Overview

"That one could ""walk drishod on the backs"" of schools of salmon, shad, and other fishes moving up Atlantic coast rivers was a not uncommon kind of description of their migratory runs during early Colonial times. Accounts tell of awe-inspiring numbers of spawners pushing their way upriver, the waters ""running silver,"" to complete life cycles that once replenished critical marine fisheries along the Eastern Seaboard. This is a hugely important, fascinating, and unique look at the fish of North America whose history and life-cycles and conservation challenges are poorly understood. Despite these primordial abundances, over the centuries these stocks were so stressed that virtually all are now severely depressed, with many biologically or commercially extinct and some simply forgotten. Running Silver will tell the story of the past, present and future of these sea-river fish. This important book will elevate public consciousness of the contrasts between the historical and the present to show the enormous legacy that has already been lost and to help inspire efforts to save what remains. Drawing on the author's thirty-year career as a scientist and educator with a passion for the native river fish of the North East, Running Silver tells the story of these endangered fish with a mix of research, historical accounts, anecdotes, personal experience, interviews, and images."

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9780762780594

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Reviews

"""[A] beautiful and often heartbreaking book, one of the most important conservation works I've read in recent years... we need more books like this. It brings the past alive, and uses that past to chart a better course for the future. And more: like the best books, Running Silver helps us see our world in fresh, unexpected ways."" - The Nature Conservancy ""Like Thoreau, John Waldman can hear the fishes cry. His fine new book teaches us how to hear them, too. And, how we might save them and remake our rivers into vibrant natural places once again."" Paul Gallay, Hudson Riverkeeper""Running Silver"" is an informative and fascinating history of the migratory salmon, shad, herring, and other runs that once swarmed the rivers and estuaries of the Atlantic coast. Most important, this book explains what we can do to restore these fisheries to their former abundance. A great read and important blueprint for action."" Bruce Babbitt, former Secretary of the Interior ""Waldman's account of the historical and biological disaster we've spawned is a critically important study of human greed and carelessness, but also a blueprint for the rescue of our once silver-filled rivers."" —Richard Ellis, author of Tuna: A Love Story and Swordfish""Running Silver is a deeply important book that highlights the ancient exchange of biomass from land to sea and back again-through our finned creatures. ... an impassioned plea, a call to action, a book that everyone should know about and read.""--James Prosek-artist and writer, author of Eels: An Exploration from New Zealand to the Sargasso of the World's most Mysterious Fish"""

[A] beautiful and often heartbreaking book, one of the most important conservation works I've read in recent years... we need more books like this. It brings the past alive, and uses that past to chart a better course for the future. And more: like the best books, Running Silver helps us see our world in fresh, unexpected ways. - The Nature Conservancy Like Thoreau, John Waldman can hear the fishes cry. His fine new book teaches us how to hear them, too. And, how we might save them and remake our rivers into vibrant natural places once again. Paul Gallay, Hudson Riverkeeper Running Silver is an informative and fascinating history of the migratory salmon, shad, herring, and other runs that once swarmed the rivers and estuaries of the Atlantic coast. Most important, this book explains what we can do to restore these fisheries to their former abundance. A great read and important blueprint for action. Bruce Babbitt, former Secretary of the Interior Waldman's account of the historical and biological disaster we've spawned is a critically important study of human greed and carelessness, but also a blueprint for the rescue of our once silver-filled rivers. -Richard Ellis, author of Tuna: A Love Story and Swordfish Running Silver is a deeply important book that highlights the ancient exchange of biomass from land to sea and back again-through our finned creatures. ... an impassioned plea, a call to action, a book that everyone should know about and read. --James Prosek-artist and writer, author of Eels: An Exploration from New Zealand to the Sargasso of the World's most Mysterious Fish

Like Thoreau, John Waldman can hear the fishes cry. His fine new book teaches us how to hear them, too. And, how we might save them and remake our rivers into vibrant natural places once again. Paul Galley, Hudson Riverkeeper Running Silver is an informative and fascinating history of the migratory salmon, shad, herring, and other runs that once swarmed the rivers and estuaries of the Atlantic coast. Most important, this book explains what we can do to restore these fisheries to their former abundance. A great read and important blueprint for action. Bruce Babbitt, former Secretary of the Interior Waldman's account of the historical and biological disaster we've spawned is a critically important study of human greed and carelessness, but also a blueprint for the rescue of our once silver-filled rivers. --Richard Ellis, author of Tuna: A Love Story and Swordfish Running Silver is a deeply important book that highlights the ancient exchangeof biomass from land to sea and back again-through our finned creatures. ... animpassioned plea, a call to action, a book that everyone should know about andread. --James Prosek-artist and writer, author of Eels: An Exploration from New Zealandto the Sargasso of the World's most Mysterious Fish

Author Information

John Waldman is a professor at the City University of New York and a leading voice in aquatic conservation biology. He is the author of the award-winning Heartbeats in the Muck: the History, Sea Life, and Environment of New York Harbor (Lyons), among other books.

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