In the mid-1950s, fishermen began to notice a disturbing trend. In the past, the Wilsons had always caught young blue pike known as snipes. All we got were those big older blues in their last years of life. That meant that the pike were no longer reproducing in Lake Erie. A number of biological factors contributed to their demise, including the increase of the smelt population and lake pollution.
Some biologists also feel that overfishing played a part.
Nearly 19 million pounds of blue pike were caught in 1956. Three years later that number had dropped to just 79,000 pounds. Clearly the blue pike's day was done. There were perch but they were never a high-priced fish. They were never that much in demand.