It ain’t easy being green

Hello Fishies!

Last night’s episode illustrated several points, some of which you may not have even been aware of. The first of these was the stark contrast between the greenhorns on the NW and the CM which was three fold – family, prior experience and youth. (Ok maybe four because we all know about the love fest with some boats and in editing they will do no wrong). The boys on the NW and CM have actually had sea time and knew via family what the deal would be. Putting a man twice their age with no experience out there and expecting him to perform as well as they do is unfair. Adding the poor treatment by crew mates and probable seasickness, Guy doesn’t stand much of a chance. Since we can’t believe much of anything regarding the storyline Mr. Rowe reads, I am suspect about the true background and hiring of the green horns. (Eventually Thom Beers admitted that he hired Bradford Davis to go on the NW because no one would talk.)

There is a valuable lesson to those of you who believe that you can just show up in Dutch, get a job on the deck and be able to handle it. The reality of it is that most green horns do not make it. This also holds true for not just crabbing on the Bering, but in many other fisheries as well.

Unfortunately, between the popularity of Deadliest Catch and the downsizing of the fleet, there are a tremendous amount of men and women looking to land a berth aboard a boat. As you were told earlier in the series, most of the jobs are given to family, friends or those who have a proven track record and good reputation. Yes, it is true that once in a while there are guys hired right there on the spot. The opening may be a result of a poorly run/maintained vessel, a difficult skipper or some one just plain not showing up for the job.

Just getting there can be a tiresome trip. There are no direct flights and air service can be spotty at times. It seems that everyone is trying to get into Dutch (and then back out after the season is over) all at the same time. Round trip air fare runs about $1,500.00, and you can usually plan on being delayed in Anchorage due to the weather on the way in. On the way out its every man for himself and if you blink or don’t hear the boarding call then another fisherman is going to grab your seat. That’s if the weather is cooperating and they are flying out that day.

Almost anyplace in Alaska is far more expensive than what you are used to seeing and Dutch is even more so. (Unalaska is the name of the town; Dutch Harbor is just that – a harbor at the town.) What rooms that are available are pricey and you may very well find yourself on the street when the night comes. Sometimes the churches and even boats will allow you to take shelter but that is only in exigent circumstances. Often you will see bags under the dumpster, those belong to the guys who have no where to stay.

There can be 500 guys that want a job just as badly as you do. They will walk the docks, hang out in the watering holes and put their names up on the bulletin boards. Green horns will be lucky to actually make a “half share” which, depending on the pay scale, could be 3% AFTER expenses. These days it does not amount to all that much as the bulk of what is fished is leased quota and the boat receives about $1.00 per pound for the crab. So after expenses it’s 3%....There are some boats that will only pay you $100 per day and some guys that advertise they are willing to work for free. Remember – Phil Harris worked for a year and a half for free at first!

You have seen a brief few minutes of what conditions can be like. One of the men described it to me like this:

In a walk-in freezer, put a board over a log, like a teeter totter. Grab something that weighs about a hundred pounds and hang on to it. Now have someone turn a fire hose on you. Now, try to turn around on that board. You need to do this for hours and you can not stop because if you do, hypothermia will set in.

Eventually, when you get to grab a cup of coffee, it will freeze before you get from the galley down deck to the forepeak. You will develop cramps from your fingertips to your toes. Everything will swell. You lie in your bunk and try to sleep but you almost can’t because of the pain. Your eyes may leak…..and you get up anyway and go back and do it all over again.

Stay tuned!

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