By Sharon Space Bamberger
BETHEL — July 31, 2010 — Last month, the Sullivan County Conservation Club (S.C.C.C.) held its annual fish stocking of Kauneonga and White Lakes. The fish stocking is part of the 82-year-old club’s commitment to the environment. Hopeful fishermen watched from their boats as 425 brown trout were released into the lake.
The nine-inch brownies were purchased from the Beaverkill Trout Hatchery in Livingston Manor at a cost of $1,000; they came with a N.Y. State Health Certificate.
Frankie Shaver of the fish hatchery carefully netted the fish and put them into buckets held by waiting volunteers. Shaver said the fish were “around a year and a half old, they grew up with us. We raised them from babies.”
S.S.C.C. club members who volunteered for the fish stocking program included Dominic Fontana, Jay Mendels, Ryan Mendels, Edward W. Bamberger, Bill Burns, Steve Altman, Lee Abplanalp, Mark Van Etten, Danny Van Etten, Jason Shillingburg, Ken Hunderland, Vinnie Lo Cascio and Charlie Greenhouse.
Kirk Haarklau stayed at the club house on Cooper Road and cooked breakfast for the other volunteers.
S.C.C.C. junior member Ryan Mendels, 12, showed his understanding of the Conservation Pledge that is recited at every club meeting after the Pledge of Allegiance. “It is important to do this so other people can fish,” Ryan said.
April Fraze of Narrowsburg was fishing from her husband Ken’s nearby boat and assured the Conservation Club members, “Those fish are safe from me.”
Don’t worry April, the brownies will grow to legal size and your luck will change.