Part 20 (1/2)

Green Bay in Michigan, 3,000 barrels, all white:

Valuation $25,500

Island between De Tour and the Saut, 1,000 barrels, 2/3 white, the rest trout:

Valuation $8,000

Green Bay in Wisconsin, 2,500 barrels white and 500 barrels pickerel, all packed:

Valuation $25,000

Of the catch of Lake Huron, only an inconsiderable amount are sold fresh. On Detroit River about 4,000 barrels were packed last year.

Having procured specific information of the cost of outfit and amount paid for wages at the Sauble fisheries, we have taken such expenditures as the basis for those of all the upper lake fisheries in proportion to the catch, which in the main will doubtless prove substantially correct. At the Sauble last season there were sixteen boats employed for two months, and eight for the rest of the season.

The value of the boats was $200 each, and the nets, etc., cost an additional sum of $600 for each, making the aggregate value of the boats and their outfit about $13,000. About forty men were employed on an average during the season, receiving a probable aggregate of $7,000 for wages. Taking these outlays, etc., as a fair average, and we have the following result:

From Port Huron to the Beavers, inclusive, together with Green Bay in Michigan, and the Saut Islands:

Cost of outfit $83,500 Amount paid for wages 45,000 Average number of men 300

The amount s.h.i.+pped from Lake Superior, as appears from the report of the Superintendent of the Saut ca.n.a.l is 4,000 barrels. This is probably not a t.i.the of what might be done. The mouth of almost every stream in that region affords good fis.h.i.+ng grounds, which is also true of most of the islands, particularly Isle Royale, where the siscowit is very abundant.

The fisheries on the east coast of Lake Michigan have for about six years past increased very rapidly in importance, some years gaining 100 per cent, on the year preceding. A few years since a party of Norwegians came on and embarked in the business, which they have prosecuted ever since with advantage and profit. Trained in the severe school of their rugged northern home, they exhibit the greatest daring, going out in their tiny craft during the heaviest gales. They frequently venture out twenty-five miles from sh.o.r.e, almost meeting their countrymen from the Wisconsin side of the lake, who are engaged in the same hazardous calling. We have the following returns:

Little Traverse, 600 barrels:

Valuation $4,000 300 nets and 6 boats, worth 1,800 Paid for wages 575

Big Point Sauble, 1,500 barrels:

Valuation $12,000 600 nets and 8 boats 3,600 Paid for wages 1,700

Little Point Sauble, 2,000 barrels:

Valuation $16,500 750 nets and 10 boats 4,500 Paid for wages 2,000

White Lake, 1,500 barrels:

Valuation $12,000 500 nets and 5 boats 3,000 Paid for wages 1,600

Grand Haven, 4,000 barrels:

Valuation $32,800 800 nets and 8 boats 4,000 Paid for wages 5,000

Saugatuck, 2,000 barrels:

Valuation $16,000 600 nets and 6 boats 3,600 Paid for wages 2,500

South Haven, 2,100 barrels:

Valuation $16,800 600 nets and 6 boats 1,200 Paid for wages 2,500