Lake sturgeon were historically abundant in all of the Great Lakes. They served as an important food source for many Native American tribes. When European settlers arrived in the region, sturgeon were so numerous during the spring spawning run that they were reportedly capable of capsizing fishing boats.
Nuisance Fish
Early commercial fishermen scorned sturgeon as nuisance fish that destroyed their gill nets. A single thrashing sturgeon could tangle an entire net, reducing opportunities to catch valuable lake whitefish or lake trout. People began to catch the less desirable sturgeon and destroy them in large numbers. They burned huge piles of sturgeon along the shores of the Detroit River. The oily sturgeon carcasses provided fuel for passing steam ships.
