Old Mackinaw Part 19

Salisbury, Conn., iron 58,009 Swedish (best) 58,184 English cable 59,105 Centre county, Pa. 59,400 Ess.e.x county, N. Y., 59,962 Lancaster county, Pa. 58,661 Russia (best) 76,069 Common English and American 30,000 Lake Superior 89,582

The manufacture of pig iron at Marquette will probably be carried on even more extensively as the attention of capitalists is directed to it. The following may be considered a fair statement of the cost of producing one ton of pig iron at the Pioneer Iron Co.'s works:

1-1/2 tons iron ore, at $1.50 per ton $2 50 125 bushels charcoal at 7 cents per bushel 8 75 Fluxing 50 Labor 2 50 Incidental expenses 1 00 ------ Cost at the works 15 00 Freight on R. R. and dockage 1 37 ------ Cost on board vessel $16 36

The quant.i.ty of wood required for charcoal for both furnaces, is immense. The pioneer furnace requires 2,500 bushels of coal in twenty-four hours; and in blast as they are, day and night, for six months, and at a yield of forty bushels of coal to a cord of wood, it would require 15,000 cords of wood to keep them going. The company has had 120,000 cords chopped this season. This vast consumption of wood will soon cause the country to be completely stripped of its timber.

Coal will then come into use. The business of manufacturing pig iron may be extended indefinitely, as the material is without limit, and the demand, thus far, leaving nothing on hand.

These facts exhibit the untold wealth of Michigan in iron alone, and point with certainty to an extent of business that will add millions to our invested capital, dot our State with iron manufactories of all kinds, and furnish regular employment to tens of thousands of our citizens, while our raw material and our wares shall be found in all the princ.i.p.al markets of the world.

The superior fish, found in such profusion in our n.o.ble lakes and rivers, while they afford a highly-prized luxury for immediate consumption, from one of our leading articles of export, and are very justly regarded as const.i.tuting one of our greatest interests.

It is estimated by men of intelligence that the value of our yearly catch of fish is greater than that of all taken in fresh waters in the thirty-two remaining States of the Union. This may at first blush seem like a broad a.s.sertion, but it is no doubt strictly within bounds. If the claim be not too much of the nature of a truism, we may add that so far as quality is concerned the superiority of our finny tribes is even more strongly marked than in regard to quant.i.ty. In the sluggish streams that abound in "ten degrees of more effulgent clime," the fish partake of the slimy properties of their native element; it is only in the limpid waters of the North that they are found of flavor so unexceptionable as to please an epicurean taste, or exalt them to the dignity of a staple of commerce. Fish possess peculiar qualities to commend them as an article of food, independent of the arbitrary preference of the epicure. They are universally esteemed as a wholesome and nutritious diet. In that pleasant work, Irving's "Astoria," a tribe of Indians are described who subsisted entirely on fish, whose rotund appearance contrasted strongly with the physique of their brethren of the forest. The profusion with which the finny tribes propagate their species is a peculiarity said to be imparted to those who partake freely and regularly of them for food, a supposition which would seem to be strongly supported by facts. Fishermen are proverbial for the number of their descendants. One of the tribe who dries his nets in Sarnia, is the happy father of nineteen children, and we can cite numerous proofs almost equally striking in support of this theory.

The fisheries have always been a leading subject in the government policy of seaboard nations. They are a prime source of revenue, and have been the cause of numerous wars. The serious controversy between the United States and Great Britain concerning the Newfoundland fisheries, is still fresh in the memory of our readers. Recently the earnest attention of the French government has been directed to propositions for the artificial propagation of fish, as a means of affording good and cheap food to the people at a merely nominal cost.

The gradual diminution of the species, as well as the ultimate extinction of the large birds and quadrupeds, is everywhere a condition of advanced civilization and the increase and spread of an industrial population. To provide a remedy for the evil, the science of pisciculture has latterly attracted no small degree of attention, and, at this time, gentlemen prominently identified with our fishing interest have it in contemplation to stock lakes in the interior of Michigan with a view to the prosecution of the science.

