Oh, Pebble Mine. The nightmare that seems intent on recurring for all time, asking native Alaskans, commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, hunters, birders, hikers and lovers of wild places from all walks of life to forever present a front of resistance against the foreign mining company seeking to build one of the world's largest open pit mines at the headwaters of the Kvichak and Nushagak rivers in Bristol Bay, Alaska—home to the world's most productive salmon fishery and a $1.5 billion economic engine for the state of Alaska.

I'm researching the heavy hitters of my homeland. Grizzly bears. Bald eagles. The iconic feathers and fur of the Endangered Species List. They were both list bound when 'endangered' became a buzzword half a century ago. So were 73 other animals, including 21 fish. Those 75 species are officially called the Class of 1967.