Items from Richard Eichler photo albums

Archive

-

Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

Front of clipping. Source unknown: from Richard Eichler's album
Front of clipping. Source unknown

from Richard Eichler's album

Name/Title

Items from Richard Eichler photo albums

Entry/Object ID

2021.06.10

Scope and Content

Clipping about the research vessel "Cisco" and a photo of the ship docked in Saugatuck at north end of Water Street.

Context

"The Harrington Boathouse and adjacent docks were originally a U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries research vessel base. Locals dubbed the site “Government House.” Throughout the 1960s, the research vessels "Cisco" and "Kaho" regularly departed on research excursions lasting days or weeks. During these excursions, federal fishery biologists gathered information about various fish species, such as their population, sizes, growth rates, food supply and spawning locations. The vessels also assessed water quality and other environmental information. Because this research required catching fish, local residents who fished commercially also served as crew members. As fish stocks dwindled, the state began prioritizing recreational over commercial fishing. In 1970, the Commercial Fisheries Bureau was transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife. With this change, the focus of the research also shifted to recreational fishing." -- Source: "Bounty & Bust Commercial Fishing in Saugatuck-Douglas, 1860-1970"

Collection

1845 Fishing, commercial

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

2021.06

Source or Donor

Demerest, David 1953-, Hebert, Marilyn, Demerest, Marvin Eugene "Demmy" 1928-2020

Acquisition Method

Donation

Notes

Demmy Demerest acquired four photo albums complied by Richard Eichler, a captain of the "Cisco." The men were friends. Demmy's children speculated he received the albums after Eichler's passing in 2006. The "Cisco" traveled all over the Great Lakes so all but two items (removed and cataloged here) were relevant to Saugatuck. The albums were donated to the archives of the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven in 2021.

Location

Box

005 A+B Nautical History

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Eichler, Richard, U.S. Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife, U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Demerest, Marvin Eugene "Demmy" 1928-2020, Cisco (ship), Harrington, Clare 1917-1999

Create Date

June 13, 2021

Update Date

March 27, 2025