The Herring Egg Rain Came

Today felt a little more like Spring around Ketchikan. After yesterdays storm, man it blew like a banshie, today was fairly tolerable. It was good to have the rain, as it washed most of the snow away. Granted, it was still on the cool side,but the sun did peek from behind the clouds enough to make me brake out the ol' sunglasses. It's the time of year when those who enjoy hooligans are biding their time, waiting for the first boat to hit the decks. People just go nuts about getting their share of these oily little fish. A boat can sell out in no time, so you'd best be johnny on the spot. They fry'em, smoke'em and the Natives make a foul smelling grease form them and some folks still use them as candles. They put it on any and everything, the grease that is. I myself can't get pass the smell. Along with the hooligans also comes the herring. They come to spawn in the area and many folks gather the eggs. Some gather them on branches or on kelp. The Japanese pay big bucks for herring eggs on kelp. The eggs are very small and delicate. At this time of year we receive showers of hail the size of herring eggs, the older fisherman and locals call them Herring Egg Rains. Just one of many signs of Spring in Southeast Alaska. I can't wait to get some of those eggs on branches, boy, my mouth is watering just thinking about them. Till next time: K-townking