Many years ago the annual spring smelt runs in Lake Michigan were a big deal. Evenings the piers along Chicago's shores would be lined with people of all ages and sexes setting up for a night of gill netting smelt. They used a "trolley" system to raise and lower gill nets. Galvanized washtubs filled to the brim with smelt were common. The glow from Coleman lanterns and camp stoves lit up the piers end to end with a few burning barrels scattered along the way to help knock the chill off. Last I heard smelt runs no longer happen through there anymore but many folks still set up anyway just for the camaraderie.
Neat. Years ago folks used to fish for smelt off piers and docks right in Boston harbor as well as in estuaries. Most used Coleman lanterns and other bright lights not as much for the people but it was widely--and still is--believed that the lights attract the fish.
