Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Walk to the Weir

Just a short walk across the field, past the Wild Plums...

Were these anciently a resource, bounded by stone rows and the river?


How do wild plums respond to fire management?





















...the river continues to migrate eastward, further stranding the Fish Weir...





















...my new sneakers just kept slipping on the stones that humid day, Oct. 18, 2007...


























...I couldn't get in there, to look for anything eroding out of the east bank, which led to the agricultural fields and no doubt drying racks for the fish headed upstream in the spring and eels in the autumn headed downstream...











New Weir link: http://www.mwpubco.com/Fishweirs.htm In particular note the mention of stone weirs


http://www.lutins.org/basnj.html


http://www.lutins.org/thesis.html


Eel links: http://www.glooskapandthefrog.org/Eel.htm









http://www.krisweb.com/krissheepscot/krisdb/html/krisweb/aqualife/fishpop_maine.htm





If you are travelling by canoe on the Delaware River, be careful because "Obstructions include large boulders, bridge piers and eel weirs. Avoid boulders in rapids by steering into the downstream "V." Avoid getting trapped in an eel weir by steering outside the wingwalls. Don't paddle into the "V" in this case..." http://www.upperdelawarescenicbyway.org/attractions/river/river.php

An opposing view: (Several years ago while canoe-fishing the Delaware River, Bob McNitt and I followed a downstream V in the middle of the river---usually the safest path---and discovered an eel weir dam that was still in use. Fortunately, we dodged the "basket" at the point of the V.)


http://www.paulkeeslerbooks.com/InlandCanals.html