Do Salmon Need Help?

May 6, 2016 by Let's CUT the Crap! 80 Comments

Three of our group left us yesterday. After breakfast, we bused to Deer Lake to drop three more couples at the airport. They hadn’t known about the 12-day package and would have liked to stay on. We are down to 22, which gives us lots of choices where to sit on the huge bus.

Another overcast day, but the sun was stubborn and peeked out sporadically around stubborn, sullen clouds. By 8:38 a.m., Francis had popped in a DVD about the last of the Red Indians— the Beothuk —who painted their skin with ochre (their spiritual connection).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft6pT-xK5FA  (The Last of the Red Indians and Stealing Mary)

After the movie, I dozed as did the rest of my fellow travelers. Though it was early morning, I decided on an early night, maybe straight after supper.

The luncheon offer consisted of cod stuffed with crab. Though not bad, I couldn’t find the crab. Two scoops of mashed potatoes and lots of kernel corn decorated the plate. The coffee was bitter. We did not stay for dessert as we were to enjoy a planned mug up later.

Next stop: the logging town, Grand Falls-Windsor and the Exploits River, the longest river in Newfoundland. We learned how salmon make their way up on the fish ways and how their stocks have increased due to the diligent work done there. Can you believe it takes three years for a salmon to grow to adulthood?

Lookout to to Salmon Interpretation Center:

Examples of salmon ladders to the river:

• The project started three years ago with only 1,000 fish
• Up to 30,000 now
• The fish go back to the river and the first year out to Greenland and the sea
• They then swim upstream once every two years as it is ideal for them and saps their energy
• Fishing is allowed June, July, and August
• Restriction of two fish per person each month and less than 63 cm (two feet) in length
• On bright days, flies need lots of silver
• Dark color on a dark day
• The longer the fly, the more chance you catch attention of a salmon
• They are not hungry, merely attracted to shiny things floating by

We visited a local craft shop in Lewisporte where we were treated to a mug up. A fellow had come in to entertain us on his electric piano. The music was so good, Francis asked Mary for a waltz and made her day.

We had leftover pizza for supper and didn’t bother leaving the room. Television didn’t hold my interest, and my eyes were too heavy to read.

Quick Facts:

• Current population in Newfoundland approximately 500,000
• No snakes, deer or chipmunks
• No ragweed
• 44 species of orchids
• 16^th largest island in the world
• Squirrels introduced to Newfoundland in 1963
• 3 large oil fields on the grand banks
• Hibernia Oil Field most profitable in Canada

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Next on May 13^th – Beothuks

© 2015 Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles. All Rights Reserved.

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If you are reading this, thank you for coming back after my sudden disappearance. Without you, I wouldn’t have this blog nor enjoy our pleasant exchanges. A special thanks to those who ‘checked’ up on me. You have been my strength during a difficult time. Bless you all.