Salmon Salmon Salmon

“The mighty Salmon symbolize power, wisdom, determination, renewal and prosperity,” said Mrs T.

“Hah that’s just folklore ,” retorted Mr T puffing his chest out and trying to make fish eyes.

Salmon jumping in Toronto – Photo Credit: Katmai NPS

“It is no wonder then that people have danced and fallen for this ‘leaper’. Feasting bears in the freezing falling river waters would agree. Feasting on a succulent salmon is always a treat, or is it said MrT? questioning the notion.

The notion of salmon swimming upstream and leaping over waterfalls and weirs in the wild is fixed in the T’s minds so they went walking on the Etiene Brule trail, up to the first weir the one that they could not see from the Home Smith side of the river.

“This is nature, as it should be. Who can argue with the touted health benefits of Omega-3. Fat powers salmon upstream in their quest to spawn. Nor do they eat on this journey. Rather it is the bears, eagles, otters and fishing humans that eat them. The ones that do make it back to their spawning stream can lay up to seven thousand eggs and once fertilized they ensure the perpetuation of the species,” said MrsT dodging a a large exuberant puppy intent on greeting everything in sight.

“Your smartphone told you all that right!” said MrT knowingly.

Ignoring the comment MrsT continued, “All that spent energy denies their continued survival. This wild notion of nature served demand for the treat resulting in the farming of salmon to increase supply the argument being that this will help perpetuate wild salmon.”

“Furthermore detractors argue that chemicals in the fish-feed including astaxanthin to make them pink, sea lice and anoxic water are some of the factors leading to unsustainable farms. Genetically engineered salmon are now available destroying the notion of wild salmon and any appetite for them in my mind,” continued MrsT as they approached the weir.

Farming aside, nature’s notion of jumping salmon prompted the T’s to watch the salmon working their way upstream in the Humber River. It was a sunny fall holiday weekend, but the problem was this decision had been made by a host of others teeming to see of the fish. As they approached the first weir they saw a fellow wading with a rod in midstream. He looked uncomfortable negotiating the stony river bed. The first spot they came to was close to the weir on the river bank. It was occupied by excited people. Some were crouching on a cement wall, touching the fish as they battled the current. You could see salmon in the dark ruffled water.

One made it over the weir while we were there watching, but many fell back from their attempted jumps. These falling salmon simply tried and tried again never giving up on their pursuit of spawning grounds.

On their way home in the little red car MrT looked at one brilliant red maple in it’s fall glory and knowingly asked, “So what dressing are you putting on the salmon tonight MrsT?”

#nature #satire