Some Things Fishy

Well some things in life can be a little on the fishy side. For those of us in interior Alaska that's usually a good thing. Our friend Steve who is the same person teaching me about Bee keeping took us out and showed us how to net fish for Salmon. Joey Redington Jr allowed us to use his spot for the day.

Saturday morning we collected the honey from the bees Steve, Ann and I pulled all the frames. Saturday evening we set the fish net.

Tanana River

Steve and Ken taking the net out of the box

Ken tying off the boat and the net

The net and buoy

 I said a prayer over the fish net, that God would bless us. I said that I would praise him if was full and I would praise him if it was empty.

Ken

Steve and Ken untangling the net

After we got the net all set we got to go see the fish wheel that Steve built for the fish and game research team. It's built to be fish friendly so that they can catch and release. Then he took us to meet them at their camp and we got to see how they are using sonar to count the fish. It's a really neat set up and they seem like a great bunch of young people. I think if I were younger and single that would be a really run and rewarding job.

Fish Wheel Steve built for Fish and Game

When we went back out  the next morning we had to have the net out of the water by noon which we accomplished easily. There were 27 chum salmon in our net. The Chum are also known as Dog Salmon and are usually harvested for use as dog food and considered lower quality. We picked out  the poorest quality fish to dry for the dogs but the rest will be for us to eat. Were not picky (yet) and are thankful that the timing finally worked out and someone was able to teach us how to net fish. Now we need to gather up the supplies so that next year we can go out on our own and maybe even fish for some kings.

Untangling the fish from the net

 I only got one shot of untangling the fish before I jumped in and got to work myself. God truly blessed us and we praised him for filling the net with fish for us, for the experience and for wonderful friends who gave of their time and experience. We thanked the fish for the nourishment they would provide our family.

27 Chum (Dog) Salmon in the boat

 The Salmon that we kept for ourselves was frozen whole to prevent freezer burn.

Notice my look of concentration as I try to hold the slippery fish while using a very sharp knife lol...

I was gutting as Ken was splitting

Boys inspecting the remaining fish

Lisa inspecting the drying rack

While it's not enough fish to feed the dogs for the winter it will help. Now we can say that we've done it and we can make a better go of it hopefully next year, if we can accumulate the basic equipment that we'll need.

Today I'll be going in and helping and and Steve use the extractor to get out the honey. I'll let you all know how much honey we end up with.

Blessings and Love to you all :) May God bless your harvest.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.