 Eleanor B | Introduction | Wolverine II  |
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| Eleanor B | Introduction | Wolverine II |
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Cisco, or herring, (Coregonus artedi) are an elongate fish native to Lake Superior. Herring feed primarily on zooplankton. Historically herring were the primary prey of lean lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). In the recent past, however, with the collapse of herring stocks and increase in abundance of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) lake trout have switched to consuming primarily smelt. Thus, herring are a prey fish and serve as a vital trophic link between secondary producers and top-level predators.
Historically herring have provided a valuable fishery in Lake Superior. During late November herring congrate over spawning grounds in preparation for spawning. At these times, herring are fished with suspended gill nets. Currently these fish are captured as much for the roe, which is processed and sold to Scandinavia as caviar, as for the flesh. Historically herring were salted, packed in boxes, and sold to larger markets for their flesh. With time, the herring will descend at night to spawn on shoals. At these times most fisherman will quit fishing herring as the eggs are too loose to harvest effectively. However, some fishermen will continue to harvest herring with bottom set gillnets.
The herring fishery in Wisconsin supported very large harvests of fish during the early to mid 20th century (left below). However, beginning in 1955 the fishery began to collaps and by 1962 production numbers had declined dramatically. The abundance of herring has increased since about 1985 in Wisconsin waters (right below) and a fishery for a small number of fisherman is now supported.
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| Herring extractions from Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior. | Index of spawning herring abundance off Sand Island. |
The links to this page are photographs and videos of trips I made aboard two commercial fishing vessels in the Apostle Islands region in November, 2006. My purpose was simply to observe active an active herring fishery in Lake Superior.
| Eleanor B | Introduction | Wolverine II |
|---|