Join author Michael Risku for a signing of his new book, Following the Fish: A History of Commercial Fishing Along Minnesota’s North Shore.

The first comprehensive history of commercial fishing and fishing settlements along Minnesota’s North Shore shares new conclusions regarding the fishery from 1650 to the present day.

Michael Risku offers a full picture of this way of life: the geography of the lakeshore that determined where boats could land, the types of fish that thrived in Lake Superior’s waters, the earliest foot trails between Fond du Lac and Grand Portage, the steamboats that served settlements before construction of the road. Risku details assorted watercraft and nets and hooklines, describes the dangers of being out on the lake in all weather, and explores the challenges of getting fish to market. He also prods the fishery’s collapse, exploring overfishing, other extractive industries (logging and mining), and invasive species.

Born into a commercial fishing family, Michael Risku served in the US Navy, holds a Coast Guard captain’s license, and is a distinguished chair and professor emeritus from the University of the Incarnate Word. He lives in Two Harbors, Minnesota.

Get your copy of the book signed and meet Michael Risku. Books will be available for purchase.