Many lovely letters, and then this?

[Jennie@ifish]

In order to get a background on this, please read my column on the front page of www.ifish.net.
I got many lovely letters regarding that column, but was puzzled by this one. I asked if I may post it, and he wrote back that I may.

My first thought was that someone needs to take some good deep breaths, and that some people just like to spread bitterness in people's lives.

But then, I stopped to think what else might possibly drive someone to write this.

I post this, half surprised, and half wondering...
I can see not saving fry or doing this type of thing stream wide, (if I really stretch to think someone might attempt such a thing!) But, half a dozen fry, silted in from the Kilchis slide and the high water, and stuck?

He calls my motives selfish. I rarely keep a fish these days. (However I can't wait to bite into a springer or 20!) I honestly did not save the fish for reasons of pure selfishness. I saw them stuck, and wanted them to join the rest of the school, which are in a bigger pool, and free to access the main stem.

Anyway.. here it is, open for comment.
I know, we put in the AUP not to post private letters. However, I did ask for permission, and he said, "Yes, you may Jennie. I have no problem at all.


Brett"

So, here it is, in all of it's.. uh... printed glory:

I was reading your April 6th account and was curious as to why
you attempted to save the fry and return them to the river?
For evolutionary reasons, they should have remained where you
found them. We as a society have to remember our
anthropomorphic needs are not be the best for nature.
Regardless of your attachment, or personal selfishness to these
fish leaving them where you found them would have probably
benefitted the entire ecosystem more than 50lber on your rod.


Just my .02 worth.


Sincerely


Brett Wright

[Jennie@ifish]

By the way, I honestly do have the best interest of the fish in mind, so if this is truly harmful, I WILL stop! :smile:

Jen

[Silver Hilton]

Just remember what opinions are like, Jenny.

In the purest intellectual sense, I understand his point, but when reality intrudes, I think he's overstating the case a little bit. Yes, the best intentions of man (or woman) often go astray. But to conclude that you are harming the ecosystem by foiling mother nature is not warranted, IMHO.

[Amahnee]

Scratching my head right now. Hhhhmmmm???? Processing. I guess I don't get it. I guess I shouldn't put a baby bird back in its nest either?

[Jennie@ifish]

I remember reading an article about how nature really is cruel, and it's not all fluffy and bunnies out there in the wild.
It's true! (And I hate those kinds of Disney Movies, too!)

But, in my life, I'll take it just a bit fluffier, with more bunnies, and more free fry.

See? I get spanked too, once in a while! :smile:

Jen

[D$_KFalls]

What about hatcheries? Fish ladders? Placing carcasses in the water? Placing habitat (rootwads, logs, etc.) in the water? Fishing, for god's sake! Those are all "unnatural" in the context of what was once natural behavior for these fish.

???

[Tide Change]

Jennie,

It takes all kinds...

Wish there were more of your kind around.

Keep up the good work.

[JohnB]

Saving a life is heavenly, irrespective of the species. I would do the same as you did. There is nothing wrong with altruistic actions.

There is much more that could be said but then it turns into a religious discussion and not appropriate for this board. Read any eastern philosophy to understand that all sentient beings are connected. my $0.02

[Chromaflage]

I'm puzzled as well. So, are we not to intervene at all with nature? If we simply ignored creatures that are displaced or distressed, we'd have none. So, what about the deer that finds its way into the city, shall we let it be and allow it to compete for a niche with 4-wheel, steel- bearing beasts? To what extent shall we refrain from "interfering" with the course of nature? I guess these fry were genetically inferior to those who could find their way to safe harbour without aid of human intervention. Unbelieveable!

ORS

[WheresMyBobber]

I suppose this person would also disagree with taking injured birds to the Audobon Society, feeding birds or squirrels in the back yard. We are human, and thus we have feelings and instincts towards helping animals as well as humans. One persons opinion is just that, and no more than that.

[FishFood]

Now really. I'm a big nut in terms of science and evolution but, guess what?? Human beings are part of the world, and so part of evolution as well. I don't know where the artificial division of human beings and everything else came from, but it's scientifically indefensible.

Jennie, you evolved to put those little fish back, so it's perfectly okay.

:smile:

[Water Ready]

I would hate to hear his theory if you jumped in to save a drowning child. :whazzup:
With all the many other problems, within our eco-system, this one seems to be "small fry", compared to those. Who is the selfish one?
He probably justs needs to go fishing!

[Grant Scheele]

Why are we giving this cynical nut the time of day. You did nothing wrong.

I am left dumber for reading his letter.

Jennie, if saving those little creatures just made your day a little better then you did the right thing.

Don't give guys like this your valuable time. Grant

[Bonneville Dan]

I guess to be true to nature we should all cancel our medical insurance. You go first Brett.

[Gun Rod Bow]

He's Right!!

