When the herring roe fishery happens each spring on the BC Coast, the seine boats and herring skiffs congregate close to shore because that is where the herring can be intercepted as they rush the beach to spawn. At night when the boats have their anchor lights on, it looks like a floating city just offshore.
Sea lions and seagulls and eagles patrol the area in hope of some tasty bites.
Photo courtesy of P. Knettig
It’s a bluebird day. Hard to believe it was rough and windy just a couple of days ago. Still it was fishable and the herring filled the seine nets. Then disaster struck as an extra heavy net caused a boat to list and not recover. The fishing community lost a fellow fisherman. His brother is quoted on CTV News:
“They had a really big set. The boat was listing and Mel went down into the engine room to turn the pumps on, and while he was down there the boat rolled over.”
It brings home to all of us once again, how dangerous fishing is. While the fleet mourns the loss of one of their own, the fishery goes on, as it must. The pretty night lights, and the bluebird daytime sky and sea belie the sombre mood and the heavy hearts of the fishing fleet.
I’m sorry to hear about your fisherman, Anneli. There’s risk every time anyone puts to sea, for any reason, and we too easily forget it. We lost a local sailor when the keel fell off his boat during a race. He managed to get his crew out of the turtled boat, but didn’t make it himself. Most of the crew were boy scouts — it was a terrible experience.
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It really is a tragedy when someone dies on the job.
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Great photos Anneli, so sorry about the fisherman. God bless him and his family. 😞
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Thanks, John. I’m sure his family is devastated.
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You paint a wonderful picture of ‘herring time’. But so sorry to hear of the loss of the fisherman.
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Yes, the job goes on. I always thought it was ironic that the sun can shine so prettily after a disaster.
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God Bless 🙂
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Thanks, Hans.
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I’m so sorry to hear this, Anneli. Praying for his family and friends…such a tragedy.
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It really is. I wanted to just do a post about the herring fishery, as I do most years at this time, but then this happened. Heartbreaking for his family and friends.
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We have always heard how dangerous the fishing business can be. Year after year families say goodbye to loved ones and pray for a terrific season and safe travels home. So very sad Anneli. Prayers for family and comrades.
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That’s it exactly. We never know what may happen and just pray for safe returns.
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So dangerous and such a tragic loss.
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Yes, it is. But ask any fisherman and they’ll tell you they love it and hate it all at the same time.
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Beautiful scenery with a sad ending. Such somber news. Did Captain G. fish that day? I can’t say as I know what “listing” means, but it doesn’t sound good. 😦
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When a boat has a list, that means it’s leaning one way, sometimes (often) because of uneven load distribution, or in this case, the net pulling it to the side with all the weight of the fish in it. No, Cap.Gary only fishes for salmon in the summertime. He doesn’t do herring.
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Ahh. Thanks for explaining.
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Sorry to hear about the loss of Mel.
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It kind of hits home whenever a fisherman is lost.
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I got such a great sense of fishing, the area you live in, and the dangers from your two books of fiction, Anneli. (The Wind Weeps and Reckoning Tide) And the photos you have here look JUST like the setting you described. BEAUTIFUL. So sorry about the death of the fisherman. 😦
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You’re so right, Pam. It is exactly the setting for those two novels, only the weather isn’t always as pleasant. It really is a sad story about the fisherman drowning, but not a new one, I’m sorry to say.
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But you make it all so real in your fiction. XO
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Thanks, Pam. That was one of my goals.
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I loved the photographs, but I was sorry to hear about the local tragedy. Fishing, like mining, is one of those jobs that even today is still inherently dangerous. I feel so sorry for his poor family. 😦
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Thanks, Bun. Add logging to that list of dangerous jobs. I’m sure there are many more. Fishing is a love/hate kind of job.
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So very sad .. But you can´t tell a fisherman to quit his job – its is life!
The pictures are wonderful.
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Yes, you’ve got that right! He’ll quit when he’s ready, I guess.
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I loved the low clouds in the photos, where the sky is such a bright blue color! Anneli, so sorry to hear of the fisherman. I also hope this doesn’t hit you too hard in that you may worry about your dear husband the Captain. ❤
The creatures, birds, seals and others are always fascinating. I am heading to bed, dear friend. xo Snow tomorrow morning!
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I do worry every time it’s a bit windy, but fortunately he doesn’t have to fish in these wintery months.
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I am glad your husband returns home before winter. This would put my mind at ease! The windy and stormy days still may be sources of concern. 🙂
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Yes, he fishes during the best time but it’s still a worry sometimes when the weather blows up.
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I agree, having grown up on Lake Erie, the unpredictable weather changes happened a lot. Your husband is experienced and this gives you relief, as well as now doesn’t he have a cellphone? This helps stay connected!
The waters are much deeper where the Captain fishes and this is not to say my Lake Erie is the same depth or dangers . . . 🙂
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Mel is with God now.
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It’s a nicer thought than being in that cold water.
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Lovely impressions, Anneli. It’s sad and hard to think about the darker side of the this profession that I know very well.
Wishing you a lovely weekend. x
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Thanks for your comment, Dina. Have a great weekend yourself.
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