As Friends of the Sunflower River is being formed and which Allen and I have sent our $25.00 membership, I thought of the shells that I had saved from fishing.
Allen and I would fish on the back of the place each afternoon that weather would permit. Many afternoons I would think I had a "whale" of a catfish on my line only to find a huge Mussel. They are so beautiful, and I understand why areas that have them have been protected as they make beautiful buttons.
Sadly, we were fishing one day and noticed fish beginning to float on top of the river. Some appeared to be gasping for air. I reached out, picked up one, and realized something terrible had happened. Yes, apparently somewhere up the stream someone or something had dumped poison or a chemical in the River. Needless to say, that was the end of the fishing for many months. Then, when we did return, we did not find any mussels attaching to the line. Luckily, I kept some of the shells. Many small shells would be found on the bank as something apparently had made lunch on them.
We had lucked upon a Blue Heron one day near the mussel spot. It was so tall that I slowly walked up to it for comparison and looked the Heron dead in the eye. My can of fishing shrimp was an offering for him, but he looked, spread his wings and flew away. The bird was fabulous and my experience was most exhilarating. I never saw the bird again.
(Sent from Sunflower, Mississippi, by charter member Sonia Fox)
