0n (16 Oct 03) George Pope wrote to Cindy Haglund...

 GP> On (03 Oct 03) Cindy Haglund wrote to Frank Vest...
 CH>   I love catfish! :)

 GP> Even knowing what their diet consists of?

 Um. Do I want to? 

 GP> What does catfish taste like? Comparable, in any way to any other
 GP> common food fish?

 It's like Flounder (Or Pollack. Haddock).

 Properly not overcooked it is tender, moist and flaky. Doesn't have a
 'fishy odor.' Often prepared with a light beer or egg/milk batter dip coating of
 cornmeal/flour/seasoning and lightly fried. I've tried the Cajun but
 didn't like it. I'd rather have a plain coating or a plain
 baked/broiled  version with lemon pepper seasoning.
 ....................

 GP> We don't have catfish up here -- closest we have would probably be the
 GP> bullheads (look like small black catfish, including whiskers) but
 GP> they're not considered edible, except for pet cats!

 hehe... Could be Close. They're very popular in the Southern USA.
We could catch them in the Indian River over there in T'ville Florida.
Here in Taxass, they're stocked in the one Natural and some of the man made
lakes.

I miss lake trout. Had a lot of that in NYS. Way back before Keuka
Lake started getting polluted, a neighbor took his row boat out pre
dawn... would catch three or four trout and give us a couple. :)

It would be  baked with lemon butter, garlic, tomato... oregano... and be
utterly delicious. ooooh the taste buds do remember!
...............

 Re: 'lake' in North West Australia.

 GP> I can't help but wonder if the main attraction of this place might not
 GP> be mostly just that it's such a wild thing to have happen, all by
 GP> Nature -- the resurrection of a habitat after a few years as seemingly
 GP> dead? :)

 Plants and some animals (the frogs) 'go dormant' during the dry
spell and spring  to live during the wet spell.

You know what is amazing? Man converting a dry scrub area to a lush
nearly semi-tropical jungle. Such is the case with the Botanical Gardens
(an area including the FW Zoo and The Japanese garden)- in Fort Worth
here. The whole area was once nothing but field and a gravel pit.
Careful development and management have turner it into a true sanctuary
for the senses. You forget where you are.

The Japanese Garden was started in the '70's. I think the whole area
was started (developed) at about the same time judging by the maturity
of the largest trees.
...............

 CH>  Lots of rich folks down here. I imagine it could be done given the
 CH>  will. You've seen the Japanese Garden in FW? Now that is amazing! To
 CH>  think it was once a gravel pit.

 GP> Why would you want a SALT water lake?  What's wrong with fresh water

 On nothing wrong with fresh and salt would not do too well here.
Though one of the malls is contracting for developing a HUGE indoor
salt water aquarium. hmm. This should be interesting. Tropical fish
sure are pretty! :)

But for salt water body of water to effectively support marine life, it would
need to be ... the Ocean.
.................................

 GP> When I was a kid, my dad would take us to the beach in summers, but
 GP> not to the ocean one(not TOO far off) but to a large lake that was
 GP> probably more or less the same distance driving) -- it was great! 

Hmm. I'd rather go to the Ocean. But a lake would suffice. A real lake
with a real beach.... There's something tranquilizing about a large
body of water. And a good warm fuzzzy feeling too that while you are
awed by it's seemingly infinite immensity- you're also safely ashore
and not out there in the middle of it! :)

When I'd stand out there on the beach at Cape Canaveral Seashores; a
narrow sand barrier- stand out there with my feet in the tickling
warm surf- I'd sense the immensity of the whole Country behind me.
I'd be right on the very EDGE of it all! :) A good feeling somehow.
Like being safe. Free. Far from the Maddening Crowd. Ahead there- just
me and the mighty sea. Drink deep the sight of the ever rolling surf;
the timeless, tireless sea. It is the Elixir of Life itself.
...................................


 GP> When I first
 GP> saw the ocean beaches, I was unimpressed -- when swimming, if you get
 GP> any in your mouth -- EWWWYUCKOO!!! :| but in the lake -- it was pure &

 I agree. I don't care for the taste of salt water. It's the VIEW I
lust after. :) IT's hard to put myself in the place of someone who has
no attraction to the sea at all. I supposed our feelings are mutually
alien to one another.
.........................

 GP> natural/clean -- you could be out in a canoe in fairly deep water and
 GP> still see the bottom on a clear day!  (We did that when I was about
 GP> 12, my dad took my brother & I up the lake in a canoe for a weekend
 GP> campout!)  Wonderful! (Harrison Lake, BC -- if you can find photos of
 GP> it & the area, you'll surely be impressed with the natural beauty of
 GP> the
 GP> surroundings there!)

 A lake IS safer. :) I agree. Only a fool would venture out
to Sea or a large lake, not knowing how IT is the master and he/she BETTER
know what they're doing out there.

Cindy

... "Chocolate is a serious thing." ---Troi

--- PPoint 3.01