And I'm gonna spank my kids if I catch them picking up a baby bird and putting it back in the nest

NOT!!

Humanity is human. Go Girl!

[Chukrchaser]

Below is the definition:

attribution of human characteristics to nonhumans: the attribution of a human form, human characteristics, or human behavior to nonhuman things such as deities in mythology and animals in children’s stories.

So how are saving a few fry attributing human characteristics to anything? Maybe he just needed to use a big word in a sentence to see how it feels.

If we look at the whole "big picture", saving a few (or 100) fry from drying up does little to the population dynamics. It does, however, do great things for ones own personal satisfaction -- that maybe -- just maybe one of those fry will reach adulthood to help continue the species -- inspite of our human penchant for destroying anything of beauty in nature.

[Fshklr]

Hmm,
So I never should have rescued that dog from the freeway, put my fish back into the fish tank, feed the winter birds, saved that tiel(house pet bird) I found in a tree..

Thanks Jennie for another opportunity for a 50#er!!

[whitewaterbill]

I am with him.....

We should not stop cutting down old growth to save spotted chickens...They should be on their own also...Or why do we go out of our way to make sure seals are protected...

"LET THE BIG DOG EAT"

We are "THE BIG DOG"...Arn't we?

Maybe we were intended to get fosil fuel at the expence of those big lizzards. If someone saved them we would have no gas to go fishing??

Is global warming new???? I think not....So when was that ice age??

Darwin at work???

Do not feed the squirels in the park!!!!

Who knows and who cares???

A kind act by you Jennie ..........Not a big deal on the big board...is it?

"I think he is a solution looking for a problem!"

SG

[Gun Rod Bow]

What was that story about two people walking down the beach after a storm...

Seeing hundreds of starfish washed up on the beach. They come accross an old lady picking up star fish and putting them back in the water.

They ask, what could it possibly matter that you save a few starfish when hundreds are going to die in the sun...she turns and says, it doesn't matter, except to the few that are saved.

Just remembered that one.

[roadsend]

Jennie,
Keep saving the little fishies. You too are part of the ecosystem.

[fisher-price]

Hello all. Well actually Chris is "right" on one hand. Nature was disturbed and the natural order was effected survival of the fittest and all. Evolution seperatd the fit from the unfit thereby ensuring the propegation of the species. This is true of humans as well. I doubt if there were very many slow fat cavemen. There were natural diasters as well that helped in population control and of couse there was disease. However, techonolgy has pushed us through the natural order and it has been disturbed. So here is my resolution to help keep the natual order in balance. I therefore promise everyone here including Chris to do my best to allow the natual order take place in spite of technology. I promis that will not pull you, Chris, out of the way of the speeding bus, sinking boat, or burning house. I will leave it up to you to either be the fittest or the unfittest as you suggest.


f~p

[B-run]

We should sue O.D.O.T for saving the calf elk from the Wilson slide a few years ago.
We have encroached on our environment, and it is our duty to protect it and manage it now.
As I recall, there were a few "human" factors that contributed to the Kilches slide?
Go Jen, save fish, I will help you.

[SandySteel]

An interesting read about human interference in the "natural order" is the book "The biology of desire". Essentially, the point of the book is that we are part of the natural selection process. Plants and animals present us with traits that we find desirable and therefore we make them successful by propagating them. Another interesting line of thought is that dogs are the world's most succesful social parasite in the history of the world. By behaving in a way that we interpret as emotional this animal (dog) has found a way to get humans to take care of them and ensure their survival.
The salmon's traits were desireable to Jenny, they wiggled in a way that got her (via her natural emotional response) to expend the energy to ensure their survival. Sounds like the DNA of the salmon exhibited itself in such a way that it will survive another day. Jenny was just part of the natural selection equation.

[SalmonSeason]

What more can you expect from a person who believes in evolution? Letting nature take its' course is more likely to be a benefit... but we were given brains and common sense...and Jennie used it...

Maybe when this person comes to the end days he will understand that the paramedic and/or doctor will allow nature to take its' course

[Gun Rod Bow]

What more can you expect from a person who believes in evolution?

Right On!

[Fast Water]

This persons comments are absolutly correct if one is considering a virgin watershed*.

His message is about 100+ years too late.

Intervention like this is, at the very worst, harmless.


* Preserves could also be included.

:smile:

[Fred N]

Not being a politician, I will simply say, Jennie your article was well written and enjoyable for me to read.

I think for some it is just their nature to question. The best that can be hoped for is a positive outlook and move on not holding on to any of the negative thoughts. Keep up the great work, life is great, this is fun place to be! :smile:

[First Bite]

Jen

Reading your column made me think of a few years back when Cindy and I were on the Hoh River and came across the same scenario. We spent over an hour rescuing about two dozen stranded smolts.

