Raised in Chicago, I grew up knowing that fish meant Mrs Paul's fish sticks and that fish smelled, especially the alewives that littered the walks along Lake Michigan. Reading Jack is making me question that just a little bit.
PING to a Jack Bell outdoors story of fishing near Reno
It is a glimpse of Rocky Mountains area 105 years ago with some great, if grainy, illustrations. The difference between then and now, especially from this article, are striking. Thanks for posting!
I grew up in SW Michigan more years ago than I care to think about. Dad fished in those waters - and in Canada too. I remember those stinky alewives along the shores of Lake Michigan until the stocking of coho salmon helped to reduce their populations. I also fondly remember eating fresh cooked trout beside a clear Michigan stream and seeing dad's pride when he came home with a pheasant or a deer for us to enjoy.
I scanned the Jack Bell article. It reminds me a bit of the times when my dad was fishing, although it is much earlier. I don't know that the younger generation would have a great interest in the tone of the Bell stories. It comes from a time when game was abundant and men fished and hunted for sport and for food in a way that few men do anymore. Many younger people would be horrified at the thought of killing fish, birds, or other animals and tend to enjoy nature in a 'leave no trace' manner. Taking pictures, making sketches, or otherwise enjoying the beauty and abundance take precedence over the pursuits of 100 years ago. Those of us who grew up between those times may take an interest, but I think it's of mixed appeal.
It is really shocking how fast things can change. What used to be basic survival skills are now reviled by large chunks of the population. When we were youngsters, I remember reading about how the passenger pigeon was hunted to extinction just for sport. I think many young people today look upon hunting and fishing pretty much in the same way. There are certainly people who continue to hunt and fish, but many of them use technology in a way that doesn't resonate with those of us who grew up with it as a deep skill. I don't like the high-tech approach of tournament bass fishing and consider it unsporting. I'm not opposed to hunting or fishing, but unless it's a matter of survival, I don't like to see high-tech tools that make it next to impossible for the wild creature to evade the hunter. Times change and so do our sensibilities.
What a great story Jack Bell wrote about.