Abandoned Fishing Resort

Just finished this video. This place is really amazing and I barely scratched the surface of what's there in this video.

Interesting video, I enjoyed watching..
Buddy you got to do something abt the music you play on them..

Very interesting

Really interesting video. Thanks for sharing.

New bear camp?

https://people.com/archive/in-canad...st-a-threatened-new-minamata-vol-4-no-7/

Interesting story



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It was in 1970 that Barney and Marion Lamm first heard of mercury poisoning. “(This word is unacceptable on Trapperman),” says Lamm today, “I didn’t even know what mercury was.”
Today the Lamms are in the fifth year of a costly and lonely battle against the dangers of mercury poisoning and those who deny them—and what the Lamms have learned has changed their lives.
For a quarter of a century, Barney Lamm’s Ball Lake Lodge was the most popular tourist fishing camp in northwest Ontario. “It was our whole life,” says Marion, who helped pyramid a two-room log cabin into a million-dollar resort. Born in Fargo, N. Dak. but a Canadian citizen since 1955, Barney, now 55, became the most influential citizen in Kenora, Ontario (pop. 11,000). An expert bush pilot, he also owned a private airline, and his businesses had made him a millionaire.
In the spring of 1970, the Lamms were notified by the Ontario government that the fish in 80-square-mile Ball Lake had been contaminated by mercury from a chemical plant 100 miles upstream. “That’s all we were told,” recalls Lamm, “not how dangerous it was to eat the fish or what we should do. They said the problem would disappear within three months. So we closed the camp and started asking ‘what’s mercury?’ ”
Mercury, they discovered, is a chemical that can attack the human nervous system, causing brain damage, crippling deformities and ultimately death. Its ravages cannot be cured or treated. The ugliest contemporary example of industrial mercury poisoning occurred in the Japanese fishing village of Minamata. The first victim was discovered in 1956, and eventually 110 residents died and hundreds of others were maimed and crippled.
The Lamms knew nothing of the Japanese tragedy in 1970. After shutting down the lodge they haunted the offices of government officials for more details of their predicament. “They had the results of testing fish for mercury but wouldn’t release them,” says Lamm. Angry and frustrated, Lamm himself paid a team of specialists $50,-000 to test the fish along the English-Wabigoon River system, which empties into Ball Lake. “We learned,” says Lamm, “that our river system was one of the most polluted in the world, that mercury levels in our fish tested up to 50 times the accepted international level. In some cases they were higher than in Japan.”
That fall the Lamms went to Ann Arbor, Mich. for a scientific conference on mercury pollution, the first of 50 such meetings they attended. “When they heard our mercury levels, everyone just sat there in silent disbelief. That was when we decided something had to be done. We knew that the three-month waiting period had no basis.” Federal scientists have subsequently admitted that the waterway is ruined for at least a century.
The Lamms claim there is sufficient evidence to fear an outbreak of poisoning such as in Minamata. “All we ever asked was that the government declare our area safe or unsafe,” says Barney Lamm. “And if unsafe, close that part of the river and relocate or compensate the camp owners.
“Instead,” complains Lamm, “they’ve tried to hush us up and keep the camps open. Some of the owners even took loans to stay open when business dropped off because of the mercury scare. Leo Bernier [the Minister of Natural Resources and the MP from the area] tried to sell me on a ‘Fish for Fun’ idea: that fishermen would be happy to throw the fish back. I knew (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) well they wouldn’t. He said stay open: I said someone’s going to die.”
So far, the Lamms say, they have spent half a million dollars of their own money in legal fees and scientific studies. (In 1971 Lamm filed a $3.7 million damage suit against Dryden Pulp and Paper and Dryden Chemical, the offending firms.) “We were prepared for the financial burdens. What has disappointed us was that most of the other camp owners have never even warned their guests. Tourists are eating the fish and taking them home. To me that’s like inviting a friend over and offering him a glass of poison.”
The more the Lamms publicized the issue of mercury in Kenora, the more resentment they encountered. “For three years not a day went by without a threatening call or letter,” says Marion Lamm bitterly. “We have five daughters who were taunted. I knew everyone didn’t agree with our closing up but I never expected friends of 25 years to turn on us.” Mrs. Lamm and her daughters have remained U.S. citizens, a further source of resentment against the family, she believes. In 1973 the Lamms put their $75,000 home in Kenora up for sale and moved southwest 100 miles to Gimli, headquarters of their charter airline. The Lamms’s strongest support has come from the area’s 950 Ojibway Indians who depend on fish (mainly pike and pickerel) for their diet. “We have no alternate food supply,” says Chief Roy McDonald. “The government’s offer to us was to move or take welfare.”
After what both federal and provincial officials admit was inexplicable delay, Indian hair and blood samples now are being taken regularly. In some cases mercury levels are as high as those of Minamata victims. “I am convinced some of my people are sick,” says Chief Andy Keewatin. “They have tremors, restricted vision, speech difficulty.” Says Dr. James Stopps, chief medical consultant for the Ontario health department, “If you have all three symptoms and a high mercury level, that’s Minamata.”
Reed Paper Ltd., the parent company of the Dryden plants, claims that the two situations are not comparable. The kind of mercury the plants leaked into the river is less harmful than that in Japan, the company says, and it insists that it took immediate corrective measures upon being warned. The company says it is now dumping 1/5 ounce a day into the river system, hardly a cause for alarm.
One Japanese doctor, however, who visited the Kenora Indians found their mercury levels “shocking.” According to Dr. Tadao Takeuchi, a pathologist and Minamata expert who has tested cats from the Indian reserve (cats first showed signs of the disease in Minamata): “If fish consumption continues, signs will appear sooner or later.” Late last month, Barney Lamm accompanied a group of Ojibway to Minamata to meet victims and medical experts firsthand. More Japanese doctors will visit Kenora this fall for further testing. “What’s tragic about this situation,” says Lamm, “is that if people are hurt it will be too late. But at least when someone dies I know I won’t have contributed to it.”


