Lake Michigan's Fishing Legacy

natural fish ladder which existed at the point where the Carp River meets Lake Michigan created a fishing ground for Native Americans long before white settlers came to the area. From the 1830's on, settlers to the area began to fish there. That accelerated in 1854, when a dam and mill were built on the Carp River by Antoine Manseau. It attracted more settlers, including fishing families who lined both sides of the river with wooden shacks, reels to dry nets, icehouses and smokehouses. Those families used pound nets and gill nets to catch Whitefish, Lake Trout and Menominee (a Chub). Their catch was taken to market by boats carrying lumber.

Fishing peaked in the 1930's and then declined due to species depletion from over fishing, introduction of exotic species and regulations favoring sport fishing.

Today, Fishtown has some commercial fishing, a fair amount of charter fishing, the island ferry service and shops for tourists. It is being preserved by the Fishtown Preservation Society and will be cooperatively managed by the Leelanau Historical Society and the Inland Seas Education Association.

For more information, visit

• www.preservingfishtown.org
• www.inlandseaseducation.org.