The weather remains absolute beautiful over here in Lower St. Martin as it probably is elsewhere. My northern family reports lovely weather in Michigan, Tennessee and those in lower Florida also say it’s been nice. It is dry but that’s a small price to pay for the sun and 80 degree afternoon temps.
I do have to water my outside plants and the few vegetables I have planted. The grass is not growing rapidly which is kind of nice.
The Belle River boat landing is busy these days, I assume with fishermen hustling to get as much crawfish by Easter, after which the price traditionally drops. I have not seen big loads passing my house coming from the landing. When there are a lot of crawfish, the passing boats have big mounds of burlap covered sacks. Have only seen a few of those although I probably just miss most. I hear them passing going to the landing starting well before daylight. I’ve heard the price is $1.75 but that’s probably way gone by.
In a conversation with a friend, an occasional crawfisherman not a big time one, we remarked that neither of us were seeing big loads brought in. The friend’s theory, which I thought had merit, was that maybe crawfish season should be officially closed a certain number of months during each year to allow time for the crawfish to do their thing - to reproduce. It does seem that people crawfish almost the entire year, limited mostly by the water level. It seems like leaving the critters alone might be good in the long run. Lead to better and more productive seasons. I’m sure this is not a novel idea but apparently not a popular one.
Things change. I can recall trapping for nutria, mink, raccoon; fishing for buffalo fish in the woods with nets; and using fish boxes. Back then’ one season sort of blended into the next but one didn’t continue the entire year. I guess it was all about money eventually. When trapping wasn’t profitable, you fished or shrimped. And a big time fisherman didn’t have 2000 traps. Maybe a few hundred at most.
Food for Seniors is April 24 starting as always about 8am in the Stephensville fire Station and moving to the Belle River Community Center about 9:30 am. Anybody interested in qualifying just come to either site that morning and get signed up. Age and income are the requirements. 60 years old and not much money!
It looked like a lot of people celebrated Easter with families this past week. Lots of cars parked at camps, not much river traffic. I could hear the boilers going. I ate my first crawfish of the season thanks to nice neighbors. They were on the small side but I’m not complaining. If nothing else, I may buy a few pounds for the coming holiday weekend.
Maybe one of these days there will be blue crabs in Belle River again. I used to get some beauties right off my dock but that’s been years ago. I wonder why no more?
I’ve read that the Bayou Chene structure has been closed in case of high water. I’m glad of that because I don’t want to be flooded, but it seems a bit unnecessary now. Belle River is high but not unusually so. A south wind keeps the water up a little but nowhere near flooding point. Yet!
Don’t hold me to this but I think both Stephensville and Pierre Part Elementary will have a week off school from Apr. 21-25. A neighbor has a grandchild staying with them right now because he is on vacation but that’s from a school in another town.
Anyway, HAPPY EASTER everyone. Enjoy family and stay safe.
Teche News’ Lower St. Martin correspondent, Linda Cooke, can be emailed at lindacooke1939@ gmail.com.