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Bernie I started as a camp boy up that country in the late 60's, babes lake with Babe Vannesee, then up to Rowdy lake with Joey Dale. I knew Barney tho not well being a young teen. It was a small community of camps/owners that pretty much used Kenora as a base. Some international falls, some maybe Selkirk direction I'm not sure. I think Barney ended up in Winnipeg? After the pollution? Ed Showalter, McCloud senior and his son Glen of Nestor Falls were all good friends in that group as well.
I have fished people often on the English a lot out of Lount lake. Good fishing. People don't realize the watershed goes from thunder Bay Area roughly, all of it west, to lake Winnipeg, then thru the big lake north then out back to the northeast and hudsons bay. Circuitous route for sure.
I have gone over that lodge I bet 100 times or more, I always look down and smile. Working in the small camps I did everyone knew of Barneys operation, I think they could handle more than you said, maybe 80 plus?

Osky

https://www.thestar.com/business/20...tle-against-mercury-poisoning-wells.html

I remember that disaster back in the 70's when the paper mill in Dryden destroyed the English-Wabigoon river system with Mercury.
I don't think I would eat fish from that area.

They are fine. They still test the heck out of that area to be sure.

Osky

Interesting

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing. 49er guy, thanks for sharing that write up. Very sad in lots and lots of ways.
Also pretty sad that the government did nothing to help the camp owners, typical government crap.

I couldn't agree more!

Chris

Why should the taxpayers bail out a private company facing lawsuits from millionaire camp owners?
The taxpayers didn't pollute the river.

Sounds as if the government did nothing to keep the mercury from entering the system in the first place. Then once it was there the CYA was in full effect!

Chris

What you don't like my music?

Millionaire camp owners?


Osky

Thanks for posting that Bernie, wow the memories.

Why does a lifetime ago seem like yesterday?

Osky

You Lefty Libs always want the Gov't(taxpayers) to bail you out.
The proper procedure is a lawsuit against the offender,who is liable,in this case a multinational corporation.

I agree.

You are correct. How about if the government helps cover up the travesty or runs road block?

I'm betting it was the government that gave the plant in Dryden license to operate. Did the government hand over the license without any responsibility to check on that plant knowing the potential for just such an issue? The government didn't require safeguards and checkpoints, inspections, and updated certifications?

Osky

So should the government be sued for every drunk driving fatality?

Not the same thing at all

Now if the alcohol distillery was selling contaminated alcohol and the government knew about the contaminated alcohol and not only did nothing about it but also hid the truth and tried to keep new about it and how bad it was from getting out


Then yes I would say that they were at fault and subject to legal action not only monitary but legal consequences as well like going to jail for a good long streatch

Question for you guys who are from that area: There is still a big papermill on the end of Wabigoon lake in Dryden, what do they do about mercury these days?

A multi-nation corporation will win every time against a private citizen. That's like trying to prosecute Hillary and Obama for their criminal doings.

Amazing, someones Life works

sad,really sad. Great video...so many watercourses polluted with mercury.....river on my property. We never eat. I googled mercury in watercourses and said alot of it is from burning coal then it settles. Hard to find safe fish to eat!!!

ttt

Nice video and story, would have loved to have seen in before the downfall. Sad for sure. Thanks for sharing.

