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Here are two links to posts dealing with how to post pictures on Black River Fossils forums.
1. How to Post Pictures on Black River Fossils Forums by ditchweezil
2. How to Post Pictures on Black River Fossils Forums by Daryl
Last Summer, I had two pairs of waders, both had a boot with a leak. Considering the temperature outdoors was about 100 degrees each day with high humiditiy, I thought about trying what everyone else does, go hunting with shorts and flip-flops or old sneakers. You'll be much cooler everyone said - something I fully understood. One problem, we get lots of jelly fish (or nettles?) along the shores in the Ches. Bay, and I'm allergic to pain! Then I saw some little kids swimming and apparently not being stung or bothered by the jellyfish. So I went down one sat morning in my shorts and an old pair of sneakers. Wow, it was so nice nice walking with those hot waders on, I felt like I could scale a mountain. Then I felt my lower calf on one leg burning like someone poured acid on it. There is a lot of crud in the water too, so I figured I was just having an allergic reaction of some sort. I hurt, but I moved not not to be deterred by the burning pain. A few minutes later, the pain worsened, and it started on my other leg around my ankle area. It wasn't until minutes later while I was sifting with my screen that I accidentally scooped up a small 6" jellyfish and it slimed me across one of my hands - wholly molly did it burn/sting. Then I realized what that horrible burning/stinging was on both of my legs. I thought a sting would feel more like a bee sting and throb real bad. These "stings" seemed to burn more than throb. The stinging lasted for 3 days, and no matter how much Aloe vera I put on, the skin was super sensitive. Needless to say the next time I went huntin I had my waders back on and a pair of cloth gloves.
You don't need waders for sea nettles, but shorts aren't a good option. The nematocysts of a jellyfish are so small that direct contact with bare flesh is required for them to sting you, and even the skin on most peoples palms is too thick for them to be effective. You would have complete protection by wearing something as flimsy as pantyhose . . . also not a good option, at least for most men. Wear long pants with socks and tape the pants at the bottom so stray tenticles don't drift up into the pants. If you're reaching in the water a lot wear long sleves and cotton gloves. Chesapeake bay residents are lucky that sea nettles are the pussycats of the jellyfish. There are many jellys that will put you in the hospital with the slightest touch. Some can put you in the grave. If you get a jelly sting put meat tenderizer or ammonia on the affected area as soon as possible to dissolve the nematocysts and neutralize most of the toxin.
Carry some vinegar with you and the stinging will stop immediately. Aloe does nothing to stop the nematocysts from firing!
I knew there was another home remedy I'd forgotten.
Panty hose = no, long pants = yes.
Dr.'s BRM and BWD, thanks for the remedies. I'll at least throw some vinegar in the car so if I do get stung by some sissy sea nettles I can stop the sting.
Say, not to stray too far off topic, but will vinegar work on the stings you get from getting pricked with the barb's on catfish? My friend once got a barb jabbed in the palm of his hand and it hurt so bad he went to the emergency room. He was a bit embarassed when all they did was run very warm water over it - he said the pain stopped fairly quickly. I'm planning on taking my two sons fishing on the Potomac soon and we'll probably catch some catfish, and I want to be ready. Hard to find a source for warm water, except for...well you know what I mean.
Daryl.
I wouldn't use it for a fish envenomation.
Typically most fish "poisons" or "toxins" will break down in hot water.
Get the water as hot as the victim can stand and it will usually do the trick.
I doubt vinegar would work for catfish spine penetration. You might try peroxide or just grab the fish from underneath to avoid the dorsal spine. If you're fishing near D.C. you might want to get some antibiotic innoculations first.
I guess we'll have to seek out some hot water if we get stung. I'll probably bring some thick rubber gloves to help when handling the fish. I'm no expert on the cleanliness of the Potomac, but after boating on it for a few years to get to good fossiling spots, I've seen some pretty nasty looking slime/scum on the surface of the water at various times of the year. I certainly would never consider eating anything from the river - and I was raised on wildlife from upstate NY (deer, rabbit, fish, duck, goose, turkey,...). I can't imagine eating the blue crabs that come out of the Potomac - I see the floats for the traps all the time - yuck! I'll take my risk with the physteria and crabs from the Bay.
It seems to me that using rubber gloves to hold a slimy catfish would be like squeezing a grape.
I would too, but these are the kind that have a very rough surface in the palm side of your hand. It's a very gritty surface, and the top side of the glove is a woven fabric of some sort to allow your hands to breath. It's no guarantee that they'll work, but as you may have seen from my previous posts, I'm willing to try most anything.