13 Comments
User's avatar
Jenn Woltjen's avatar

Enjoyed learning about alewives.

Expand full comment
KewtieBird’s Photo Journey's avatar

Fascinating series.

Expand full comment
Erik Hogan's avatar

I have never seen black and white photos of osprey in mid catch like that! Spectacular!!

Expand full comment
Benjamin Williamson's avatar

Yeah wildlife photographers hardly ever choose black and white, do they? Haha, good thing I'm not a wildlife photographer! Thanks for the kind words.

Expand full comment
Dory Cote's avatar

Thanks, Ben! These are unusual, spectacular B&W photos! I loved the alewife run when I witnessed it at Damariscotta Mills a few years ago. The magic of Maine and its history.

Expand full comment
Benjamin Williamson's avatar

Exactly! Thank you Dory!

Expand full comment
Steve Overby's avatar

Love this, similar to the smelt harvests here on Lake Superior in the Spring. Love the pictures, great choice using black and white. And interesting to learn the history.

Expand full comment
Benjamin Williamson's avatar

I'm glad you enjoyed reading about it. We have ice-fishing for smelt here in the winter. Are they harvested commercially on Superior?

Expand full comment
Steve Overby's avatar

Taken from DNR website because I honestly didn't know the answer.

Commercial fishing in Lake Superior is limited to 25 licensed commercial fishermen. Fish species allowed to be commercially fished are: lake trout, ciscoes, chubs, alewives, lake whitefish, round whitefish, pygmy whitefish, rainbow smelt, and rough fish.

Expand full comment
Mark White's avatar

Great essay! Great captures! Wonderful.

Expand full comment
Benjamin Williamson's avatar

Thank you Mark!

Expand full comment
Paul Caloca's avatar

Fascinating to have a glimpse of the role fish occupy in the food chain. Osprey are feeding youg this time of year, so they have a big job to do. The Alewife run in early May is now on my bucket list.

Expand full comment
Benjamin Williamson's avatar

Yes I was amazed by what seemed to be the same bird coming back over and over and gathering more fish. Those chicks must be very hungry! I'm glad you're going to check it out next year. It's so cool to see!

Expand full comment