Interesting video and story. I'd love to knock around in a place like that. It must have been something to see in it's heyday.

In the area the mercury contamination occurred companies, especially large corporations, were usually not held accountable for putting profits ahead of the environment. Pollution was an acceptable by-product of industry. That all started to change in the next decade or so.

No pollution where these came from.

ill bet there is some boco although minimal as it could be maybe

There is naturally occurring mercury in the environment that the fish pick up.
It is not an issue unless you are a pregnant woman eating large fish every day.

i want as very minimal (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) possible in my kid

There is much more bad stuff in store bought food than the grub you get in the bush.That said,Industry has polluted a lot of land and water.Thankfully we have decent environmental laws in place now to protect our natural resources from greedy industrial fat cats.Nothing wrong with industry as long as they spend a bit of money to protect the environment while carrying on business.

I guess the "eyes" up there don't get that big on account of the cold eh Boco?

Or is that your bait?

Hard to tell the size in the pic,the two bigger ones about 3 lb.Thats about the best eating size pickerel.
Seen 25 lb pickerel in the native nets at the fish camp at mile 115,at the mouth of the Little Abitibi river.I prefer the smaller ones for eating,but the big ones are fun to catch.Seen netted sturgeon in a wheelbarrow with the tails dragging on the ground,lol.
Some very big northern pike here too.I find rivers produce bigger fish on average,although there are some lakes that produce monsters like Lake Abitibi,Marathon and Kesagami.

Perfect eating size fish, the two on the right are a little big for my tastes

Here is a home movie from the late 60s of a trip to the lodge. I suggest turning the volume off

It’s amazing what can be found on the web.

https://www.texasarchive.org/library/index.php/2015_02455

Yes there still is a mill in operation. 500 employees, a lot of Manitoba wood gets trucked over to there.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi28ZL5s9PiAhUCcq0KHfrED10QFjACegQIBBAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbc.ca%2Fnews%2Fcanada%2Fthunder-bay%2Fdryden-pulp-collective-agreement-1.4912960&usg=AOvVaw2GqqViDhPGGhReaZjpUctQ
They have changed the way in which they bleach the kraft paper now.
My brother did his pre-masters collecting crayfish along the system and testing them for mercury. Their levels get elevated very quickly because the eat so much vegetation that absorbes the mercury in the water column. When he presented his data that is when the brown stuff hit the fan and fish were sampled the following summer to open the whole system up.
I pity the poor people that live on the reserves and rely on the fish for a diet

That's really cool.

Hardly anyone in the reserves hunt and fish anymore.

Isn't that the truth Bernie. Poaching moose is as close as they come, but I speak of areas a couple hundred miles farther up than this.
Also, used to be on every water connecting point or portage there were signs of marten trapping. Can't remember in the last 20 years or better seeing a native trapper in northwestern Ontario. I know there are some just not like the old days.

Osky

The Cree here hunt,especially geese and moose,and net fish for consumption.There are several in each extended family that provide for the elders and young and those that don't hunt.Some familys still trap but not near as much as in the past.
Everything is shared.Feasts are common for any special occasions.

Every year on our way to Lac Seul we stay at the River View Lodge which is just across the crick from the paper mill in Dryden.
The River View is partially a log structure that was a home to the superintendent for a logging company from 1910 I think that moved into the Dryden area.
It has a fireplace that will rival anything you have seen. She will take a 4' log with room to spare.
Dryden is a really interesting city and we learn more about it each time we stay there. Go Ice Dogs! (that is the name of their semi pro hockey team)
Wabigoon is a huge lake and would be hard to comprehend size wise for many folks. My good friend and neighbor here has 80 acres on the river that
his Grandpa bought back in the 20's.
He never goes there because the fishing sucks. lol
On the other hand there are huge white tail deer in that area and the trapping opportunities would seem to be limitless for a fellow willing to get off his but and work.


Zim

I just ate 3 meals of fish from the Wabigoon River system on Clay Lake, last week. My buddy did mention that the mercury levels were elevated in these fish but I thought he was kidding. We didn't eat anything over 14'' though as those are the best for the frying pan! Beautiful country, great fishing, sad story about the pollution.

There are many trappers in the Dryden area that produce over 100 marten/ line a year on their RTL lines. Back when marten were at a high there was many $ 25,000 cheques going out after an auction. One trip with a Grader showed them the proper way of forming and the sizes went up a size overall to many trappers, back then it was 80$ difference in the sizes..130 to 210$ ranges

Nothing still do the same thing dump at knight

Pickerel are pickerel,,walleyes are walleyes.Canada land buddy of mine kills me when he keeps calling walleyes pickerel.LOL

They don't have pickerel in most of Canada, and walleyes all across western Canada are called "yellow pickerel" in some places they don't know what you are talking about if you refer to them as walleyes. Just a localized name for the same fish.

