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- By Charles from the entry 'More on catfish killings'
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The August installment of the James River Journal, to run Monday (Aug. 17), is about snorkeling in the river. Among other fun things, photographer Kevin Morley and I snorkeled with river lover Chris Hull and his two young sons in a place Hull calls Catfish Alley.
There, in a pool that’s basically isolated because of the James’ current low flow, you can find flathead catfish the size of fire hydrants. They are almost tame. Some of them will let you touch them before they scoot away.
Now, James River Park manager Ralph White tells me about a new problem in the park. Some people are illegally killing catfish in isolated pools by using spear guns.
Talk about shooting fish in a barrel.
White has seen one young man carrying a homemade spear gun, and he has heard about a half-dozen reports from people complaining about the spear gunners.
People who see anyone using a spear gun in the fresh waters of the James should report it to police.
