The Sturgeon----The Yearly Trip repeated for Thousands of Years

First off, the Sturgeon is a very interesting animal, a fish yes, that has by all appearances been around for many thousands of years. Oh really, probably hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Not being a ichthyological paleontologist, I am in no position to say except the fish is really a primitive thing---at least in looks.

I swear I have seen fossils of them or one of their close ancestors. They do look like swimming dinosaurs with their spiked backs and bottom-feeding type mouths. Almost monsters, like Nessie of the Loch, they drift through our lakes sucking on the bottom cleaning up anything digestible and probably some not so digestible---much like fund managers on Wall Street. In a sense they seem shark-like (think Wall Street), as if they should be in the ocean. Maybe they once were and are just left overs from a time when seas covered over this area.

One of the more striking aspects of the monsters is their size. Recently, they arrived in the Wolf River for their yearly spawning run and there right in front of the crowds were fish in excess of 100 pounds, fat and ready to lay eggs. They got a late go of it this year because the 53 degree temperatures needed to run, came late and once hit, they all came in great profusion, tons of them, all stacked up like wiggling cord wood. It was a sight be seen. And many human sorts came to see them, hundreds of Sturgeon marveling affectionatoes stood, camera in hand, watching the fish get it on, do their deed, and engage in the carnal frolic. No, I didn't get off on it.

On the information displays, it pointed out that the sturgeon species in lake Winnebago and Poygan have been doing this since the last ice age, that is coming to the exact same spots on the Wolf. I also noted that it was pointed out they had human Sturgeon guards, folks posted 24/7 to protect the fish, for in the past there were poachers. Wow, that is interesting. Dudes actually spearing the fish for food.

That got me thinking a bit and realized this was an event that no doubt got the attention of Native Americans as well. 100 pound fish, now that is some food. One can only imagine the rush that went on 2 thousand years ago to secure the years supply of easy-to-catch yummy Sturgeon. It had to be part of their yearly life cycle. Me, I simply would be happy to swim up stream with my wife, metaphorically speaking of course. For this afternoon, I had to be content just to watch one hell of incredible ritual of nature and imagine the role it once played in First Americans yearly cycles.