The Ethical Dilemmas of Trout Fishing In North Georgia
Friday I was introduced to the wonderful pastime of trout fishing. Mr. Robb, a friend and paritioner, took me to the streams of North Georgia for a day of angling and fun. It was quite a day. However, the experience brought about some ethical questions and dilemmas I would like to pass along for your consideration and advice:
Ethical Dilemma # 1: It's Raining Fish
Apparently, trout are not native to these Georgia streams, at least not in numbers sufficient for all the anglers. Thus enters the DNR, with several trout hatcheries throughout the northern part of the state. We visited one. It consists of big cement tanks of bubbling water, teeming with thousands and thousands of trout in various stages of maturity. When they reach a point of sufficient size, a big water truck is pulled up beside the vats. Fish are lifted by the dozens, with a huge net, promptly weighed and deposited into the truck. When the truck is filled with a couple of tons, it takes off to an undisclosed destination. There the fish are summarily dumped into the streams, to be quickly caught by awaiting fishermen.
As the truck was almost full and ready to leave, Mr. Robb signaled for me to jump into his pickup. It was time to chase the tanker truck! The driver of the truck knew how to negotiate the hills and narrow lanes along these mountains, since he negotiates them eveyday. We followed the guy at breakneck speeds across the mountains. And he knew we were following, which really was not against the law, and seemed to be playing some games with us. One time he pulled over aside the road to casually check his load. Another time he pulled into a drive, probably his house, probably to use the bathroom or make a sandwich- or both We patiently waited, and followed. Finally we followed him about five miles down a little gravel road. He stopped, and dumped thousands of trout down the roadside and into the stream They bounced off the banks and rocks on the way to the water, probably killing and maiming the majority. This seemed a bit odd and cruel to me. So we jumped out, hiked downstream a few hundred yards and started fishing.
I'm wondering at the true sport of such an excursion. There is nothing natural about it. Still I wanted to catch some fish. And I did!
Dilemma # 2: The Silent Scream Of A Trout
When you catch the fish, you are going to put him on your stringer, take him home, and eat him. Nothing wrong with that! What would be wrong would be to catch him, injure him, and throw him back into the water to suffer and die. Mr Robb thinks it cruel to string him through the gills, thinking he would needlessly suffer. So he believes you should knock him in the head to quickly and painlessly end his misery Also, this fast demise is supposed to preserve the delicasy of the meat.
I found out later you are supposed to do this with the back of a big, heavy pocketknife. But, with the couple of fish I caught, I tried to humanely and ethically end their suffering with the nearest rock or stick. It wasn't fast and it wasn't pretty. It was a bloody mess. I ended up beating the poor creatures to death. I still feel guilty.
Dilemma # 3: How Not To Clean A Fish
Mr. Robb likes to quickly skin and clean the fish there by the riverbank. He showed me how, and those of you who are squeemish need not read the next several sentences. First you slit his throat below the gills, carefully leaving the head intact. Then you slit his underbelly from tail to head; entrails and organs are removed with the fingers. Then, the tricky part, is to snap back the head and peel off the skin. Finally, you wash the big hunk of remaining white meat, and put into a ziplok bag.
Is it really good to throw all of those fish remains into the river? Mr. Robb thinks it is a way to feed the other critters in and around the water. It seems kind of like polluting to me. And I was so bad at the process that he advised me to just throw away the formless and ugly mess left in my hands.
Dilemma # 4: The Math
A license is required, and I was able to secure mine over the internet. The limit of catch is 8 trout per day, per person. And if caught with an overage, a stiff fine will be given. I think it means that once you catch 8 fish, you are to cease your angling. We decided, for convenience sake, to interpret it that once you catch your eight fish, then you help the other guy to catch his eight fish.
I noticed several men fishing, with wife and two or three kids nearby occupied with other things or just looking bored. I knew what they were there for, and it was not for companionship. Thus, husband/dad could catch 40 fish, and attribute them among family members. It reminds me of how Baptist preachers count the number of congregants on Sunday mornings.
Final Dilemma: Fishing Lies
Here's the reality: Mr Robb caught 12 fish, and I caught 3 weak-looking litte guys It took me about 20 minutes to clean two, and Mr. Robb cleaned the rest in about 5 minutes.
Today at church, several men asked how we did. I gazed at my blistered hands and thought about my sore feet, and replied, “We caught & cleaned 15 fish! And, several were quite large!” Technically, I was right. Lightning did not strike, and the church did not fall in. After all, I was only engaging in the time-honored tradition of fisherman's storytelling. Nothing wrong with that, is there?