Most of the fish packed on Lake Huron, and rivers St. Clair and Detroit, find their way into the Ohio market. The trade with that State has rapidly increased, but in its early stages it had some difficulties to contend with, to one of which we will briefly allude.

Some twelve or fourteen years ago, a large quant.i.ty of fish, not less than 8,000 to 10,000 barrels, which had been caught in Lake Superior, were in the possession of a single dealer, who had them stored in the large warehouse recently torn down at the Detroit and Milwaukee Railway depot. He had opportunities to dispose of them at $8 per barrel, but refused to sell them for less than $10, and the result was that they were kept so long that many of them spoiled. They were complained of as a nuisance, and 1,500 barrels were turned out into the river at one time. Part of the lot was, however, sent to Ohio, and the effect was, for a time, extremely prejudicial to our trade, requiring a great deal of explanation before the Cincinnati dealers could be again induced to stand in the position of customers. But when confidence once more became fairly restored, the circ.u.mstance seemed to have the effect to precipitate the trade between the two cities. At least it grew rapidly from that day, our neighbors purchasing freely of our staple articles and sending us sugar and mola.s.ses in return.

Thus, as in Samson's time, honey was gathered from the carca.s.s of the dead lion. Ohio has become a very large consumer of our fish, and her influence is being extended rapidly into Indiana.

The habits of fish are as interesting as anything in the animal economy, const.i.tuting a beautiful study for the lover of nature; but this branch does not come within the scope of our article, and we must content ourselves with a brief description of the princ.i.p.al varieties, particularly such as are held in highest repute for packing, with such statistics as we have been able to procure.

Whitefish are more highly prized than any other kind found in our waters, being decidedly the most delicious in a fresh state, and when packed command a higher price than any other by $1 per bbl. They are found in the Straits and all the Lakes. They sp.a.w.n in the fall, in the Straits, and in shoals and on reefs about the Lakes. They are caught in seines, gill nets, trap nets, and with spears; never with hooks.

Those found in Detroit river come up from Lake Erie regularly in the fall to deposit their sp.a.w.n. They were found in our lakes and rivers in vast quant.i.ties when the white men first visited their sh.o.r.es. They const.i.tuted, with other kinds, the princ.i.p.al food of the white and Indian voyagers as they coasted around the lakes, and were invaluable to the first settlers of the country, who, perhaps in some cases, but for the a.s.sistance they afforded, would have been compelled to relinquish their settlements. They could catch a supply at any time, and they then had an unfailing resort when their crops failed.

Whitefish were a great favorite with the Indians. They would give many times their weight in trout or any other species in exchange for them.

It is said that a person can subsist longer upon them than upon any other kind.

Their ordinary weight is from 3 to 5 lbs, length 15 inches, though some have been caught weighing not less than 18 lbs. They are a beautiful fish, and when first taken out of the water and struggle and flounder in the sun, they exhibit all the colors of the rainbow, but they soon expire, and when dead they are of a delicate white color.

The trout, pike, and muscalonge devour them without mercy. Some of these voracious kinds have been caught with the remains of six white-fish in them.

The Detroit River white-fish are more juicy and better flavored than those caught in the upper lakes, probably from the fact that they feed on more delicate food, but those found in Lake Superior surpa.s.s all others in size. They were once so numerous that eight thousand were taken at a single haul. At present a haul of one or two thousand is thought a very good one. In all the rivers they are growing scarce very gradually, but surely. The ratio of decrease cannot be arrived at with any degree of precision. A few years ago they were mostly taken with gill nets, and when they fell of in one place, a corresponding increase would be found in another. Now they are taken with trap nets along the sh.o.r.e. The trap nets are a decided advantage over gill nets.

They allow the fish to be kept alive, and they are taken out at leisure; they are therefore of better quality.

