There has been a lot of talk regarding the ghosts of Mille Lacs. It is a somewhat frightening story I am sure will be told around campfires, bait shops and blogs for years. The story is drumming up fear in folks from near and far.
I know I am afraid.
This is a true ghost story. The names have not been changed to protect either the innocent or the ignorant.
Last week on a calm Tuesday, April 29, tribal members from Wisc. set 233 gill-nets in the open water of Garrison Bay on Mille Lacs Lake. A large ice floe was drifting several miles out to the center of the vast lake. As predicted the winds shifted and picked up speed in the early morning hours of April 30. Many tribal members began pulling their nets at about 3 a.m. By 6:30 a.m. many more were scraping boats through the ice in efforts to recover their nets.
However, by the end of the day on Wednesday, 15 of the 233 nets were ultimately not recovered.
Local anglers, self-proclaimed professional fishermen, resorters and more were infuriated. Some even set out in watercraft to the icy waters themselves. Were they out to help in the search efforts to save the fish caught in the missing nets in an effort to protect the fishery in which they claim they have a vested interest? Their intention is not entirely clear.
Draw your own conclusion. A local guy and some pals went out in a boat on Saturday, four days after the nets went missing. They allegedly found several of those missing nets. They allegedly documented the locations of the nets and took photographs of 100’s of rotting fish held captive within the nets. Did they turn the information over to Minnesota DNR officials or GLIFWC conservation officers to help get the nets out of the lake?
No. Allegedly, arrangements were made with an undisclosed media source for exclusive rights to the story on the nets and the fish, including photos of the nets and fish. I haven’t seen the photos. I was told other media (Messenger included) may be privy to them after the obligations of the exclusive offer have been met.
For someone who is so afraid of the ghost nets lurking under the surface of the water, it would — one might think — make sense to do everything possible to get the nets out of the lake as soon as possible.
I am afraid. I am afraid of ignorance. I have heard comments that include other people’s fears such as the fears that the drifting ghost nets are going to continue catching fish, get caught in boat motors when anglers hit the water for opener this weekend, or even catch loons and small children swimming in the shallows.
Facts from GLIFWC:
On April 30 15 gill-nets went missing in Mille Lacs Lake.
By May 3, 8 of the 15 have been found.
In all 8 nets there were a total of 29 fish for a total of 67 pounds. All fish were healthy and alive. There were no dead and rotten fish.
A daily catch-rate average that exceded 67 pounds was applied to the 15 missing nets as of April 30.
GLIFWC does not seek to minimize the significance of the lost nets. They are diligently searching for the remaining nets nearly 20 hours a day.
Gill-nets set in inland lakes such as Mille Lacs are bottom set nets. They are weighted to the bottom of the lake, Bill Mattes, GLIFWC great lakes section leader said. If the buoys break free, the nets sink because of the weights. They are not floating gill nets like in the ocean. They do not drift around the lake. It is more likely that a lost net will be on the bottom of the lake in a ball, Mattes said.
To think a lost gill net will fish as well as when first set is “akin to thinking a rod and reel lost overboard with a baited hook will continue to fish as well as when in the hands of an angler,” Mattes said.
As to allegations of rotting fish, the water temperature in Mille Lacs is cold. Near 40 degrees. The ice was not even out when the nets went missing. To think the fish caught in the nets were rotting within four days is absurd. So far, the facts support this theory as well. All of the nets recovered have held only live fish. True, each day that goes by decreases the chances of finding live fish in the nets.
As to loons getting caught in the missing nets, well that is a possibility because loons dive for their meals. But as for small children, I find it hard to believe parents would allow children to swim in any lake when the air and water temperatures are below seasonal averages. I mean it is just too darned cold.
The lost nets could potentially be caught in a boat motor. However, it is unlikely as the nets are most likely on the bottom of the lake. If boaters are in the shallows, they should be concerned, as always, to what may be under the surface of the water.
Should the tribal members have placed their nets in the water in the first place with weather threatening to move the ice floe? Who knows. What I do know is I have seen many anglers go out in unsafe weather conditions because the lure of fishing dictates. I don’t claim to understand the mentality of those so drawn to fish that they would put their lives at risk. But it happens.
