Highlights Archives
People of the Sturgeon Book Launch Event
Gear up for a captivating lake sturgeon presentation and book signing on Sunday, September 20, at the Oshkosh Public Museum. Starting at 4 p.m., the museum will host the official book launch for People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish, an environmental chronicle of Wisconsin's lake sturgeon population. The public is invited to stop by the museum to share fish tales, sample snacks and meet the authors, Kathleen Schmitt Kline, Ronald Bruch and Frederick Binkowski. They will detail a few of the book's topics in their presentation and recollect some of their personal favorite tales. Following the presentation, the authors will open the discussion and sign copies of the book. Copies of People of the Sturgeon are available for sale in the museum store.
Wisconsin Has the Largest Lake Sturgeon Population in the World
Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago region is home to the only thriving lake sturgeon population left in the world. People of the Sturgeon tells the story of a century's worth of dedicated work and careful management that has made Wisconsin's lake sturgeon population, which once teetered on the edge of extinction, the world's largest and healthiest. The book chronicles the history of the ancient fish, the cultural traditions it has spawned, and discusses topics such as fish laws, the art of spearing and women in the sport. The book, filled with folk art, recipes and more than 215 images, also includes a collection of interviews with sturgeon spearers who all have a good fish tale to tell.
Annually, the sturgeon season produces an economic impact of more than $3 million to the Lake Winnebago region. People of the Sturgeon provides today's spearers and onlookers with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the history and conservation efforts of the ancient fish and spearing traditions.
About the Authors
People of the Sturgeon is co-authored by Kathleen Schmitt Kline, Ronald M. Bruch and Frederick P. Binkowski, with photography by the late Bob Rashid. Kathleen Schmitt Kline is a science writer at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. Ronald Bruch is a natural resources region team supervisor for the Oshkosh base of the Department of Natural Resources and has been the lead sturgeon biologist for the Winnebago system since 1990. Frederick Binkowski, who has been raising and researching lake sturgeon since 1979, is a senior scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Great Lakes WATER Institute and a specialist with the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. Bob Rashid (1949-2008) was a photographer/writer who spent much of his time working for television documentaries and whose work was featured in multiple nationally acclaimed publications.
The Oshkosh Public Museum is located at 1331 Algoma Boulevard in Oshkosh. For admission, hours and more information on the People of the Sturgeon book signing and the Oshkosh Public Museum, call 920-236-5799.
:: Posted September 16, 2009
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