Kathryn goes Fishing! What?

What? Fish, of course! In Boston Harbor!

I was going into the mall, when I almost bumped into Kathryn coming out with her paraphernalia of fishing equipments. A 11ft. float fishing rod and an open faced fixed spool fishing reel, along with smaller items.

“What the hell is all this?” I asked in surprise.

“I am going fishing tomorrow to Boston harbor. You know it is rich in striped bass and bluefish. At this time of the year it is teeming with schools of herring and silversides,” she said. “Subroto! Would you like to come along?” she asked.

“Well! I have no idea how to use those fish-catching weapons which you are carrying. But, surely, I don’t mind watching you use it,” I said.

“Don’t worry, I have taken lessons on how to use them. I am going to hire a charter fishing service to provide me a boat. They charge a nominal rate of $15 to $20 per hour,” she said.

I had read her latest book, “The Gourmet Speaks”, in which she had written some mouth-watering recipes on fish. I was curious to find out if she would use her cooking expertise on the fishes she caught.

“Kathryn, would you cook the fishes you catch, for dinner tomorrow?” I asked.

“Of course! Hon! What else will I do with those fishes? Ah! I know what you are hinting at! OK! You’re invited for dinner tomorrow,” she said.

Feeling greatly relieved, I ventured to ask, “Then why take all the trouble to catch a fish? You might as well purchase it from the food store, at much less effort.”

“There are many good reasons to fish. It is classed as a secondary profession. This means that it does not limit what other professions you may learn. It can be relaxing. It gives space to think in a calm and conducive atmosphere. I can think about my next poem while fishing! It is a good source of nutritious food,” she said.

“What kind of nutritious food does it provide?” I asked.

“I will answer that tomorrow. Remember, be ready by 6.00 a.m.I will pick you up from your place. Is it OK?” she said.

Next day found me sitting in the car, with Kathryn at the wheels, driving towards Boston Harbor. She was her usual loquacious self.

“Subroto! Did you know that fish provides high quality protein and a wide variety of vitamins A and D, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium and iodine ? Its protein is easily digestible and favorably compliments dietary protein provided by cereals and legumes,” she said.

“There are other food items, too, which have those ingredients, like meat, eggs, milk, etc.,” I said.

“Yeah! But, fish and marine life are rich sources of a special class of poly-unsaturated fatty acids known as the omega – 3 or n-3 fatty acids. A critical review by Harris noted that in the majority of studies reporting reductions in LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol, a major factor in heart attacks) the saturated fat intake was lowered when subjects switched from the control diet to the fish oil diet,” she said.

“Does the so-called omega-3 have any adverse effect on cardiovascular disease?” I asked.

“No! On the contrary, a study conducted by the American Heart Association (AHA) science advisory, and published in 1996, have reported the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular disease (CVD). The ways that omega-3 reduce CVD are as follows:-

Ø Decrease risk for arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac death.

Ø Decrease risk for thrombosis, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Ø Decrease triglyceride and remnant lipoprotein levels.

Ø (Slightly) lower blood pressure.

Ø Reduce inflammatory responses.

I suppose these are enough indications of the goodness of fish,” she said with conviction.

“Oh! That’s great. I should now replace my meat diet with fish!” I said.

“As a matter of fact, the AHA recommends that all adults eat fish at least two times a week. It is a good source of protein and is low on saturated fat,” she added.

It was a great day for fishing and Kathryn did catch a 12 pound striped bass, after a few anxious moments. My heart was filled with remorse at the thought of seeing this beautiful speciman of marine life, finally finding its way to our stomachs in parts, via the frying pan.  Be that as it may, this was ordained by the Creator, I tried to convince myself. 

She dropped me at my place and proceeded to her house to prepare for dinner. I freshened up, did some appetizing exercises, before I finally got ready for the long-awaited dinner.  Needless to add that the dinner was unforgettable, with Kathryn presenting  one of her best recipes and the fish, the freshest I've ever eaten!