It's a good thing.

Mark

[judyfish99]

Aw, Jennie, I would have done the same thing(been on my hands and knees for the smolts). The next big fish this guy catches may be one of the smolts that you saved. I also feed the squirrels and wild birds. Just keep on doing what you are doing, it's great!! judyfish99

[greenbuttskunk]

Jennie,
This one had some smoke coming out of my ears
Maybe I'm in the minority of thinking but here's my take.

We as a species, has a distinct responsibility to aid others species, solely on the grounds that we have a capacity for superior intelligence (most of us) and the means to act on that intellegence. In many occasions we also act out of compassion, not selffishness. Humans are to blame in most cases for the decline and downfall of nature's problems, this is not rocket science. Population growth, over development, pollution, squandered resources, destruction of habitat, encroachment, yada, yada. Were are we in the whole big picture if we don't take the time or make efforts to help other species. Can anyone really say that they can survive or flourish without human aid. Most species cannot.
Hey, call me a nauture nut for helping ducks cross the road because we build a road through a wetland so we have easier access to yet another strip mall. Wish I could have help the
beaver and muscrat I see as road kill there every week till
they are all gone.
Jennie, what you did was the responsible thing to do.
Maybe the slide was due to natural causes, maybe it was due to devistating clear cuts above. Does not matter. A small token of responsibility, compassion, and respect for another species we share this place with is an act I'll always support. Keep it up.
GBS

[Another Bob]

I guess the question I have, is, did you get any enjoyment out of the story? I can not believe how great it would be to have that in my back yard. I know you were just thinking of the fish and the pure nature of things, but did you see past the saving of a few fish and read about the otters or the flowers? Well I hope you have a great day next time you go fishing. That goes for all of us!
Bob

[shalom]

Jennie.
I enjoyed your story so much, that I had my wife read it. I knew that she would enjoy it, and she did. I commented that it was a great story and very nice to read. Keep up the good stories. Your writing is the first thing that I check on I fish.

[Musicman]

I applaud you J for doing the right thing, the Bible has a story and I won't go into great detail, but we're not to work on the Sabbath and for a reason, but if you find your oxen stuck in a ditch would you free it even though it's against the letter of the law, not the intent??? Of course you would. Good job! May you have an awesome day, hope you're feeling better.

[CATCH AND EAT]

You did the right thing Jennie. I would have done the same if I could. Evolution whatever. We screwed that up when hatcheries were introduced and we dumped sewage into the rivers. Man oh man, pick your battles people.

[YaHoeeFishOn]

When cutt throat fishing the Nehalem , I would find pools in side rocks on the river . I would find lots fish in these little warm pools.These fish where 5-6 feet above the river left from receding river. I took time to free them . They would swim into a Styrofoam cup I picked up on bank to be free'd.
When I read your post it remindend me of that sunny day and rewarding feeling I got . Why did I hike up that ledge , have cup to free them , and they voleentered to swim into it .

[Orange Heron]

Jen,
Just keep doing what your doing. We are all behind you.

Rich
Creekside Flyfishing

[Paddlefish]

Jennie, I wish I had been there to help you aid those little stranded migrants.

They weren't there because they were inferior, mutant, gene pool-ravaging misfits. They were just pre-schoolers who had some bad luck after picking out a bit of sheltered, slow current in a falling river.

A good friend lost his teenage son while fly fishing, when a tree fell on him. Should I advise him that it was a "natural selection, gene pool correction?" I hope you'll be there, Brett, to back me up when I make that pronouncement.

I do honestly believe that creatures gradually adapt to their environments. (That's why all my kids have acquired longer arms which can reach all parts of the dinner table.) :grin:

Okay, some of you, brand me with the dreaded "Evolution" word, but why do Willamette Falls-jumping chinooks arrive in the well-watered spring, while Snake River marathon chinooks arrive during the summer and short-sprint Wilson River hogs wait until November? Heavy social calendars or is that the timing which, over thousands of years, maximized their survival? Coincidence?

If Jennie had rescued adult salmon awaiting their chance to swim through the Starbucks drive-through with a Wal-Mart credit card, I'd be among the first to help with a fish mulcher, in the interest of a decent future gene pool. These little guys, however, headed for sea-run cutthroats, terns, seals, trawls, commercial trollers, sea lions and ******, will still have more than enough life-or-death tests in their lives. If they're really inferior and a weak link in their gene pool, they'll get many more opportunities to prove it.

And if one or more of them is destined to be the macho/mama type which leaves a wake in the river, drags short strands of terminator-test Power Pro line, and attracts salmon groupies while migrating upriver in four years, it'll be regrettable that Jennie's autograph isn't on one of its fins.

And, Jennie, if you find a similar stranding, which looks like it'll be an all-day rescue effort, give me and my kids an immediate call.