This dude Nomen (not a term from a convent), sure has done a number on the often mis-understood English language; especially when it comes to the different meanings of the same words used in England and America. This is certainly true of fishing terminology. Why is it that in it's Northern ranges Chinook salmon are called Kings? And in it's Southern ranges the Kings are called Chinooks? Steelhead are refered to as Ironheads, Steelies, Seagoing Rainbows, and even good old Head. I've seen bumper stickers that claim "there is no nookie like chinookie" and that "there is no head like steelhead". To those claimants I say that either I just don't appreciate my fishing enough...or, they just don't know how to have good sex! And there's this matter of the Queen's English, as they say overseas. So many differences. Our term closet means toilet in England. Here in the NW we use a chicken term hen for female salmon and the manly hunter's term of buck for male salmon. In England they also use the term hen for female Atlantic salmon but they use the chicken term cock for the males. Many linguologists have called for standardizing the English language for all countries that use it. However, could you imagine fishermen around the NW in such a scenario, with big Chinooks on or landed on the Oly. Penn or in Tillamook?? "HEY Bob!! You should see the huge cock I've got a hold of!" or "Ya shoulda seen the cock I had my hands on yesterday" to which a reply could come "That's nothin' to brag about, come over here and look at my cock!". As confusing as this language is, maybe it's best left unchanged? - Steve Hanson
Previous Topic
Index
