Composition of Fish Consumed by the James Bay Cree

Five species of adult female fish were harvested in Autumn from coastal and inland reservoir areas within the territory of the James Bay Crees of Quebec, Canada. Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), cisco (Coregonus artedii), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), and pike (Exos lucius) were harvested, portioned, and analyzed for proximate composition, heavy metals (Hg, Cd, As, Pb), nutritional minerals (Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu), and a complete profile of fatty acids. Liver of pike and lake trout and eggs of whitefish, cisco, and lake trout were also analyzed. Although liver and eggs are important traditional cultural food resources, nutrient data in liver and eggs have not been previously reported, except for whitefish eggs. Pike and lake trout flesh and liver and eggs of lake trout had Hg levels exceeding 0.5 μg/g. All samples had greater amounts of unsaturated fatty acids (mono- and polyunsaturates) than saturated fatty acids. Fe and Zn were low (<0.5 mg/100 g) in flesh, but were higher in portions of liver and eggs, thus providing dietary complement.