Through the end of the eighteenth century, Lake Ontario had a large population of Atlantic salmon. However, the salmon population declined precipitously in the first half of the nineteenth century, and the fish had disappeared completely by 1900. This article analyses the responses of both Natives and settlers to initial salmon abundance and subsequent diminution. Although the extirpation of the lake's salmon is generally attributed to the construction of dams, this article identifies earlier and broader causes of salmon decline. In both Canada and the United States, commercial fishing captured unprecedented numbers of fish while agriculture and deforestation compromised salmon spawning habitat. While primary responsibility for the extirpation rests with the settlers, both Natives and Euro-Americans treated the fish as a commodity. As the salmon dwindled, sportsmen's groups came to the fore in setting fisheries policy. Sportsmen supported enhanced conservation measures but based their strategy on unrealistic methods for reviving the fish population through pisciculture.
This essay offers a critical overview of War of 1812 commemoration activities during the first year of the war’s bicentennial. Canada and the United States remember the war differently—when they remember it at all. This essay explores the reasons for the conflict’s marginalization, as well as the sharp contrast in interpretation. These include history, geography, nationalism, and politics. Finally, the essay suggests ways in which public history interpretation might be improved in the future.
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