Sightseeing and Dip Netting in Kasilof

Friday, July 20th we went off to go Dip Netting for Salmon. Only Alaskan Natives are granted permits to net fish. Gratefully, I was with some friends who are.

On our way to Kasilof, we took the scenic route to visit a Russian communtiy of "Old Believers" in Nikolaevsk, AK. This community leads a self-sufficient in lifestyle and have large families of 8-12 children. Russian is their first language, the women wear traditional dress and the church dictates that males do not shave.

We stopped to visit their church (es) which are very ornate. This is the outgrown church of St. Nicholas.

A new and larger church is under construction behind it. We got to talk with one of the two men who are building it and got a tour inside. The gentleman spoke in broken english and had quite the sense of humor. He said "water did not like him" in reference to the rest of the men in the community being fishermen.

We were also curious regarding the significance of their cross. They are Christian and believe in Jesus. A protestant cross typically only has one horizontal bar. Their's has three. The top short bar represents the label above Jesus' head and the slanted bottom one represents the two thieves, with the upward slant to the one who was granted forgiveness on the cross.

There is also a Russian retirement community in Ninilchik. Again with a very ornate church on a bluff overlooking the community on the bay.

We arrived in Kasilof to throngs of natives fishing for salmon.

Basically, you hold this big, round net against the current until you feel a salmon or two or three hit it, then twist the net and pull it to shore.

Our job (Sue, Birdie and myself) was to look cool in our boots and hold our chairs down with a glass of wine and watch the festivities ;)

After fishing, we grilled some salmon over the fire on the beach for our supper :)

And yet another awesome day was had by all :)