Novels of Life, Love & Danger in The Great Land
The huge net holding fish is a brailer. It’s used to move fish caught in the seine (net) from the ocean and into the fish hold. Pulleys and ropes are used to lift the heavy brailer and swing it from the net to hovering above the fish hold. A pull chain releases the bottom of the brailer-bag, letting the fish drop into the hold.
The galley only fits one person. Starting from the left: the steep steps going from the cabin floor to the deck. The cupboard doors open to reveal the engine. Above, on the countertop, is a propane camp stove. When the boat is working, the stove is plumbed to a 7 gallon propane tank. Next is the sink, which barely holds 2 coffee cups. The cupboards above hold food used daily, like bread and coffee, and plates. Opposite, in the corner, is a drip-oil stove that is used for heating the cabin. Under the counter at the bottom, center, is a small refrigerator. When the boat is working there is a small chest freezer on the flying bridge. Both fridge and freezer run off the inverter, which charges batteries via solar panel and the main engine.
Delivering to a tender, the fish hold is first flooded with salt water, then the fish are pumped aboard the tender. The large grey hose is from the pump. This is taken from the door of the cabin looking at the stern where the net is piled. The catch is pink salmon. When enough sets are made to fill the fish hold, it has to be pumped out before the boat can continue fishing.
This is the start of the junior race, Mount Marathon, Fourth of July, Seward, Alaska
A jitney is a foot shallow-water seiner with an open deck (no cabin). It has its own net. It’s used for making smaller sets near beaches. When traveling between bays, the jitney is towed on a 2″ thick rope. The skiff (hidden in this photo) is being towed by the jitney.
The net is being lifted by the power block then stacked on a flatbed trailer. Notice the black tarp on the wooden railing, which is to prevent the net from being caught and ripped.