large spur of country which projects far out into the lake, having its base resting on a line drawn across from L'Anse Bay to Ontonagon, and the Porcupine Mountains for its spine, became the El Dorado of all copperdom of that day. In that year the first active operations were commenced at the Cliff Mine, just back of Eagle River Harbor. Three years later, in 1848, work was undertaken at the Minnesota, some fifteen miles back from the lake at Ontonagon. The history of the copper mines on Lake Superior shows that even the best mines disappointed the owners in the beginning. We give the facts relative to the three mines at present in the Lake Superior region to illustrate this. The Cliff Mine was discovered in 1845, and worked three years without much sign of success; it changed hands at the very moment when the vein was opened, which proved afterwards to be so exceedingly rich in copper and silver, producing now, on an average, 1,500 tons of stamp, barrel, and mass copper per annum. The Minnesota Mine was discovered in 1848, and for the first three years gave no very encouraging results. The first large mass of native copper of about seven tons was found in a pit made by an ancient race. After that discovery much money was spent before any further indications of copper were found. This mine yields now about 2,000 tons of copper per annum, and declared for the year 1858 a net dividend of $300,000. The dividends paid since 1852 amount to upwards of $1,500,000 on a paid up capital of $66,000. The same has been experienced at the Pewabic Mine. That mine commenced operations in the year 1855, with an expenditure of $26,357, which produced $1,080 worth of copper; the second year it expended $40,820, and produced $31,492 of copper; in 1857, $54,484 of expenses produced $44,058 worth of copper; in 1858, the amount expended was $109,152, and the receipts for copper $76,538; the total expense amounts to $235,816, and the total receipts for copper to $153,168, leaving an excess of expense amounting to $82,648, which is, however, amply covered by the extensive works established above and below ground at the mine. The Pewabic will undoubtedly take its place atmong the dividend-paying mines of the present year.

It is scarcely ten years that mining has been properly commenced in that remote region. At that time it was difficult, on account of the rapids of St. Mary's River, to approach it by water with large craft. Being more than a thousand miles distant from the center of the Union, destitute of all the requirements for the development of mines; every tool, every part of machinery, every mouthful of provisions had to be hauled over the rapids, boated along the shores for hundreds of miles to the copper region, and there often carried on the back of man and beast to the place where copper was believed to exist. Every stroke of the pick cost tenfold more than in populated districts; every disaster delayed the operations for weeks and months. The opening of the Sault Canal has changed all this, and added a wonderful impetus to the business, the mining interests, and the development of the Lake Superior country. Nearly one hundred different vessels, steam and sail, have been engaged the past season in its trade, and the number of these is destined largely to increase year by year, an indication of the growth of business and the opening up of the country. For the growth in the copper interest we have only to refer to the shipments from that region year by year. These, in gross, are as follows:

The same facts of development would hold generally true with regard to the other industrial interests of that vast country.

The copper region is divided into three districts, viz., the Ontonagon, the most northern, the Keweenaw Point, the most eastern, and the Portage Lake, lying mostly below and partially between the range of the two. In the first are situated the Minnesota, the Rockland, the National, and a multitude of other mines of lesser note, profit, or promise. In the second are the Cliff, the Copper Falls, and others. In the last are the Pewabic, Quincy, Isle Royale, Portage, Franklin, and numerous others. Each district has some peculiarities of product, the first developing more masses, while the latter are more prolific in vein-rock, the copper being scattered throughout the rock. There have been since 1845 no less than 116 copper mining companies organized under the general law of Michigan. The amount of capital invested and now in use, or which has been paid out in explorations and improvements and lost, is estimated by good judges at $6,000,000. The nominal amount of capital stock invested in all the companies which have charters would reach an indefinite number of millions. As an offset to this it may be stated that the Cliff and Minnesota mines have returned over $2,000,000 in dividends from the beginning of their operations, and the value of these two mines will more than cover the whole amount spent in mining, and for all the extravagant undertakings which have been entered upon and abandoned. The copper is smelted mainly in Detroit, Cleveland, and Boston. There is one establishment at Pittsburg, which we believe does most of the smelting for the Cliff Mine; one at Bergen, N. Y., and one at New Haven, Conn. There are two at Baltimore, but they are engaged on South American mineral. The Bruce Mines, on the Canada side of Lake Huron, have recently put smelting works in operation on their location. Prior to this the mineral was barreled up and shipped to London, being taken over as ballast in packet ships at low rates. The amount of copper smelted in Detroit we can only judge by the amount landed, but this will afford a pretty accurate estimate, The number of tons landed in 1859 was 3,088. The copper yield of Lake Superior will produce between 60 and 70 per cent of ingot copper, which is remarkably pure. The net product of the mines for 185 is worth in the markets of the world nearly or quite $2,000,000. This large total shows the capabilities of this region, and affords us some basis of calculation as to the value and probable extent of its future developments. Besides the amount already noticed as landed, there were 1,268 tons brought to Detroit from the Bruce Mines, and sent on to London. The mineral of this location is of a different quality from that of Lake Superior, and not near as productive of pure copper. The price of ingot copper in New York the past season has ranged from 20 to 234 cents per pound, averaging full 224 cts.