What to do if you find a gill-net:
A suspect area may show up on a fish finder as a big blob or a line of small fish. The gill-net floats will show up on fish finders as a small fish because the air trapped inside the float is akin to the airbladder of a fish. That is what fish finders are seeing. Report the finding of any nets to local wardens or conservation officers so they can investigate and pull it out of the water if it is indeed a ghost net. Call GLIFWC: 1-800-943-4447 or MN DNR at 1-800-652-9093. The DNR can call GLIFWC.
I am afraid. I am afraid for the spirit of mankind. I have only heard two people express concern for the lives of anyone on either side of this situation. The first was a woman on shore at Garrison Bay Wednesday morning. She was a tribal member who struggled to get her nets off the lake. She did, but others from her tribe did not. “Those men are risking their lives out there,” she said. The second was Mille Lacs Band commissioner of natural resources Curt Kalk. His first question when he heard about the situation was, “Did anyone get hurt? No. OK, now we deal with it.”
I am afraid because people walk around with tunnel vision, expecting things to happen their way. If that doesn’t happen they stomp their feet, puff out their cheeks and take their bat and ball and go home leaving the rest of the team at the bottom of the ninth inning with bases loaded.
If you put yourself on an island, do not be surprised to find yourself alone.
Peace.
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15 comments:
You make me proud messy news girl. It really feels good to read an editorial by someone who actually has all the facts and an open mind. Keep up the good works.
Okay, seems as you are a self proclaimed expert on gill nets now. Please answer this, when does a lost net stop catching fish? It seems as you are totally throwing out safety concerns out the window along the way throwing some people under the bus for doing the right thing. The gentleman you speak of in your "professional" article are true sportsmand and professionals. Someone touches a net, whether floating a drift on Lake of the Woods or Cass or Mille Lacs or Winnie they are in deep trouble. And its my understanding from some very simple digging around that the DNR was contacted...try it sometime, pretty easy. And I want to be clear on one point, I'm an avid fisherman up on the pond, and understand that we share the resource with different catching practices, but I wish the resource was treated with respect and more care...who in the right mind can keep a spawning 26" walleye?
I agree with Muskyteeth. The gentlemen you so quickly threw under the Bus, did the correct thing. They actually went out searching for the nets as soon as the ice shifted, unlike the people who set them. It is a Federal Offense for non tribal members to even touch those nets. As soon as those gentlemen hit the shore they contacted the MN DNR to let them know their findings. Those gentlemen are the true stewards of the land and sportsmen that care about the resource. I commend these gentlemen you so quickly threw under the bus, with out having all the facts of their voyage.
Secondly, this is not an Sportsman vs. Native” issue. This is about equality and the American way of life. Equal Rights is what this country was based upon. Why are a special group of people able to do things others can’t. The answer is the 1837 Treaty. Look at the date of that treaty. 1837 was a long time ago. There were things my ancestors could do back then that I am not able to do today. Why is that??? It is called evolution and this world is an ever changing world. Today’s society realizes that things change and that laws or rules need to be adjusted to adapt with that change. Hence, the reason why harvest limits have been put in place on these sportsmen to allow a resource to maintain a healthy balance. It is the same reasoning why Americans can not gill net these waters of Minnesota any longer. However, a special group of people can?? In this treaty there is a provision in it that basically states that these Native Americans in time must adapt to the culture of the “whiteman”. Well that was 1837, how far have they come? Instilling special privileges to this special group is not helping or getting them any closer to adapting to the nations culture. In my opinion, it does just the opposite by isolating them.
Dear Mr. Muskyteeth,
The information referenced in the posting regarding gillnets came from true gillnet experts at GLIFWC. Mattes said the gillnets used on Mille Lacs are weighted to the bottom and most likely were balled up and did not continue catching fish. If you look at the numbers of fish contained in the nets - that they did find -- there were very few fish in the nets: 29 total in 8 nets. Another net found later had 12 fish and another had 5 or 6. I didn't just pull that out of the air. As for safety concerns? Did it not say boaters beware?
I didn't suggest you touch the nets, merely report the findings to officials. Since, um, the "men" who located the nets, knew exactly where they were it would have been helpful to share that information others who have spent many hours searching. Talk about an "in your face kind of deal." Who is doing what just because they can -- for spite?
Respecting the resource we all share is good advice.
