Agnes found there was a rhythm to the work.Toss one in the basket, one into the river.Another two in the basket.Another for the river.“This is fun!”
Sally laughed.“It’s not as much fun to do it alone, but I agree.Having you here makes even this chore seem like a lot of fun.When I suggested fishing, I imagined myself with a pole, dangling it into the river as I did with my father when I was a child.But this isn’t as much an idyllic pastime as that was.”
It took them ten minutes to pluck all the fish they wanted and set the others free.“Now the hard part.We have to clean them.”
They walked back to the cabin, Herbert oinking at them as he walked behind them.Sally turned to the animal.“I haven’t forgotten you.The first fish head is yours!”
“I guess we use every part of the animal here.”
“We do.If at all possible.”Sally nodded to a large pot.“Carry that in for me, would you?”
Agnes took the pot, eager to help in any way she could.“Now we clean them?Or do we smoke them first?”
“We clean them, and then smoke them.”Sally set the basket with the fish on the table and quickly put a pot of water on the stove to boil.“I find it’s easier to sit at the table to clean them.I had the water waiting and ready, so we’ll boil it, and then use the water to rinse the fish after we cut out the parts we won’t use.”
Sally brought two knives to the table.“Have you ever gutted a fish?”she asked.
Agnes shook her head.“I’ve caught fish but gutting them was never my task.”
“Then let me show you how,” Sally said, holding a fish up to demonstrate.“You make a large slice down the middle, and then you pull out the guts and bones.Cut the head off, throw it to Herbert, throw the guts in this pan and I just put the part we’ll smoke onto the table.You may want to have another basket or pot for that, but this works best for me.”
“I can’t believe you do this many alone every day.”
“It only takes a couple of hours.There’s plenty of time for my other chores.”
“Do you ever rest?”Agnes asked, tired just thinking about all her friend did.
“I work for myself.Why would I rest when I could be doing all I can for my family’s future?”
“You’re right.Let’s clean some fish.”