The extent and value of the pine lands of Michigan was for a long time a matter of debate. The resurvey of portions of the government land, the exploration of the country by parties in search of pine, the developments made by the exploring and surveying parties along the lines of the land grant railroads, and the more recent examinations by the different commissions for laying out the several State roads under the acts passed by the last Legislature, have removed every doubt in reference

to the subject. The universal testimony from all the sources above mentioned seem to be that in all the natural elements of wealth the whole of the northern part of the peninsula abounds. A large proportion of the pine lands of the State are in the hands of the canal company and individuals who are holding them as an investment, and it is no detriment to this great interest that the whole State has been thus explored and the choicest of the lands secured. It is a remarkable fact that almost every stream of water in the State, north of Grand River, penetrates a district of pine lands, and the mouths of nearly all these streams are already occupied with lumbering establishments of greater or less magnitude. These lumber colonies are the pioneers, and generally attract around them others who engage in agriculture, and thus almost imperceptibly the agricultural interests of the State are spreading and developing in every direction. The want of suitable means of access alone prevents the rapid settlement of large and fertile districts of the State.

The valley of the Muskegon embraces every variety of soil and timber, and is one of the most attractive portions of the peninsula. The pine lands upon this river are scattered all along the valley in groups or tracts containing several thousand acres each, interspersed with hard timber, and surrounded by fine agricultural lands. The Pere Marquette River and White River, large streams emptying into Lake Michigan, pass through a region possessing much the same characteristics. This whole region is underlaid with lime rock, a rich soil, well watered with living springs, resembling in many features the Grand River Valley. Beds of gypsum have been discovered on the head waters of the Pere Marquette.

The unsettled counties in the northern portion of the State, the northern portion of Montcalm and Gratiot, Isabella, Gladwin, Clare, and a portion of Midland, are not inferior to any other portion. There is a

magnificent body of pine stretching from the head of Flat River, in Montcalm County, to the upper waters of the Tettibewassee, and growing upon a fine soil, well adapted to agriculture. This embraces a portion of the Saginaw Valley, and covers the high ground dividing the waters of lakes Huron and Michigan.

In the lower peninsula there are, in round numbers, about 24,000,000 acres of land. Taking Houghton Lake, near the center of the State, as a point of view, the general surface may be comprehended as follows:— The Muskegon Valley to the southwest, following the Muskegon River in its course to Lake Michigan-the western slope of the peninsula directly west, embracing the pine and agricultural districts along the valleys of several large streames emptying into Lake Michigan-the large and beautiful region to the northwest, embracing the valley of the Manistee and the undulating lands around Grand Traverse Bay-northward, the region embraces the head waters of the Manistee and Au Sauble, with the large tracts of excellent pine in that locality, and beyond, the agricultural region extending to Little Traverse Bay and the Straits of Mackinaw-to the northeast, the valley of the Au Sauble, and the pine region of Thunder Bay-to the east, the pine and hard timber extending to Saginaw Bay-to the southeast, the Saginaw Valley; and to the south, the high lands before described in the central counties. That portion of the State south of Saginaw and the Grand River Valley is so well known that a description here would be unnecessary. Thus we have yet undeveloped over half of the surface of this peninsula, embracing certainly 12,000,000

to 15,000,000 of acres, possessing stores of wealth in the timber upon its surface, reserving soil for the benefit of those who, as the means of communication are opened, will come in and possess it, and thus introduce industry and prosperity into our waste places.

