Zale Among Wave of Jewelers Opposed to Alaska Mine

From the New York Times this morning.




ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- The nation's second-largest jewelry retailer on Tuesday joined the opposition to a gold and copper mine being developed in southwest Alaska near the world's largest remaining wild sockeye salmon streams.

Zale Corp. announced that it not only is boycotting precious metals from the Pebble Mine, but supports permanently protecting the Bristol Bay watershed from large-scale metals mining. The mine is situated near the headwaters of Bristol Bay on state land designated for mining.

''We believe gold should be mined and refined in a manner that protects both the environment and its inhabitants,'' Gil Hollander, Zale's executive vice president, said in a statement.

The Irving, Texas-based jewelry giant has 1,930 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It had $1.8 billion in revenues in 2009.

Zale Corp. was accompanied by 12 other entities in a new wave of jewelry retailers and designers that have joined the No Dirty Gold campaign being promoted by conservation group Earthworks and partners. Twenty companies previously pledged to boycott Pebble, including Tiffany & Co., Helzberg Diamonds and Ben Bridge.

The more than 30 jewelers now opposing the mine represent more than $6 billion in annual sales.

Getting jewelry retailers and designers on board is important because jewelry represents more than 80 percent of the global demand for gold, said Earthworks' Bonnie Gestring.

John Shively, chief executive of Pebble Limited Partnership, which is promoting the mine, said Zale coming out against Pebble is nothing more than a meaningless publicity stunt.

''It is pretty easy for a company to come out against buying gold that doesn't exist at this point,'' he said. ''We are years away from construction. The people managing that company now will probably be gone. Big deal.''

Canada's Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. and London-based Anglo American are developing the mine. They have approved spending more than $73 million this year to finish a prefeasibility study and prepare the project for permitting in 2011.

Northern Dynasty President and CEO Ron Thiessen has described the deposit of copper, gold and molybdenum at Pebble as ''among the most significant accumulations of metal ever discovered.''

But Bob Waldrop with the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association said the area's salmon, which come back year after year, are worth much more. All the other river systems that supported huge salmon runs -- the Columbia, the Sacramento, the Fraser -- have collapsed, he said.

''This one stands alone,'' Waldrop said of Bristol Bay.

In 2008, commercial fishermen were paid between $160 million and $180 million for Bristol Bay salmon, he said.

''Pebble is bad business,'' Waldrop said. ''Why risk fish for fashion?''

Dry Fly Action on the Clark Fork is Now!

Not a Steelhead.

Amazing fish caught by Aaron about a month ago.  42" x 24"  Gerrard Rainbow.  Also the week before was a 41" Bully Trout.  No pic avaliable though sorry.

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend was awesome this year.  Turns out it was my Birthday as well.  We loaded up the kids and headed to Missoula (Frenchtown Actually) to visit Camille's Sister and Brother in law, who both happen to live on the banks of the Clark Fork River.  Friday we fished for a few hours during the heat of the day and had some awesome action on Skwalas.  Saturday we were debating whether to float the Bitteroot in snow storms and wind or head up to a little lake to see if the ice had come off yet.  Turns out it hadn't, but we brought a shovel.   After breaking ice for an hour we started to see some nice fish crusing the shoreline.  We ended up hooking several nice rainbows and landed some big fish up to 10lbs.

On Sunday we headed down to the Clark Fork after Landon's easter egg hunt, and fished for a couple hours.  Landon picked up the fly rod and started casting like a champ.  He loved it....I need to get an un-breakable fly rod for him....maybe a CB Antenna..or somthing.  Anyway, it was a great weekend with lots of fish, beer, and family.  Couldn't have been better.  Here are some pics.

Taking the kids Fishing

I feel it is very important to pass on the beauty of the outdoors to future generations. My Grandpa, Norman Fuller, was the first person, along with my father to take me fishing.  My first memories were created along the banks of the Snake River fishing a little slough right outside Burbank, WA.  Perch, Crappie, and small Bass were all it took to create a monster inside me that now ranks fishing as one of my favorite things in the world.

Nothing compares to watching my son, Landon Fuller, catch fish and get so excited about it he is laughing un-controllably.  He now wants to play with his fishing rod everyday and even asks to go fishing. 

I really hope I don't ruin him with my obsession for fishing.

Recently I took Landon, Nicolas, and Tyler Perch fishing on Lake Pend Oreille.  They were watching their bobbers and getting hits every 10-15 seconds.  It was hilarious to watch them try and reel in the "BIG FISHY"  I will remember that Saturday for the rest of my life.  All the boys had a blast and caught a ton of perch.

First voyage out on the Dona Christine. Trying to find some fish for the boys to reel in. My son, Landon, absolutley loves the boat. He love the cuddy for all of his toys and nap time. Perfect day on Lake Pend Oreille.

More Argentina

Awesome "Shore Lunch" I think it was some Ribeye, T-Bone, Lamb...more meat!



Trent with a beautiful Sea Trout


Che Ale. Weighing a Fish.


Barrett with a nice one that he didn't lose....


Could have been shore lunch.


Transportation and No Wind.


Chrome.


Dad's Big One. Last day, last session.


Barrett and Ale


Such a great place. Fantastic trip, great people.