December 4

"All men are equal before fish."

Herbert Hoover, 31st President, 1929-1933- from Florida Speaks, September, 1951- After the end of world War II in 1945, the United States surged forward, with industry converting to peacetime production and suburbs being built for now growing families. Such growth brought good and bad with it. Technology brought new products and prosperity brought more leisure time. With "progress" came stress and the building over of open land. One of Hoover's avocations was fishing and he expounded on the benefits of fishing and getting back to nature- "...We have great machinery for joy, some of it destructive, some of it synthetic, much of it mass production. We go to chain theaters and movies. We watch somebody else knock a ball over the fence or kick it over the goal post. I do that and I believe in it. But these forms of organized joy are sadly lacking in the beatitudes which surround the fish. We gain none of the lift of soul coming from a return to the solemnity, the calm, and the inspiration of primitive nature... It is the chance to wash one's soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of the sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week. And it is discipline in the equality of men-for all men are equal before fish."