Following Utah's Operation JAWs Lake, the Great Lakes Freshwater Shark Search Project has deployed a field observer to the Great Salt Lake. His preliminary report raises questions.

Every field guide begins with a premise. For birds, it's that you want to know what you're looking at. For wildflowers, it's that the right name unlocks the right understanding. This guide operates on a slightly different premise: that if you are looking at a shark in the Great Lakes, you will want to know — quickly, clearly, and without having to think very hard — which one it is.

If you have ever wanted to introduce your family to the mysterious and hotly debated world of Great Lakes sharks, consider this your definitive holiday guide. Whether you want to educate, entertain, or simply distract from Aunt Linda’s annual casserole critique, here is exactly how to navigate these shark infested waters.