Upstream: Searching for Wild Salmon, from River to Table

Upstream: Searching for Wild Salmon, from River to Table

From the award-winning author of The Mushroom Hunters comes the story of an iconic fish, perhaps the last great wild food: salmon.

For some, a salmon evokes the distant wild, thrashing in the jaws of a hungry grizzly bear on TV. For others, itâ€™s the catch of the day on a restaurant menu, or a deep red fillet at the market. For others still, itâ€™s the jolt of adrenaline on a successful fishing trip. Our fascination with these superlative fish is as old as humanity itself. Long a source of sustenance among native peoples, salmon is now more popular than ever. Fish hatcheries and farms serve modern appetites with a domesticated â€œproductâ€â€”while wild runs of salmon dwindle across the globe. How has this once-abundant resource reached this point, and what can we do to safeguard wild populations for future generations?

Langdon Cook goes in search of the salmon in Upstream, his timely and in-depth look at how these beloved fish have nourished humankind through the ages and why their destiny is so closely tied to our own. Cook journeys up and down salmon country, from the glacial rivers of Alaska to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest to Californiaâ€™s drought-stricken Central Valley and a wealth of places in between. Reporting from remote coastlines and busy city streets, he follows todayâ€™s commercial pipeline from fishermanâ€™s net to corporate seafood vendor to boutique marketplace. At stake is nothing less than an ancient livelihood.

But salmon are more than food. They are game fish, wildlife spectacle, sacred totem, and inspirationâ€”and their fate is largely in our hands. Cook introduces us to tribal fishermen handing down an age-old tradition, sport anglers seeking adventure and a renewed connection to the wild, and scientists and activists working tirelessly to restore salmon runs. In sharing their stories, Cook covers all sides of the debate: the legacy of overfishing and industrial development; the conflicts between fishermen, environmentalists, and Native Americans; the modern proliferation of fish hatcheries and farms; and the longstanding battle lines of science versus politics, wilderness versus civilization.

This firsthand accountâ€”reminiscent of the work of John McPhee and Mark Kurlanskyâ€”is filled with the keen insights and observations of the best narrative writing. Cook offers an absorbing portrait of a remarkable fish and the many obstacles it faces, while taking readers on a fast-paced fishing trip through salmon country. Upstream is an essential look at the intersection of man, food, and nature.

Praise for Upstream

â€œPassionate . . . Cook deftly conveys his love of nature, the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and the delectable eating provided by fresh caught wild salmon.â€â€”Library Journal

â€œInsightful . . . this work is a great place to learn what needs to doneâ€”and an entertaining view on the positive and negative connections humans have with the natural environment.â€â€”Publishers Weekly

â€œLangdon Cook delivers a beautifully written portrait of the iconic salmon that blends history, biology, contentious politics, and the joy of fishing into a captivating and thought-provoking tale.â€â€”Eric Jay Dolin, author ofÂ Brilliant Beacons

â€œSalmon are the essence of the Pacific Northwest, and as Langdon Cook shows so powerfully, they are the key to its future."â€”Rowan Jacobsen, author of The Essential Oyster

â€œIn this fresh tale of an ancient wonder, Langdon Cook takes us on an inspired journey of discovery through the heart and soul of salmon country.â€â€”David R. Montgomery, author of King of Fish and Growing a Revolution
Country USA
Manufacturer Ballantine Books
Binding Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate 2017-05-30
Format Kindle eBook

Country	USA
Manufacturer	Ballantine Books
Binding	Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate	2017-05-30
Format	Kindle eBook