DAY 37 FISH WHEELS

Day 37. Fort Yukon is readying itself for the annual run of king salmon. The people build fish wheels which rotate in the Yukon river and systematically pull great catches of fish from the river. Reminds of Jesus instructing the disciples to cast their nets one more time, at which they caught so many fish their nets were tearing. The people here catch a year's worth of fish in a few days in this way. Salmon and moose are the main staple in their diet, along with the vegetables they raise in their gardens. Food in the grocery store here is extremely expensive (e.g. a 12-pack of Pepsi is $10.99). The average household income is less than $40,000, so many here take advantage of the subsistence provision for native Alaskans. This allows them to hunt and fish for personal use, a provision not afforded to non-natives and visitors. It is a good arrangement, since unemployment in Fort Yukon is 50% in the summer and 80% in the winter. The main summer work, other than governmental, is fire fighting. Late in the day we take the bus tour of Fort Yukon that Warbelow Airlines arranges for tourists wanting to fly above the Arctic circle.