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A weekly look at life on the Great Lakes, in 90 seconds or less, from IPR News.

Maritime Time: Coho Fever

Aerial photograph of the mouth of the Platte River. Photo: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Aerial photograph of the mouth of the Platte River. (Photo: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.)

In September of 1967, anglers poured out onto Lake Michigan in search of a new fish, salmon from the Pacific Ocean. Many abandoned common sense and some lost their lives.

Coho Salmon were brought to the Great Lakes by state fisheries biologists.

Lake Michigan was then full of tiny invasive prey fish called alewives and biologists knew salmon would have plenty to eat.

When the first mature salmon returned to the Platte and Manistee Rivers in 1967, fishermen came out by the thousands.

The mania was called “Coho Fever” — usually in a positive sense because of the boost to tourism.

But people who knew little about Lake Michigan went out in small fishing boats, even inflatable rafts, to fetch a silvery fish.

On Sept. 23, 1967, many ignored Coast Guard warnings to turn back. By noon, the wind was 30 knots. The water was 50 degrees.

The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter from Traverse City as boats were swamped. Ten foot waves were reported on Platte Bay and boats bobbed just outside the break, uncertain what to do.

Historian Dave Taghon was at the beach.

"Two hundred people lined up along the Empire beach just encouraging people to bring it to shore," Taghon said. "You’re 100 feet from living or dying out there."

Altogether seven men drowned on Lake Michigan that day.

A federal review of the disaster focused on whether the Coast Guard should have the power to stop boats from launching in dangerous conditions a power it's never been granted.

Peter Payette is the Executive Director of Interlochen Public Radio and has managed the news department since 2001. For more than a decade, he hosted the weekly program
Tyler Thompson is the Morning Edition host and reporter at Interlochen Public Radio.