FISHING JOURNAL Sept 1959

Tuesday 1.9.59

Taseko Lake. Another hard day again—9 pulls. In the best nets over 150 salmon—there are getting to be a lot that have spawned among them. Note bene! I smoked my first cigarette well after midday. After lunch I smoked another. But the next didn’t come until evening when I smoked as usual. My cough improved right away—now I just have to get to the point where I quit altogether.

Wednesday 2.9.59

We didn’t reach 950,000 until after our late morning netting. In the afternoon we picked out the dead eggs. Went without cigarettes until breakfast—after that I have smoked as usual. After lunch Steve and I went in the truck to a burned out clearing to see if there was any game. We didn’t see anything —just a few signs indicating game. 

4.9.59

A brisk south wind all day so we couldn’t even think about going to the lake. We went through the spawning boxes—Doug was at camp preparing food. It took all three of us the better part of the day but we got it done. In the evening the wind died down, and Steve and I went across to the other shore to check around. At the head of the trail we beached the boat and immediately entered the brush on the other side of the lake and I took a picture. Many elk and moose tracks and a lot of droppings – the forest is lush with a great deal of undergrowth. Yarrow is very prevalent – a variety of orchid – has small anemone-like flowers, green onions and a peculiar, strange plant – which at its top has fist-sized bunches of cranberry-sized red berries. Would have loved to taste them but didn’t dare. Plenty of quail—and all of a sudden Steve pointed out to me about 75 meters from us a female deer – doe – nursing its fawn. It got to go on its way but we did check it out for a few minutes. Finally we climbed up the mountainside a short way so that we were approximately 1200 feet above the lake.

      On the way down we came across fresh elk tracks—they had come down for the night to forage—as is their custom. While we were in the forest I heard a branch break and mentioned it to Steve. He didn’t take any interest, however, but after we had gone forward about another 100 meters some large animal escaped out of the spot I had pointed out. It sounded like a horse had bolted —most likely a moose.

5.9.59

As soon as it was morning we went gill netting and tagging fish. In the morning we tagged 130. It was calm and beautiful for a change so we continued through the afternoon until 2000 hours by which time we had tagged all 500. In addition we took 230 scale samples, half male and female. The sex and length of every fish was noted down. Later on when the dead fish count is compared with the count of tagged fish mixed in with them it’s possible to figure out with some degree of accuracy how many fish have come to spawn at Taseko Lake. 

Saturday 6.9.59

We should have collected approximately another 10-15,000 eggs, but the wind was very strong again. It had to be postponed and so I left with Doug for Alexis Creek where new orders were waiting for me. In the morning Steve grumbled about the poor pay and against the seven-day week—and went out. Gunnar said to ask him if he wanted to go in my place. I really wanted to stay but was too shy to ask. Too bad because in hindsight I think Steve would have gone quite willingly—and I could have stayed. Gunnar said he has enjoyed working with me. I’m sure we would have got along very well. He came to say goodbye and we exchanged addresses.

I took about 10 photos along the way. Almost until we reached Clear Lake Fishing Camp we saw quail along the way – very tame. I was introduced to the Killdeer while we were driving – a bird which I have encountered before but haven’t known its name. As we were descending into the Chilko Valley a porcupine ran across the road, we stopped, and I chased it down. It was pretty easy to do—it climbed into a tree. It was a magnificent specimen – its fur would have provided fly tying materials for years to come. I’ll have to check at home where its hairs can be used and acquire a pelt as a gift for our return to Finland.

      This time we drove across Salvage Bridge – the road was good. On the other side of the lake we drank some coffee and took a few more pictures. We arrived at 1800 hours. A lot of mail—a letter from Aune, and another one in which were enclosed letters from Keränen, Maija and Dr. Heiskanen. Even the Bazan boys sent a letter in which was some money to cover damages—it was to be sent on to Harry. 16 dollars—and Doug got his orders in which I was mentioned also saying that if no new orders came I was to report to the Office. —This probably means and end to the job—I am waiting to hear what Mr. Killick might say. The plan is supposed to be that I’ll be sent to the Thompson River Eyeing Station, but . . .

     If there is no telegram tomorrow then I will go with Doug to Williams Lake and from there on a bus to Vancouver. Hm! Strange to say but I’m “as cool as a tub of yogurt” [Finnish saying]—whatever the outcome is. I feel that I’m healthy and energetic once again – maybe the dream where Aune saw an enormous school of fish is meant to convey something.

Translated from the original Finnish: Marja-Leena Tolvanen-Rogers

NB: This blog had been compiled from an autobiography and journal entries by Andy (Valto Antero Tolvanen). He is renowned in fishing circles in Finland for being one of the first individuals to bring the art of fly-tying to Finland. Andy translated the instructions from English to Finnish in the early 1950s since there was no literature in Finnish on the art of fly-tying at that time. He is mentioned on several Finnish fishing club websites regarding this fact. ~ MLR