I am pleased to report on our Monthly Meeting on Wednesday 1st September 2010. Our President, Mrs. Jean Lewis opened the Meeting. She mentioned the very enjoyable previous meeting held in Mrs. Val. Hewitt`s beautiful garden, which was a great success. Unfortunately the weather changed towards the latter part of the meeting, but a good time was had by all. Refreshments were all home made and a Book and Plant stall were very popular.
Our Speaker for this, our September meeting was Mr. N. Stewart. His talk was entitled “Swimming with Sharks,” and illustrated by some wonderful underwater photographs, which were taken by Mr. Stewart. It was explained how the sharks circle around many times following a barrel of frozen fish, which when slowly thawed, in the warm waters in the Bahamas, is closely following by shoals of sharks. The idea is that whilst they are being fed in this manner, the underwater photographers are ‘safe’ !! The male sharks have the first fish and the female sharks finish what is left ! !
It was explained that sharks have in their jaws approx. 1000 teeth and when they are damaged, a new tooth replaces the damaged one. What a wonderful system !
Mr. Stewart then went on to show our members, most graphically, the slaughtering of hundreds of thousands of sharks which are killed for their fins, which command a very high price. They are used to make Shark Fin soup which is considered a delicacy in many countries. Not only does this happen in China, Malaysia etc. but also surprisingly, by European fishermen. These beautiful creatures face total extinction if this trade is not stopped .
It was a very sobering finale to his talk but we all felt that if this trade continues at the present rate, our children and grandchildren will never have the opportunity to see these amazing creatures ---- should we not consider a WI Resolution to stop this dreadful trade ?
The next Meeting of Dean Rise W.I. will be at 9.45 am on Wednesday October 6th and the illustrated talk will be on `P.G.Wodehouse to Alan Bennett`.
Visitors are always welcome.
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