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Our Stories, Our Lives - Ralph Ulf Petterson: Susie Delgado

 From Ralph Ulf Petterson's story in Our Stories, Our Lives by Alexandra J. McClanahan and used by permission of The CIRI Foundation.

Read by Susie Delgado: "I enjoyed what Ralph Ulf Petterson had to say about fishing because I am an avid sport fisher, yet my parents worked long into the night preparing fish for winter subsistence." Susie grew up in Nome but considers Anchorage home. She is involved in community organizing, especially around Alaska Native social justice issues. Susie enjoys reading, fishing, camping and especially being with her two grandkids, Gabriel and Marilyn. She recommends www.anchoragefact.org.

Ralph Ulf Petterson grew up fishing in Kenai, Alaska in the early 1900s and said:

‘Seems to me like if you caught one or two fish you get the thrill and that's enough. Why sit there and fish day after day after day when you don't need them? Or even fishermen put them back in the creek. Like some say, "Oh, we put them back."

Well, some do and some don't. But every fish they put back, there's very few of them that are not hurt. Somehow they're hurt. I don't think it's good for the fish.

Not unless we wanted to eat, we never fished. We could fish all we wanted to. But we never fished just for fun. There's no sense to it. Who's going to sit there like a fool, fishing and throw them back in the river?'



Comments
Finally, a fisherman who agrees that "catch and release" may actually hurt the fish!
# Posted By Liz Brown | 5/16/08 11:33 AM
RE Liz: You're joking right? I suppose you're suggesting that the 10,000 people who head down the Kenai every week should all be keeping the fish they catch. Or are you suggesting they stay home and take up quilting instead?
# Posted By The fisherdude | 6/9/08 2:57 PM