Scallop story

Life on a scallop boat If you’re a biologist who likes physical, hands on experience, then scalloping is definitely for you. I flew into Kodiak for my most recent scallop trip. The observer I was replacing couldn’t wait to flex her arms and show off her “scallop muscles”, which she got from 80 days aboard doing her sampling duties. Probably my favorite part of scalloping, observing is that it is a physical job. Observers have to collect and weigh at least 15 (baskets) or bushels of scallops a day, which weigh 50-60 pounds each. Combined with your other sampling duties, and after just a few weeks you can feel yourself getting into shape. The conditions onboard the boats are cramped, but comfortable enough. This crew welcomed me aboard (after a few days when they decided I was an alright guy) with bacon wrapped scallops for dinner. We fished close to shore, and in my spare time I got into the habit of scanning the beaches for grizzlies. (Never did see one, though) The trip lasted 2 weeks, then we steamed 3 days to Dutch Harbor, which included 3 days of playing cards and chess, and watching movies. The captain had the crew make a new dredge net and I helped squeeze a few links together since the weather was good. This proved to be not as much fun as it looked, so I went back to by book. Suddenly we arrived in Dutch, and just like that the trip was over. Then I was back in Anchorage and on to my next assignment.

Scallop observing is great because you get to see parts of Alaska where other fisheries rarely allow you to go. My first scallop boat started in Kodiak, fished there, then went to Dutch Harbor and fished there for a few weeks. I thought I was done, because the next day I flew to Anchorage and spent the night. However, the next morning I was bound for Yakutat, the surfing capital of Alaska. I walked out of the airport and in the parking lot I saw 2 cars with boards on the roof. After briefing at the ADF&G office, I had 2-3 free hours before I was due at my boat. “Ever seen a grizzly before?” the head guy asked me. My answer was no, and off we went to the town dump. Not the most natural setting, but awesome just the same. That day I saw a sow with 2 cubs and a male grizzly that looked about the same size as the Chevy we were in. We left town the next day and fished just off the beach. The weather cleared up and there was Mt. St. Elias, and the entire range to look at. Cloud free days are rare, and that night I was lucky to see the Northern lights. It was 2-3 am. I was busy with paper work in the galley when…Joe, the 17-year-old deckhand, came in. Fishing was slow & the crew had finished cutting the scallops (processing). He asked it I’d ever seen the Northern lights before and I said yes, but never in Alaska. He said, “ Come check these out.” I went out on deck and it was almost pitch black. The decks are usually as bright as day with strong sodium lights, but the first mate had shut off everything but the running lights. The crew of rough & tough fishermen were all oohing & aahing over the blue and green waves in the night sky. After 5 or ten minutes the mate said, “haul back”, and the deck lights came on, washing out the show, and it was back to the grind.

A few days later we were due to head over to Prince William Sound, but a last minute decision sent the boat to Dutch Harbor, where they would pick up a new observer. They dropped me back off in Yakutat and my trip was over.