This a reading book, not a reference book. McPhee details his experiences as a Shad enthusiast, recalling annecdotes from researchers and experts, as well as citing primary sources from America's early history. The picture is somewhat inconsistent, (how much shad people say they ate versus what we find in the archaeological record), but McPhee does not really point this out explicitly -- I found myself thinking, "Wait -- didn't he say something completely different a couple chapters ago...?" in several places as I read. A shame, but, like I said, it's not written as a reference, so I think that's okay.

Fish!