residents of Minnesota who
are citizens of the United States are
licensed to take herring, lake trout
and ciscoes with gill nets in that part
of Lake Superior under Minnesota
jurisdiction, except during the month
of November. Herring also are taken
in November, and lake trout may be
taken by SETTINGS. The transportation
and sale of fish so taken, either within
or without the state, is permitted.
The type and size of seins and nets
and meshes, their location and other
features in connection with the vari-
Gus commercial fishing operations are
governed by laws and regulations.
These activities of the Game and
Fish department are conducted under
the Bureau of Commercial Fishing,
which is separate and distinct from
the State Fisheries bureau, under
which fishing is conducted on the
Red lakes in Northern Minnesota I'M
der contract between the State and
the United States Bureau Of Indian
Affairs.