Huron became one of the most successful commercial fishing centers on Lake Erie in the 1800s and early 1900s. Fishing grounds near the mouth of the Huron River were noted for producing bountiful catches of he more desirable herring, whitefish, bass, sturgeon, pickerel and ciscoes, as well as the less valuable mullets, suckers, perch and catfish. (Video: Harry Kentus, 2009)
Pictured above with their catch of Lake Erie sturgeon are Steve Meeker, Carl Cherry, R. Jamison, and Ted Brown. Once extremely prevalent, today the sturgeon is a threatened species in Ohio. (Photo from John Rhinemiller collection)Several fish houses lined South Main Street along the river. Some of the most notable were Wickham Brothers, Gustavus Fish Company, Scott Fishing Company, Kishman Fish Company, and Weigand Fish Company. Zimmerman Fish Company was one of the last of Huron's fishing businesses, closing in the late 1970s.When the Huron River froze, men would take horses and sleds on the ice to haul blocks of ice cut from the river. The ice would be sold to villagers to keep their food from spoiling in the summer. Pictured are employees from the Huron Fish Company.At one time Huron's fishing industry employed 100 to 250 men. The season began in September and ended in June, when the fishermen pulled their nets and made repairs. Before the 1850s most commercial fishing on Lake Erie was conducted by seining along the lakeshore. The pound net was introduced in 1852, which made fishing in deeper water possible.
Back
Play Video
Stop Video
Back to Topic Choices