Greg Hanson
March 3 , 2008
Chapter 2— The Great Lakes Fishery
The second chapter in Robert Doherty’s “Disputed Waters: Native Americans and the Great Lakes Fishery” takes on a discussion about the over exploitation of the great lakes fishery.
Doherty touched on many of the topics involving the expansion of the great lakes fishery. For hundreds of years Indians sustainably fished this region with no fallout in the fish populations. During the spring and summer months scoop nets, spears and small gill nets allowed the Chippewas to catch fish in abundant numbers. The fish provided them both as a source of food and as an item to trade. Starting in the 1830s the whites entering the region completely restructured the fishery. The American Fur Company was the first to organize a large scale commercial fishing operation in the northern great lakes. The company hired French and Indian fisherman who followed the shore of Lake Superior to well known fishing grounds. As news of this great fishery expanded; English, Irish, and Scandinavian immigrants settle in the north near the better fishing grounds. Indians were not just working as employees; they also fished for themselves as well. Beginning in the 1850s, technological innovations improved transportation and revolutionized the Upper Great Lakes fishery. Now a few big fishermen could dominate the ports and railroads enabled a small number of wholesalers to control the northern businesses. For economic success depended on large investments on complex gear. Changes like this, and increased capitalization crippled the Chippewas and Ottawas. All of money being made was by the big operators and the longtime local resisdents gained very little.
The local economy of the Great Lake fishery fell apart from a series of problems. The ways that the Indians harvested fish was sustainable and they never felt the pressure of competition for this resource. When outsiders started to settle in the region it started the fallout for the local communities. Large scale companies owned the biggest boats and the largest nets. With so many fish being caught the price of this resource was so low that only the large scale operators could make a profit, bringing the locals into a life of poverty.
The great lakes fishery was the commons for all to use. This is where the problem really began. So much wealth and opportunity and no restrictions to the fishermen drove out all the small local fisherman and all the wealth went to a select few companies.
Chapter 4—Tourism and Sport Fishing.
The fourth chapter in Robert Doherty’s “Disputed
Waters: Native Americans and the Great Lakes Fishery” takes
on a discussion of tourism in the Great Lakes region.
According to Doherty, Native Americans have been cheated out of much of their land and natural resources and lacked adequate opportunities to support themselves. Some Chippewas could not support themselves even in good times. Indian land owners were much lower than that of non-Indian land owners. Lumbering expanded in the upper Michigan at about the same time Chippewas and Ottawas were being squeezed out and pushed down in the fishing and agriculture. To make a living, Indians turned to wood-related businesses. Tourism began in the 1950’s where new opportunities arrived to make money. Tourists came from higher social strata and many were members of wealthy and powerful families. Tourism was especially prevalent during the summer months when crowds of vacationers flocked to the region. Tourist came to region because they were fed up with urban living and wanted cleaner environments without the everyday bustle. With the flood of the new tourists came hotels, fast-food restaurants, and many other facilities to suit the needs of the new population. Eating and drinking establishments provide more positions than other activity. These new jobs didn’t mean jobs for locals; this is because most of the new jobs went to the newcomers. Rising land prices and economic development brought profits to many landowners, real estate agents and construction firms, however this drove out agriculture. Property values were so high that traditional agriculture practices could not compete. Taxes became too high for farmers and many were forced to sell out. Unemployment follows a seasonal cycle that runs parallel with the tourism. Tourism seldom helped long-time residents get economic security. The Great lakes fishery was in ruins in the 1950s because of over fishing as well as the invasion of the sea lamprey which further hindered the fishery. The lampreys upset the predator-prey relationship. State and federal agents began programs to eliminate the lampreys as well as stocking the lakes with trout and coho. The lamprey problem started to become under control and lake trout and coho became the new sport fishery in northern Michigan.
Tourism brought opportunity for many people; however it didn’t always help the long time residents of the region. Many new businesses were only profitable on a seasonable basis leaving families needing income year round struggling when the tourists were not present. The fishery went through ups and downs with the introduction of the sea lamprey and over fishing. Some species rebounded with great success while others struggled.
Date created: June, 2002
Last modified: {Update}
Copyright ©2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 George R. Spangler