The next day after

I think my days are going to be rather easy. This week i am working from noon until 8pm. So today at noon i cleaned two of the three federal rigs (work trucks) Then i cleaned up the shop a little bit. Around 2pm Kraig drove me to the Hatchery. Behind the hatchery is a water way and pond where we have 50,000 of our coho. It is called an Acclimation Pond, they will stay in here while we feed them twice a day until they reach a certain size and then they will be released into the Methow River. They are acclimating to the water in hopes that they will one day return and spawn in these waters. Kraig (my boss) walked me through the steps of feeding and cleaning the metal grate that if not closed would allow the fish to escape into the Methow River early. Next up we drove 8 miles south to another set of Acclimation ponds known as 'The Twisp Ponds' these 50,000 coho are spread through out four ponds, that are all connected so that if the coho feel up to it the can freeley move about the four ponds, So far they seem happy milling around right where they are. We fed those fish, and also cleaned some leaves off of the escape gates. That is pretty much it for the work, the rest of the time i go back and fourth to each pond and watch for Minks, Ducks, Great Blue Herons, or any other preditor that tries to eat our fish. There is a big net covering the pond at the hatchery, but because it is a hatchery the animals know that there is an easy meal nearby, so most mornings the net needs to be mended. I spent a lot of the time sitting in the truck occasionally looking out the window, no preditors in sight. I read a magazine, wrote a letter to my Grandma, and walked around a bit. That is it work day is done. One of the other bosses is out looking for other usable acclimation ponds to expand my hectic work day.