I eat a lot of walleyes out of the wabigoon river each year, and I know a lot of people are eating walleyes out of the English River system each year as well. Bigger ones of course have more mercury, but if you take the dark bloodline off the sides, you remove almost all the mercury.

The process has changed in the manufacture of the paper in the last 40 years.

Our walleyes are call " Green backs " that shinny Irish emerald green all the way.
Maybe 49er has some proof what they look like.

Removing the lateral line has nothing to do with removing the mercury contamination. sorry you have fallen for that line

is there anything to do except cutting off the fat ,skin and eat smaller fish to try to avoid the mercury n of 50?

The lateral line is on the outside of the skin. I'm talking about the dark, fatty tissue on the outside of the muscle. It's where most of the contaminants settle.

Greenbacks are found in some parts of eastern Manitoba, pretty localized populations.

It seems you keep hearing about lakes in Canada that are strictly "catch and release". If the fish were contaminated from that lake, wouldn't it still have been a great fishing resort and thrived that way? A really sad situation for such beautiful country. For as long as it has sat vacant, it's surprising it hasn't been vandalized.

I had friends who operated a fly in lodge our of chapleau ontario.....its still there under a new ownership(mache kino lodge) I remember fond memories as a young man catching and smoking pike and walleye there. They always planted alot of turnips for hunting snacks. The closest neighbors were cree indians(about 7 miles) Sad to think people of today have to worry so much about contaminants

Catch and release fishing wasn't really on most people's radar in the 1970's. Very few fish were returned to the water; shore lunch and fish fries were a vital part of the culture of these resorts back then. Still are in most places. Most people would think if you couldn't keep what you catch, why bother?

This. As a camp boy starting out in the late 60’s you better believe everyone wanted full filleted limits to take home. Catch and release only happened after the propane freezer was full and dinner stringers were dangling at the cleaning table. Out of say a 4 day trip we ate shorelunch walleye and dinner walleye every day but one, when usually pork chops were made.
Ball lake lodge was the real deal, we only had plywood floors with a wall tent on top. The cook/eating shack was plywood sides with a tent top due to bears. I think Ball lake employed most of the natives of grassy narrows, men and women. In the camps I worked in I was it. I did everything but the breakfast and evening cooking.

Osky

It is my understanding that the Wabigoon river from Dryden to at least Clay Lake is still on the "0" consumption recommended. If you go to the LCBO (government booze store) and ask for the list of contaminated waters, they will supply you with one. Last I heard, as of a few years ago anyway, Wabigoon R & Clay L were still on the list.

One theory I have heard is that the mercury traveled downstream from the mill in the Wabigoon R to Clay L where a lot of it it settled in the Lake due to the deeper, slower moving water. Now the fish contaminated in Clay Lake, travel up and down the Wabigoon river, so there is no way of knowing what fish are heavily contaminated and which are not. This type of contamination is cumulative so the longer the fish lives in contaminated water the worse the contamination. So eating smaller, younger fish is considered safer than older bigger, fatter fish.

Very cool thread to me. Like the vids Bernie, looks like you had her to yourself opening weekend! Good for you! (I wasnt too sure, lol)

I wouldn't eat a fish out of that area.
I don't know why anyone would.There are hundreds of thousands of lakes and rivers that are pristine in Ontario and you could live off the fish and never worry about stumbling around like an alky from mercury poisoning.

We deer hunted that area (Kenora) many years. Its beautiful up there. Old gold mines also.

Haven't seen anyone else on any of the lakes or rivers I have fished up there so far this year.

WOW ! Thanks for posting. This brings back memories. I was in a fish camp north of Kenora, Ont when I was 13 I am now 58. The camp we stayed at was on a 17 acre island off the English river. We where there for 2 weeks. I would love to go back.

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but did a little research.

Dryden employees receive a pretty good wages. It sounds similar to what drove U.S. automakers to move out of our country. “top woodlands pay will increase to $40.60 per hour with top pulp mill pay reaching almost $46 an hour by the final year of the two deals.”

Dryden pulp mill employees receive 'largest monetary increase' in new 4 yr agreement- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/dryden-pulp-collective-agreement-1.4912960

Ontario vows transparency as testing at Dryden, Ont., mill site continues- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/grassy-narrows-report-province-1.4401759

Report suggesting mercury still leaking near Grassy Narrows 'deeply concerning,' chief says- https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grassy-narrows-old-mercury-report-1.4001775