|
The
salmon fishing fleet has gotten much smaller, due to the
license buy-back which took place during the last week of
June. Licenses for non-Treaty Indian fishers who fished
for Fraser river sockeye were bought by the state government
to decrease the number of sockeye that would be caught by
U.S. fishers.
There are several hundred licenses bought out from the purse
seine fleet, and also several hundred gillnet licenses.
As a result, these licenses, which are limited entry (only
a certain number allowed) will never be used again.
As far as I know, most salmon fishers from Blaine, especially
seiners, put their licenses up for the buy-out. There was
a system of points for each seine license, including how
many years it was used, fish landed, etc., for a total of
15 points maximum. They were buying the top number licenses
first. I believe that licenses down to five points were
actually included in the buy-out.
The moneys for the buy-out came from state and federal funds,
designed to allow the fishers who are no longer able to
make a living at salmon fishing in this area to be able
to get out of the fishery altogether. The boats were not
bought out, the owners have to make other arrangements for
their boats. Some have been sold, some destroyed. We shall
see come this summer salmon season who will be fishing,
and also who will still be around to buy the fish.
The minus tides of last month were fun for beachcombers
and clam diggers, but hazardous to navigators. I witnessed
two different sail boats on two different days, high and
dry on the tideflats after venturing in too close to shallow
waters. It certainly points out the need for careful reading
of navigational charts when in unknown waters. Both boats
safely floated away on the next high tide.
The coastal draggers were in port during the minus tides,
as these tides make it very hard to fish. The very low tides
and corresponding high tides cause the waters to rush so
fast going out and in, that nets can get badly tangled in
the ensuing rush. Many of the bottom fish just plain disappear
during these high tides, also. They will be out again after
the fourth of July holiday.
The Bristol Bay Alaska salmon fleet is now fishing for sockeye.
Many Blaine fishers are included in this fishery. The latest
report I have is that the fish are now coming in, Naknek
has had a good run of fish so far, and about half as many
fish are being caught at Egegik. They hope that the run
will continue and be stronger than original predictions
for this season. The price is pretty low but hopes are for
a better price before the end of the season.
The Gulf of Alaska draggers start fishing again July 1.
They have been tied up since mid-May, waiting for the season
to open again. There are several local boats in this fishery.
The spectacular fire that leveled the old Peter Pan cannery
at South Naknek last month left 35 boats burned, the tank
farm gone, but miraculously no injuries. It was found to
be accidental.
Back at home, the Blaine Marine Supply business has opened
up their new ships’ chandlery store. There is a varied
selection of goods that boaters many need, as well as a
small selection of grocery items. I was told that more merchandise
is coming in all the time, and they welcome suggestions
from the boating public on what to stock. This seems to
be an addition which was sorely needed here at the harbor.
We wish them the best in their new venture.
The Skywater festival was held here at the harbor, with
many fun things for the children, as well as different items
for sale, and food booths, music, a beer garden, and good
weather for the weekend. If you didn’t get here for
the festivities, there are more events planned during the
summer, starting with the 4th of July fireworks. Those of
us who did get here for Skywater festivities had a good
time.
There are now three white pelicans here in Blaine. They
come and go, and are ranging farther afield than previous
years, but are still around enough that you should be able
to find them if you watch for them. Maybe we will have a
complete flock of these huge birds in years to come.
I plan on re-doing a series of historical articles I wrote
some years ago, on Blaine harbor, fishing, and the canneries.
There are interviews that were fun for me to get, and very
informational for those who weren’t around when the
actual events happened. I hope that you will enjoy these
articles, and maybe some of you will have further information
that I can get from you. Let me know what you think of these
“history lessons.”
Back
to Top
|
