by Kathleen Schmitt Kline, Ronald M. Bruch, and Frederick P. Binkowski
Primary narration by Kathleen Schmitt Kline
Set of 4 CDs, 4 hours 25 minutes
Published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, Madison, 2012
People of the Sturgeon tells the poignant story of an ancient fish. Wanton harvest and habitat loss took a heavy toll on these prehistoric creatures until they teetered on the brink of extinction. In Wisconsin, the lake sturgeon have flourished because of the dedicated work of Department of Natural Resources staff, university researchers, and a determined group of spearers known as Sturgeon For Tomorrow. Thanks to these efforts, spearers can still flock by the thousands to Lake Winnebago's frozen expanse each winter to take part in a ritual rooted in the traditions of the Menominee and other Wisconsin Indians. In spring sturgeon enthusiasts line east-central Wisconsin riverbanks to observe--and protect--the massive fish as they spawn. Ultimately, 100 years of sturgeon management on Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago has produced the world's largest and healthiest lake sturgeon population--and may hold answers for struggling sturgeon populations elsewhere.
People of the Sturgeon chronicles the history of this remarkable fish (which can live for a century and grow to 300 pounds) and the cultural traditions it has spawned. The authors introduce a colorful cast of characters, from conservationists to spear makers to decoy carvers--many with a good fish tale to tell. Weaving together myriad voices and examining the sturgeon's profound cultural impact, the authors reveal how a diverse group of people are now joined together as "people of the sturgeon."
This audio book includes traditional Menominee music, wonderful music by Graminy and definitive recordings of the mysterious sounds of sturgeon thunder.
Kathleen Schmitt Kline is a former science writer and a current outreach specialist at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute.
Ronald M. Bruch is Natural Resources Region Team Supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Resources and the lead sturgeon biologist for the Lake Winnebago system.
Frederick P. Binkowski is a senior scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences and the aquaculture advisory services specialist for the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. He has been raising and researching lake sturgeon since 1979.
Watch a video presentation about sturgeon by author Kathleen Schmitt Kline at http://video.wpt2.org/video/1539150745
For more information about sturgeon, see the Wisconsin's Water Library web site at http://aqua.wisc.edu/waterlibrary/Default.aspx?tabid=299