IN MEMORY of LOUIS HARLEY

A sad note to pass along to all those who love, respect and admire ‘The Nation’s River.’

On Wednesday, March 18th, Louis Harley, waterman, passed away at his home, not far from the banks of the Potomac River. Louis represented everything that bridged the natural and human history of the Potomac. It provided his spiritual center and his livelihood. If the expression “salt of the earth” applied to anyone, it applied to Louis. He was a man of a simpler past, who found it in his essence to do and be so good in our complicated present. I was lucky enough to go out on the water once with Louis to help with the shad restoration project he and Jim Cummins anchored. The experience was precious and priceless. Good stuff, basic stuff, done by hard working people to benefit others and our future.

We will sorely miss Louis at Fletcher’s, where some of you may remember his amazing shad planking exhibition each Spring at the National Casting Call.

Fletcher’s sends its most heartfelt condolences to his dear family. Louis was 78 years old.

Here are loving and admiring words about Louis by Jim Cummins, biologist for the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River:

Louis worked hard all of his life, earning a tough living on the Potomac through some of the river’s roughest years to seeing it burst again with life. To him, the river was not only a beautiful sanctuary, it is life’s blood for many people. As he helped restore the American shad to the Potomac, he simultaneously bridged divides between the young and old, between the concerns of commerce and those of the environment, and between those living on the river's edge to those living upon distant watershed ridges.

Louis was ever ready to do whatever he could if it would help restore the American shad or the Potomac River. His polite and gentlemanly demeanor always elicited admiration from scientists, the hundreds of volunteers, thousands of students and their teachers, and all involved in the shad restoration project. Louis was happy to see more and more people, especially the young, becoming aware of the American shad, it’s importance to the economy, history and ecological vibrancy of the Potomac River, the Chesapeake Bay, and the entire east coast. The success of the project has helped bring regional and national attention to the value of protecting and restoring fisheries resources. This would not have been possible without Louis’ efforts, experience, and his grand, fatherly presence.

Commercial fishermen, scientists and recreational anglers are often at odds, but in large part because of Louis’ involvement, we have all worked together to great success with the Potomac's American shad restoration. Louis provided not only his valuable experience and expertise, he brought compassion and insight that have been inspirational to all involved. Everyone who met Louis remarked about how he was such a gentleman, a fount of river knowledge, and a significant cultural resource. He was a fifth generation waterman, and through those generations, in addition to blood, Potomac water coursed through his veins.

Louis Harley was a humble man who deserves great gratitude for his work on the restoration of the American shad and our appreciation of the Potomac River. He was a solid family man.

Louis’ life was rich but not measured by material possessions, his was measured as one both enduring and rewarding. He lay out nets. He was a fisherman.