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Fishing

~ Supporting information from interviews with Robert Jensenand Hery Nelson
Information from the Delta County Historical Society ~

    
 ~ The Fishing Crew at Hansen
and Jensen Fishery ~

 ~ Commercial Fishing out of
Escanaba Port ~

According to Harry, “There had always been good fishing and darn good commercial
fishermen in Ford River.  Nobody knew the lake better than them.” 

Fisherman caught whitefish, Menominee, some perch and later, after 1934, smelted in the winter.  Smelt was frozen and shipped—a great quantity of fish was sold to the Hansen & Jensen Fish
House in Escanaba.

As a child, Harry remembers going down to help his older brothers clean the fishing boats
for a little extra money.  He also remembers local kids spearing pike because they were ‘
good eating.’
Harry recalled that the ‘Raleaus’ fished for over 100 years in the Ford River area and,
 the 1930’s, they also sold their whitefish and Menominee catches to Hansen & Jensen Company in Escanaba.
                                                 
  ~ Fish Brokerage at the present site at the Escanaba Municipal Dock ~


A tale of high adventure as told by Harry Nelson

“Allen Henderson was a sailor and eventually became captain of his boat, the Snow Deer, which was a big 6-cylinder diesel tug that had a lift for pulling in great nets filled with fish.  Harry’s older brother, Herman, worked with Henderson. 
One evening, as the Snow Deer was headed back for home, she ran aground on a dry shoal
and
knocked the keel out of her.  To keep her dry, the crew manned the pumps throughout the night.  They built a fire on the shoal that could be seen by others on the shore.  In the light of morning they backed her off and ran for Ford River.

Although the crew, including Herman, was fine, the damage to the boat was extensive. 
John Eberson patched the Snow Deer with a 40-foot yellow birch to repair the keel—it was a perfect fit.”

 Escanaba and Lake Shore Notes by Mrs. Cornelia Jensen, wife of GeorgeJjensen

Commercial fishing trawlers used to anchor in the nearby bay where No See Um Creek empties in to Lake Michigan.

George Jensen, Robert jensen’s great-uncle, farmed and fished in the Ford River area.  His family lived just south of Ford River, almost to Fuller Park.  He owned a large rig and his own dock.  He sold his fish catches to his brother, peter Jensen of the Hansen & Jensen Company, which was located in Escanaba.

Many Delta County residents supplemented their farm income by fishing including George Jensen’s sister and her family.  George and his sister’s family lived on neighboring farms.

  ~ Smelting on No See Um Creek ~		  

  
       ~ Smelting on Little Bay de Noc ~

    
   ~ Cold Storage at the Whitney Mink Farm ~
                   
              ~ Boat at Ford River Harbor ~


~ Packing Smelt at Nelson's Box Plant in Gladstone - 1940 ~


Smeltania > up

~ Supporting information from the Delta County Historical Society Archives
Display compiled by Bay College Student intern Christopher Gagne ~
       

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