Thursday, May 1, 2008

PIKE RIVER HATCHERY

I just came back from a trip to the Pike River Hatchery. It's about five miles out of town. This time of the year the D&R traps walleye in the river that runs into Lake Vermilion. They started trapping about a week ago and will be trapping for at least two more weeks.
When I got their I run into an old friend of mine. His name is Charlie, He's retired and moved up here from Texas five years ago. He works at the hatchery six weeks a year. He says it's fun but six weeks a year is all He wants.
In every one of these beakers is 110,000 walleye eggs that will turn into 110,000 fish. They will be shipped to just about every lake in Minnesota. Ten percent will be put back into our lake. The D&R says that in the wild due to predators and bad luck only ten percent will make it. In the hatchery almost one hundred percent will live. So I guess that's fair.
Charlie said that if I come back tomorrow I could get some pictures of the adult fish being milked and striped of their eggs. So you know ware I'll be. I wish Tylen was here I'd give his teacher a note and we'd play hooky for half a day. If he's going to be a duck framer he should know how to milk a fish.





6 comments:

sulli said...

Geez grandpa, Tylen now wants to play hooky for the first time in his life! I will show him your pictures tomarrow and read to him, you go ahead and teach him how to milk a fish... He and I think your a little wierd. You can milk a cow, but we dont think you can milk a fish. So you're gonna have to show us whats what...
p.s. we wanna know (ok, I want to know) why do you need to know how to milk a fish if you want to raise ducks? I just dont see the connection...

Anonymous said...

I would`nt across the street to see a fish milked. But, that`s how i am. Tylen would love it, it`s a guy thing.

Skip, can you ask charlie to put more back into the lake cuz lets face it, fishing has been pretty grim lately.

Skim some off the top for the other lakes.

Attie said...

milk a fish...now thats a new one!!!!!! but what a fun job it sounds like I imagine it's quit smelly...i couldn't take that!!
ps...you should post some pics of all the family...and of Auntie!!

Skip said...

HI Jettie glad to see you back rummer had it. When you were on vacation you run off with one of those fire dancers in Maui.
sulli; ducks lay egga, fish lay eggs, you can milk a fish, I don't know about ducks. buy if you could milk them you would need a small stool for bouth. I'm shure they have other things in commen. I'll find out.
mm wife; That's a good idea if He won't do that I'll fill my pockets with eggs and we can rase then in the bathtub.

Dana and Daisy said...

I never heard of anyone in Oklyhomer who milks fish. Must be a northern thing. Please post pictures and how-to's when you go again!

Anonymous said...

gross, you sure wouldn't catch me milking fish...or anything else for that matter!