The most experienced judges concur in fixing the amount of logs got out this winter on River St. Clair, at Port Huron, and Saginaw Bay, but not including the rivers above, at 175,000,000 feet. In the Saginaws, it is ascertained that about 100,000,000 will be got out. Taking the entire coast, it is thought the logs this winter would exceed those of last by 15 to 20 per cent. By Custom-house statements of shipments, added to actual receipts at one of the receiving points-Chicago-it will be seen. below that for 1859 a little over 269,000,000 feet is the amount of shipments arrived at. These figures, taken in connection with the estimates of those competent to judge, render it certain that the actual amount shipped out of the State did not vary materially from 400,000,000 feet. There being no penalty involved in the failure of masters of vessels to report, there is great carelessness in the matter. The Cleveland, Toledo, and Sandusky shipments are, at the outside, not more than half reported. Those reported to Buffalo, Oswego, &c., are a little nearer the truth, but they fall considerably below the mark. The amount made in 1859 did not vary materially from that shipped. In the district embracing the River St. Clair, Port Huron, and the lake shore, 6,000,000 feet more were wintered over last year than this. On the west coast it was different generally, so that the variation in the aggregate cannot be much either way. The capacity of the mills in the pine lumber region is 900,000,000 feet, or possibly a little more.

As regards the amount of shingles made, even dealers are much in the dark. To add 50 per cent to the Custom-house returns would certainly be within bounds for the eastern coast. This would give 120,000,000 as the amount. For the west coast, if we take the amount received at Chicago, say 165,000,000, with an additional 25 per cent for that received at Milwaukee, and then estimate that two-thirds of the whole amount were from the west coast of Michigan, which is doubtless true, we have 137,500,000 as the amount shipped by that coast, and 257,500,000 for the whole State.

The improved demand for staves has greatly stimulated the production, and in localities where the production of pine lumber is decreasing, that of staves is taking its place. At Saginaw, 2,500,000 were got out last year, and this year there will be full as much or more. The greatest activity prevails, and dressing by machinery has been started. At Lakeport, Burchville, Lexington, Port Sanilac, Forester, Point aux Barque, and Forestville, 850,000 were got out last year; from Port Huron and St. Clair, 750,000; the amount turned out in the whole State could not have been short of 20,000,000.

The lumber on the east coast is worth at the mills $9 per M.; that on the west coast, $7; at the average of $8, the amount made last year would be worth $3,200,000; the value of shingles, at $2 per M., was $515,000; and the lath, at $1 per M., are worth $133,000. The capital invested in the State in the business is $8,029,500.

An intelligent gentleman, who recently visited all the establishments around Saginaw, and procured statistics, reports the amount of lumber manufactured as follows:

Valuation, at $8 50 per M., $620,925. The rafted lumber includes what was cut by the small mills above and floated down, and also that brought in from the country mills by teams. Of the above lumber, 63,000,000 has been shipped; the rest is now on the docks.

The supply of pine in some few localities is becoming exhausted, and some few mills have ceased operating. This is the case at Lexington, but the machinery and capital have been taken elsewhere. At the present ratio of consumption, the supply of pine must rapidly become diminished, but profitable employment will then be found in the manufacture of hemlock and hard wood. Some little has already been done in the way of turning out hemlock, and the manufacture of hard-wood lumber is increasing very rapidly. The reported shipments of the State foot up as follows:

If accurate returns could be given of the receipts at the ports on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, it is altogether probable that nearly or quite the amount we have estimated would be shown, viz., 400,000,000 feet. As we have herein before stated, not more than half the shipments to the Lake Erie ports ever find their way to our Custom-house books.

The fisheries of Michigan are a great resource. It is estimated by men of intelligence that the value of her 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 assertion, but it is no doubt strictly within bounds. 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 having rapidly increased. The principal varieties of fish are

WHITE FISH.-These 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 barrel. They are found in the straits and all the lakes; they spawn 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 spears-never with hooks. Their ordinary weight is from three to five pounds, length fifteen inches, though some have been caught weighing not less than eighteen pounds. 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