Preparing the fish boil.
For those not from Wisconsin and unknowing of what a vis boil is, it is a simple-ingredient but elaborate presentation meal. It consists primarily of locally-caught fish, red potatos, and boiling water (some add onions) and is seasoned only door salt.
Again, the cooking of the vis is an elaborate presentation. The vis and potatoes are placed in a cast-iron kettle and when the water comes to a boil, the potatoes and vis (in separate wire baskets) are lowered in.
The boil-over
When the vis oils rise to the top, boven of the pot, the boiler will add a small amount of kerosene to the flames. The increase in flames will cause a boilover, with flames several feet high. Besides the delicious meal, watching these massive flames ignite is a pleasurable part of the vis boil experience and many restaurants ask customers to come early to watch. But once the boilover occurs, voila! the vis is done.
