Abstract
Cree Indians of Fort George, James Bay, northern Canada, maintain a large and successful subsistence fishery. Methods used in the fishery, seasons and locations of catch, and yield levels were studied, together with the population biology of two sea-run Coregonus species, cisco and whitefish, that dominate the catch. The fishery was characterized by a high degree of order, social regulation of the fishing effort and the gillnet mesh size, and practices that were identified as adaptations to the subarctic ecosystem. Fishing methods used permit the Cree to control the magnitude of the harvest and the species and size composition of the catch. There is evidence that fishers can alter the scarcity-abundance patterns of the fish stocks, and have a biologically measurable effect on the populations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berkes, F. (1976). James Bay: The coastal fishery of the Cree Indians.Canadian Geographical Journal 93(3): 60–65.
Cucin, D., and Regier, H. A. (1965). Dynamics and exploitation of lake whitefish in southern Georgian Bay.Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 23: 221–274.
Dymond, J. R. (1933). Biological and oceanographic conditions in Hudson Bay. 8. The Coregonine fishes of Hudson and James bays.Contributions to Canadian Biology and Fisheries, 8 (N.S.), No. 28: 1–12.
Environment Canada (1975). James Bay hydroelectric project. A statement of environmental concerns and recommendations for protection and enhancement measures. Environment Canada, Ottawa. 45 pp.
Feit, H. A. (1973a). Twilight of the Cree hunting nation.Natural History 82: 48–57, 72.
Feit, H. A. (1973b). The ethno-ecology of the Waswanipi Cree; or how hunters can manage their resources. In Cox, B. (ed.),Cultural Ecology. McClelland and Stewart, Toronto, pp. 115–125.
Frake, C. O. (1962). Cultural ecology and ethnography.American Anthropologist 64: 53–59.
Gulland, J. A. (1974).The Management of Marine Fisheries. Scientechnica, Bristol, 198 pp.
Healey, M. C. (1975). Dynamics of exploited whitefish populations and their management with special reference to the Northwest Territories.Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 32: 427–448.
Kidd, B. T., Greendale, R., Morin, R., Baxter, R., and Power, G. (1975).Interim Report of James Bay Project Study by the Arctic Biological Station. Environment Canada, Ottawa. 267 pp.
NHR (1976). Research to Establish Present Levels of Harvesting by Native Peoples of Northern Quebec. Part I. A Report on the Harvests by the James Bay Cree. Native Harvesting Research Committee, Montreal.
Nietschmann, B. (1972). Hunting and fishing focus among the Miskito Indians, eastern Nicaragua.Human Ecology 1: 41–67.
Pianka, E. R. (1966). Latitudinal gradients in diversity: A review of concepts.American Naturalist 100: 33–46.
Regier, H. A., and Robson, D. S. (1966). Selectivity of gillnets especially to lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis).Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 23: 423–454.
Sahlins, M. (1972).Stone Age Economics. Aldine-Atherton, Chicago.
Slobodkin, L. B. (1968). How to be a predator.American Zoologist 8: 43–51.
Speck, F. G. (1935).Naskapi. Savage Hunters of the Labrador Peninsula. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma.
Weagle, K. V., and Baxter, W. (1974). The fisheries of Southern Indian Lake. Exploitation and reproduction.Lake Winnipeg, Churchill and Nelson Rivers Study Board. Appendix 5, vol. 1-I.
Weinstein, M. S. (1976).What the Land Provides. Report of the Fort George Resource Use Study. Grand Council of the Crees (of Quebec), Montreal, 255 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berkes, F. Fishery resource use in a subarctic Indian community. Hum Ecol 5, 289–307 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00889173
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00889173