The Grasshopper Famine: The Mullet and the Trout

The Grasshopper Famine— the Mullet and the Trout. BY PETER MADSEN.

[Deliverance from the ravages of crickets wrought by the sea gulls in the spring of 1849, was a most merciful providence in behalf of the early pioneers of Utah. They were saved from starvation by this mirac- ulous interference, the birds feasting from morning un- til night on the black demons. The scanty crops were thus saved. The gull, in consequence,

is a sacred bird among the Latter- day Saints. And the sego lily, upon the roots of which the people subsisted in those tryingdays,

is honored as the chosen flower of the state of Utah. The children of the pio- neers hold in lov- ing reverence the sea gull and the sego lily. But a few years Peter Madsen, Pioneer Fisherman of Utah. later there were

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THE GRASSHOPPER FAMINE. 517

other plagues that drove the people to the brink of starva- tion. The crops of 1854 and 1855 failed, owing principally to the rav- ages of grasshoppers, though drought added its share to the disaster. Then came the unusually severe winter of 1855-6, when, from cold and starvation, cattle and sheep died by the thousands. The people suf- fered severely from these combined calamities, and were once more driven to roots for subsistence. However, an additional medium not so generally advertised was providentially provided — an agency unsung by the poet and unchronicled in the annals of the historian. Notwithstand- ing, it deserves mention by both. It was the mullet and the trout of Utah lake that played this import- ant part in furnishing the famishing people with food. While fish is not, — coupled with the perhaps, as poetic a subject as sea gulls and sego lilies recollection of the conditions, the term, "Grasshoppers — the Mullet and the Trout,'' is perhaps as rythmical and surely as historically import- ant as, "Crickets — the Sea Gull and the Sego Lily." But to the fish and the famine. One day recently a number of men were discussing the early cricket plague and the relief brought by the sea gulls, when Hon. John Henry Smith called attention to the substan. tial help that the fish of Utah lake provided in supplying food for the famishing, during the hard times of 1855-6. He maintained they were quite as worthy of historical record as the gulls and the lilies. When pressed for particulars, he referred to the veteran fisherman, Peter Mad- sen.The latter was appealed to, and it is to him and to his sons, D. H. Madsen and George A. Madsen, who have succeeded to his wholesale fishing business, that the Era is indebted for this very interesting narra- tive on the subject. Peter Madsen, by the way, is a sturdy, remarkable character. Born in Veile,Denmark, April 6, 1824, he joined the Church, June 12, 1853, being baptized by Elder Rasmus Neilsen. He served his country in the Prussian war of 1847-50, and four years later became a pioneer of west- ern America. In 1870-2 he went as a missionary to his native land, and in 1886-88 filled a mission to the Hawaiian Islands. Edward H. Anderson.']

In response to a request from the Era to state my experience during the grasshopper plague, in the early days of Utah, I gladly furnish the following, all of which I remember as the most trying experiences of my life. I arrived in Salt Lake City on October 4, 1854, and came to Provo the same year, where I have since made my home.

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518 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

It was in the year 1855, as I remember, when the grass- hoppers first made their descent upon the small fields of the pio- neers. The crops had been planted in rich soil, along the Provo river, and gave promise of fair har- vest, equal to the demand of the small population and the incoming immigrants —who would be too late to plant crops during that summer. We felt that all would be well with us, when lo, about July 24, the grasshoppers came upon us. So thick did they descend that they fairly darkened the sun. They de- stroyed most of the crops, as they made their way towards the shores of the lake, which they attempted to cross, and were drowned by wagon loads, many of them being eaten by the fish, and great walls of them floated upon the shores of the lake. It was a little later than this

that the people came to the lake. From Sevier on the south to Salt

Lake on the north, they came with wagons and barrels and salt, pre- pared to take fish home with them for food during the winter. Their crops were destroyed, and they Utah Lake Mullet and Sucker. were weak from hunger. They Though much alike they are two distinct species, with dif- brought with them two short ferent habits. On the left the pieces of seine, which I secured mullet on the right the sucker ; from them and joined to the end of the trout no portrait could be procured at this season. of a short seine I had knit during These varieties of fish fig- my first winter in Utah, and there- ured largely in saving the by made a fairly good net. pioneers from starvation, in the 50's. They all camped along the river

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520 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

near where it empties into the lake, and we made preparations to supply them with mullet and trout which were quite plentiful at that time.

WINTER SCENE ON THE PROVO AT THE PLACE WHERE THE PEOPLE CAMPED IN THE 50'S.

Having been accustomed to fishing in Denmark when a boy, I was prepared for this important duty, of furnishing food for a starving people, and I will always remember the scene along the river's bank after the first day's catch had been distributed. The campers were in little groups around the camp fires, where they were broiling fish on the hot coals, and fating them with a relish that only those who have been through experiences of this kind can appreciate. The bishop of Provo sent men to help, and all day and night the fishing went on. The Saints came and remained on the river until they had enough fish salted to last them during the coming winter, then left for their homes, to give room to others equally as needy. For weeks the work went on. Nobody ever asked who did the work, or who received the fish. We were comparatively