The History of Michigan’s Largest Commercial Fishery

This presentation documents the history of Michigan’s largest commercial fishery on Saginaw Bay from the 1850’s to current times. Early records indicate Lower Saginaw, now known as Bay City, had the first fisheries. The fishing industry also developed at Bay Port, Essexville, East Tawas, Au Sable, Caseville, Oscoda, and Sebewaing. This 150 year history includes salt well operations, ice harvesting, archival photos plus rare film footage from fisheries around Saginaw Bay. Two years of research, on location shooting, underwater photography and first hand interviews gives proof Saginaw Bay was the world’s largest freshwater fishery and is still a viable fishery today. Registration is required!