by Tele | Dec 31, 2011 | Commercial Fishing, Culture
Life as a fisherman has skewed my relationship with time. Some folks live off the grid; we live off the calendar. Twenty-four years of following Southeast Alaskan fisheries has resulted in a seasonal dissonance that is never more evident...
by Tele | Dec 9, 2011 | Alaska, Commercial Fishing, Environment, Sustainability
This is one of my favorite places in the world: This photo was taken in Sitka, but could be almost anywhere in Southeast Alaska. The Tongass National Forest blankets most of our region, a crazy quilt of western red cedar, Sitka spruce, and...
by Tele | Nov 16, 2011 | Alaska, Commercial Fishing, Culture, Women in Fishing
When new friends learn I’m a commercial fisherman, their eyes often drop in an almost-unconscious survey. What they see — a petite, 5′2″ female — doesn’t match the burly machismo touted as an industry requirement. “But isn’t that hard work?” is...
by Tele | Nov 6, 2011 | Alaska, Commercial Fishing, Culture, Environment, F/V Nerka, Family
My mom recently saw an online photo of her daughter, protest sign held proudly high. “Oh, gawd!” Part embarrassed laugh, part groan; her response revealed a long-internalized instruction to be quiet and polite. Those were the prevailing lessons of my...
by Tele | Oct 28, 2011 | Alaska, Commercial Fishing, Family, Reading & Writing
The twenty-four hour daylight of Alaskan summers can allow a person to forget they’re in the 61st latitude, with the round-the-clock rays that foster 1200 pound pumpkins, 120 pound cabbages, and perpetually pants-less three year old children. That...
by Tele | Oct 21, 2011 | Commercial Fishing, Reading & Writing
One of the great myths about commercial fishing for a living is this: “Oh, you guys only work half the year! Must be nice, having all that time off.” Cap’n J and I usually just smile. With him trekking through the wilderness to...