"Men are respectable only as they respect." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dear Equal Rights,
As for facts, you spoke of the gentlemen who so gallantly went out in search of the nets before the people who lost them is simply not true. The people who lost them were looking for them immediately. I was there, so was one of your "professional" friends. The netters were looking for their own nets and others, and GLIFWC were looking as well from day one in the icy water.
I apologize for misunderstanding one of the professionals who said he did not contact the DNR. Sorry my bad.
Messy News Girl I totally agree with you and understand that the natives were out trying to retrieve the nets right away @ 3-8 am that first morning when the wind shifted until it was impossible and dangerous with the ice coming to shore. That wind change was forecasted for days in advance, so I’m not quite sure and puzzled why the nets were even placed out in the first place, but that is another topic. My gripe/problem is when the ice finally moved off that shoreline, where were the Netters at that time??? Those Bus Ridden Gentlemen went out at that time and pretty easily spotted more then half of the nets and relayed that information to their proper authority. Those gentlemen relaying any information is besides the point if you ask me. If the netters would have had some responsibility and care for the resource, they too would have been waiting on shore that Saturday morning. When again, the wind was forecasted to change the night before and would have easily recovered quite a few nets in a more timely matter.
muskyteeth and equal rights: So these fine gentlemen notified the DNR, did they? Prove it. What is the name of the DNR officer they spoke with? What time of day and at what location did they find him/her? Did your friends mark the location of the nets, provide the coordinates, or offer to take officers out to find them? Funny how our usually-aggressive DNR officers, who work side-by-side with GLIFWC and have a vested interest in getting any stray nets off the lake, have so far failed to mention even one word to GLIFWC about your friends' discovery. If it's true these men actually found nets (which is in serious doubt) and were primarily concerned for the resource, why did they keep the supposed location of these nets a secret reserved for a t.v. news crew rather than let GLIFWC or the DNR know? Your friends were on the tails of the GLIFWC officers all weekend and had words with many of them. If the net discovery is true, why didn't they mention it to them? As for the gill-net issue, messygirl is absolutely correct. Rather than attacking our messy friend, do your own research and quit fanning the flames. These nets quit catching fish once released from their buoys and sink like a rock.
-Again Walt I will repeat this for you,
"Those gentlemen relaying any information is besides the point if you ask me. If the netters would have had some responsibility and care for the resource, they too would have been waiting on shore that Saturday morning. When again, the wind was forecasted to change the night before and would have easily recovered quite a few nets in a more timely matter."
-"Your friends were on the tails of the GLIFWC officers all weekend and had words with many of them."
It sounds like you were/are pretty close to the action Walt. Are you sure your views or opinions are not just that?? Are you stating your opinion or are you stating facts??? Maybe it is you that needs to do some research and to quit “trying to smother the flames”.
-"If it's true these men actually found nets (which is in serious doubt)".
Walt, in my own research, I have easily found pictures to support this claim. Maybe it is time you do some research.
-“These nets quit catching fish once released from their buoys and sink like a rock.
Those nets laying in the bottom of the lake is exactly what scares me Walt. My family, friends and I use this lake for pleasure and enjoyment year around, not just for 2 weeks a year like 7 of the 8 tribes that net this lake that harvest fish from it while they are easy prey and spawning. I have friends, nieces, nephews, my wife and I who swim, fish, and boat in these shallow areas where many of these lost nets could be lost and laying on the bottom of the lake. The possibility of anyone getting their boats entangled in those nets are a very good possibility. The chances of ding harm to the boat or the person trying to get free of these nets is a definite thereat. GOD forbid that anyone that uses this lake would get their body entangled in one of many of these heavy nets and drown. I will be keeping my friend and family from swimming this water in the future, due to reckless abandon of a few.
Lastly Walt, I will refer to my original post and stating that this is America. Which allows me every right to have my opinion on this topic and express my interest in equal rights. It may not be so in your culture, but in my country it is so. I do not blame all tribal members for the lost nets. I just blame anyone of them that had the reckless abandon to place them out on the West side that evening in question and risk their own lives, the life of others, and the resource that they do not pay 2cents for.
"It may not be so in your culture but in my country it is so."
So, since you're assuming I'm a Native, I'll assume that your name is Frank. Now we're both guilty of stereotyping, aren't we Frank?
Just so happens I'm white as the snow. That's right - some of your caucasian neighbors actually disagree with you. I'm sorry if that's hurtful.
