Awful Fishy

For Broward's canal fisherman, potentially toxic levels of mercury are a part of the catch of the day

Comments (0) By Roger Williams Thursday, Apr 27 2000

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Before supper the following night, the fillets appear clean and white, and Keys follows his mother's recipe, frying them in hot oil. The cooking smell fills the small kitchen, and the children seem pleased. "Look there, look there," Keys says, nodding at one of the boys. "This is what youcaught."

But there is some concern. Two of his children have decided to taste the fish only, not to make a meal of them.

Derek Hess

Arthur Keys likes to fish Broward County's canals and lakes when time permits, and he ferries his children out of the city to fish on weekends

Preston

Arthur Keys likes to fish Broward County's canals and lakes when time permits, and he ferries his children out of the city to fish on weekends

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One of Keys' daughters, Erica, says she doesn't know exactly what mercury can do to a person, but once warned that it's bad, she doesn't want to find out. "No way," she mutters, faced with a helping of canal fish. Keys laughs.

"You know, it's just hard for me to believe that they don't warn you," he remarks. "I mean, it looks OK and it smells good and it tastes good, you know?"

Contact Roger Williams at his e-mail address:
roger.williams@newtimesbpb.com