Page 46 - Studio International - May 1974

I spent a summer on Cape Cod. A boy my age, Laying on the bottom of a lowland stream one Spawned silver salmon
who swore more than any person I have ever morning — my left arm holding a large rock, Photo: William Allan
met, had a repertoire of twelve words which he my right trying to keep a length of garden hose
continually used in different combinations. His above the water line. After a time, the small The tideflats on an island off the
dedication was so immense it suppressed rainbows settled into tentative positions in the Washington Coast. At low tide the flats lay
mimicry or morality on my part. He took me current. Each position dictated by current exposed for three hundred feet — at high tide
to his favourite tidal stream. On our bellies we strength and the natural lines food would come there is a depth of six to eight feet. As the
inched up to the bank and peered over. A school to them. water recedes the rays leave the flats, starry
of fat silver minnows were suspended in the The suckers and squawfish resumed their flounder, then the schools of perch. The higher
dark water. We lay there watching for about an muddling on the bottom — seemingly mindless sandbars are now appearing, with small rivers
hour — my friend's cursing rising and falling routs — sometimes placing them in unproductive between. Last to leave are the schools of baitfish,
like the wind. areas, sometimes fighting unnecessary powers; which rush into the mouths of the sculpin,
but always in excepting, providing. laying like logs on the river's flood plains. The
A large carp started its vacuum cleaning run bullheads remain in the tide pools.
from the tail of the pool. Drifting through a When the flood has reached a depth of two to
back eddy opposing the flow, selecting. As it three feet, the flounder glide up the dropoff.
approached the head of the pool, its head The baitfish and perch following their school
turned into the current, the weight of the water, instincts, appear on their own time. Last, the
effortless, changed its course downstream to be great rays. For the bullheads a larger pool.
repeated.

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