Yes, I was close - watched your distinguished gentelement friends harass people on the landing on Wednesday morning and I apologized to a few of them on behalf of my "culture" as I left.
As far as the safety issue goes, you're completely uninformed. But that's your business if you decide to keep your family out of the lake all summer.
As far as Steve taking pictures of himself with nets, that's not proof of anything. Again, who was the DNR officer he reported this to?
There may have been a few irresponsible netters. But we don't shut down the fishery for the rest of us when irreponsible anglers mess up.
I'll look forward to hearing the name of the DNR officer so I can obtain the information he has received and relay it to GLIFWC. As an American, I view it as my duty to protect the resource and look forward to helping out.
Since you have insider contact info, I challenge you to get real answers to the following questions. I can't get a response from any at the GLIFWC since I started asking hard questions. Let's see how good of a reporter you are.
1. Why isn't netting mortality counted against the native quota? The non-indians have hooking mortality?
2. Do the fish get distributed evenly to all the tribal members at "food banks"?
3. I want to know why Indians can use gill nets and I can't. The 1837 treaty doesn't say anything about nets.
4. Why can natives net outside of the MN DNR mandated season?? The fish are at their most vulnerable when the netting takes place. Tell me how a professional fisheries biologist is willing to support this onslaught. Nobody at the GLIFWC seems to have a problem with all this netting.
5. Why can I only keep 4 fish per outing, I must then eat them before I can fish again due to the possession law in MN. What is the Indian possession limit??
6. Who monitors the netting in the fall on all cede territory lakes?
7. Who monitors the netting on all the other lakes in the ceded territory?
8. How much money is spent by the GLIFWC to support this effort each spring? Is this organization funded by US tax dollars?
9. Are the walleyes taken back to WI sold commercially?
10. Have citations been issued for the lost nets?
11. What weights were counted against the total quota due to lost nets? I'm not talking about recovered nets. In case you were wondering another net was recovered and reported during opener.
12. Why weren't citations issued following the lack of recovery?
13. How are nets monitored, who places them, where and how many nets each individual is accountable for?
14. Why is it the Indians can take over a public launch site, while the non-indian aren’t allowed to camp at public accesses?
15. Why don't we ever see any overloaded citations for Indian boats? I've seen pictures of boats that are not even safe to operate due to the heavy fish catches. Is anyone actually monitoring the destruction of this lake?
Looking forward to your answers.
John
Dear John,
I am always up to a challenge. Most of your questions have already been answered in news stories within the Messenger. But due to the high demand for answers to these repeated and similar questions from readers, watch for an upcoming issue of the Messenger with a full Q&A.
If the answers are so readily available, why doesn't the GLIFWC respond to my emails??
One new one, who is the governing body over the GLIFWC??
Good luck!!
How do you feel about this ghost net now Vicki?? Seems the "facts" you were given by the GLIFWC are not correct. Have you changed your position yet?? It seems all of us that you called ignorant in your third paragraph may not be so dumb after all....
I'm curious about the comment made by the indian at the landing not too long ago. Something to the affect of "screw the MN DNR". Got this second hand, wondering why we never see any of this in print. I'm told you also heard this comment. Do you recall?
John
Dear John,
My name is Vivian. Not Vicki.
Thank you.
Dear John,
Of course you really must understand there is an exception to every rule. There are little things called odds. What are the odds that you are going to catch a fish in the exact same spot using the exact same lure at the exact same time every day?
Facts? I stand behind my reporting and I stand behind the facts as presented to me by GLIFWC. As much as I do the facts presented to me by the MnDNR.
It is obvious that you are getting your facts second hand - - you said so yourself. As to what I heard on shore that fateful morning the ice moved in: I heard a lot of things. I was having a pleasant civil conversation with some people when I was rudely interrupted by an angry man shouting. Some words were exchanged. My focus was perhaps not in the same direction as this interruption. I do recall a man saying, "Did you hear what he said?" to which I replied, "No, what did he say?" Did you hear that second hand, too? Please do not assume you know what I can hear and what I can see. Hearing and listening are two different things.
Whether or not I heard someone shouting obscenities directed at the DNR or a professional fisherman, is not really an issue. Do you honestly believe every time someone made negative or derogatory comments about the people, places or things (government, the fish, the Messenger, the weatherman, the gas prices, The President, anglers, hunters, women, men, whatever) that it should be printed in the paper?
Think about it, Jack.
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