Ruth took a lot of boat rides as soon as the ice was gone. She went out camping too with her family, the Sergies, the Bolivers, Roy and Gail and their boys. Ruth likes to be out in the country, especially when there are lots of people to talk to.

This year she didn't want to cut fish all by herself so she asked her sister Daisy to cut with her. She is glad she agreed and together they took care of about 57 King salmon and about 130 Chum. She says it is a lot easier taking care of fish with two of them doing it. After the fish dried they put away nine five-gallon buckets of fish.

Ruth and her two daughters went to Bethel for the Fourth of July. They stayed at her sister Loretta's house. The fair they have at Pinky's Park in Bethel always draws a big crowd every year. They got tired from walking around and trying all the games, but they all had a good time while they were there.

Towards the middle of July they went out camping again. This time they went with her parents. They camped on a small island because she felt safe there with her kids. They did a lot of rod and reeling while they were there, but they mostly released their fish. They kept only the really big ones to cut and smoke for eating. Willie Paul even caught a couple of King salmon. Ruth said she and her mom cut the fish for eating, and her dad made them a rack to hang up the fish on. They camped there for three nights. On the last night it rained and it was cold outside, and she couldn't wait to be back home where is was warm and dry.

By Ruth Fitka

Interviewed by: Willie Paul Fitka