Pickerel are also held in high esteem. They are good either fresh, or salted and dried, and for packing, rank next in value to white, although held nominally at the same price as trout when packed. They generally run up the rivers and lakes in the spring to sp.a.w.n, where they are caught in considerable numbers. Average weight, 2 lbs; large, 20 lbs; common length, 15 inches.

Lake or Mackinaw trout are as voracious as pike. They are chiefly caught on Lake Huron with gill nets and hooks. Saginaw Bay appears to be a favorite resort with them. Some winters large quant.i.ties are caught in the Bay through the ice, with a decoy fish and spear. They sp.a.w.n in the fall, generally in the bays and inlets. Average weight 5 lbs; large 75 lbs.

Siscowits are mostly found in Lake Superior, and are preferred by some to any other kind. They are of the trout family, and for fat are unequaled; they are mostly taken in gill nets. They sp.a.w.n in the fall, and are very superior for packing. They are also of some value for their oil. Common weight 4 pounds, length 16 inches.

Large herrings are very good fish, found only in the straits and large lakes. They sp.a.w.n in the fall; but few are caught. Average weight 1-3/4 pounds; common length 10 inches.

In addition to the above the muskelonge--a large and delicious variety--black and white ba.s.s, rock ba.s.s, perch, sturgeon, and at least twenty other kinds, abound in our waters; a minute description of which we are compelled to forego. Whitefish are taken both spring and fall, chiefly the latter; spring is the season for pickerel; trout are taken at all seasons.

Something over a year since some excitement was occasioned by a mode of fishing adopted by a party of fishermen on Detroit river, who stationed nets over a mile and a half in extent across the mouth of the stream, a proceeding that was not only calculated to destroy the value of the seine fisheries above, but which would ultimately have driven the fish out of the river altogether. A formidable opposition was of course arrayed against this unusual and unwarrantable proceeding, and the party found it expedient to desist, but the Legislature, which met shortly after, failed to pa.s.s an inhibitive measure. This action, or rather want of action, would have been considered extraordinary in a State less favored by nature.

We have fortunately been able to procure estimates of the amount of the catch at all the various fisheries, together with other leading statistics; and with the view of imparting to the subject a more general interest, we include two or three points beyond the limits of the State. The estimates are furnished by gentlemen of intelligence and experience, and may be relied on as substantially correct:

Sandusky fisheries, catch mostly sold fresh:

Whitefish, valuation $50,000 Pickerel, ba.s.s, etc 40,000 Value of seines and fixtures 16,000 Paid for wages 37,000

Maumee River, pickerel, white ba.s.s, etc., etc., mostly sold fresh:

Valuation $50,000 Seines and fixtures $15,000 Paid for wages 12,000

Maumee Bay and Monroe County, Michigan, white fish and pickerel:

Valuation $20,000 Pounds, seines, and fixtures 9,000 Paid for wages 10,000

Detroit River, nearly all white:

Valuation $75,000 Seines, fishing grounds, and fixtures 40,000 Paid for wages 20,000

St. Clair River and Rapids, mostly pickerel:

Valuation $11,000 Cost of fixtures 2,000 Paid for wages 1,200

Port Huron to Point au Barque, 3,000 barrels, mostly white:

Valuation $25,000

Au Sauble 6,000 barrels, 3/4 white, the rest trout:

Valuation $50,000 Boats, nets, etc. 13,000 Paid for wages 7,000

Thunder Bay and vicinity, above Sauble River, 6,000 barrels, mostly white:

Valuation $50,000

Saginaw Bay and River, 2,000 barrels pickerel and 1,500 white and trout:

Valuation $32,000

Tawas, 600 barrels, mostly white:

Valuation $5,000

Between Thunder Bay and Mackinac, 500 barrels, mostly white:

Valuation $4,500

Mackinac, including all brought there, 7,500 barrels, 3/4 or 7/8 white:

Valuation $62,000

Beaver Islands and neighborhood, 7,000 barrels, nearly all white:

Valuation $59,000