Making Salmon: An Environmental History of the Northwest Fisheries Crisis (Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books) [Paperback]

Joseph E. Taylor (Author), William Cronon (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2001 | Series: Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books

"Taylor's purpose is to help us understand just how hard it is to grapple with ecological problems that are also intensely cultural and political and economic...By showing us how complicated the human history of salmon has been in the past, Taylor assembles the essential tools we need for thinking more clearly about its future." - from the Foreword by William Cronon. "Making Salmon" is a superb environmental history. It is hard to imagine how a book could be more timely or more grounded in the sources. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to know how the salmon crisis began and as a caution to those who think there are easy ways to get out of it." - Richard White, Stanford University. "Exhaustively researched and written in clear and graceful prose, "Making Salmon" forcefully presents the thesis that the Northwest salmon crisis has a long and incredibly complex history. It will prove to be the definitive study of its subject until well into the 21st century." - William G. Robbins, Oregon State University. Winner of the George Perkins Marsh Award, American Society for Environmental History.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

An outgrowth of Taylor's doctoral dissertation, this book addresses many aspects of the salmon crisis: aboriginal fishing, European settlement (including mining and agriculture), hatcheries, industrial fisheries, and pen rearing of salmon. He concludes with a chapter calling for all parties to take responsibility for salmon stocks and habitat restoration. Well researched and well documented, the book captures the complexity of the salmon's plight and presents it in a well-organized format. Fully a third of the book is devoted to notes from chapters, citation abbreviations, source notes for maps, and the bibliographic essay. Making Salmon is a fairly opinionated treatment of the subject. A similar book with a more even tone is Upstream: Salmon and Society in the Pacific Northwest (National Academy Pr., 1996), but both works deserve a place in every academic and public library, particularly those in the Pacific Northwest.ABarbara Butler, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Charleston
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"It will prove to be the definitive study of its subject until well into the 21st century." -- William G. Robbins, Oregon State University

"Making Salmon is a superb environmental history." -- Richard White, Stanford University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: University of Washington Press (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0295981148
• ISBN-13: 978-0295981147
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #615,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joseph E. Taylor III is an associate professor of history at Simon Fraser University. He has previously taught at Iowa State University and the University of Portland. His specialties are the history of North American fisheries and western North America. For more see his webpage at http://www.sfu.ca/~taylorj/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive history of the Northwest salmon crisis, February 5, 2000

By 

Matthew Klingle (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Salmon: An Environmental History of the Northwest Fisheries Crisis (Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books) (Hardcover)

Joseph Taylor's award-winning history of the Northwest salmon crisis is the best book to date on this important topic. No other study is as well researched or beautifully written as MAKING SALMON. Taylor, who teaches environmental and Western United States history at Iowa State University, traces the historical decline of salmon runs throughout the Pacific Northwest, focusing primarily on Oregon. His argument--that while many have claimed to speak for salmon, most have actually articulated their own needs instead--takes the current debate beyond the politics of blame. Understanding the complex social and environmental history of the "salmon crisis," he argues, is essential to thinking more clearly about the future of our region's fisheries. Most impressive is his critique of the role hatcheries have played in diminishing Northwest salmon runs. Science and technology, he concludes, have not always saved nature from human abuses. Abundant illustrations, detailed maps, and a rich bibliography round out the book. There are many titles that explore the decline of salmon in the Pacific Northwest. None address the issue as artfully and intelligently as MAKING SALMON. It is required reading for anyone who cares about the future of Northwest salmon or the people who depend upon them.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swimming Against the Current, May 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Making Salmon: An Environmental History of the Northwest Fisheries Crisis (Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books) (Hardcover)

Making Salmon is the definitive work on the problems facing the salmon fishery of the Pacific Northwest. For as long as man has lived he has exploited the salmon. Joseph Taylor takes the reader on a journey through time as he leads us step by step through the decline of these once great fish. There is plenty of culpability to go around. Foresters, developers, commercial fisherman, native Americans, even sport fishermen all come in for their share of blame. Although focusing on Oregon, Taylor's work is easily transferable anywhere salmon swim, from Alaska to California.

Extremely well documented (fully a third of the book is taken up with notes and other addenda) Making Salmon is occasionally dry but never dull. What is most dramatic about this story is the resiliency of the salmon. Time and time again they manage to survive despite our best efforts to save them!

Regardless of where you stand on the issue of dams, hatcheries, consumption or conservation, you will find merit in this work. Making Salmon is a must read for anyone interested in the rivers and fisheries of the Northwest.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swimming Against the Current, March 29, 2000

By 

JEJB (Kalispell, Montana USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Salmon: An Environmental History of the Northwest Fisheries Crisis (Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books) (Hardcover)

As long as man has lived in the Pacific Northwest he has exploited the salmon. In this thorough history of the travails of the pacific salmon, Joseph Taylor does not hesitate to mince words or point the finger of blame, and there is plenty of blame to go around. Native Americans, commercial fishermen, loggers, farmers, sport fishermen, politicians, the states, the feds, the hatcheries, and others, all share the responsibility for the decline of these great fish.

Although focusing on Oregon, MAKING SALMON is easily transferable anywhere Pacific salmon exist, from California to Alaska. Extremely well documented, (fully a third of the book is taken up with notes and other addenda) MAKING SALMON takes the reader step by step through the last two centuries of development in the Northwest and what that has meant to the salmon fishery there. Taylor paints an excellent history of failure and simplistic answers to a complex problem. What comes through, as most intriguing, is the resiliency of the salmon. They somehow manage to survive despite our best efforts to save them. Resiliency should not be confused with immortality however.

Not always an easy read, MAKING SALMON nonetheless remains essential to anyone wishing to better understand the plight of the Pacific salmon or who is interested in the fine detail of what happens when man and nature collide.