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The
annual Blessing of the Fleet will be held at the Blaine
Harbor Sawtooth dock this next Sunday, May 5 at 1 p.m.
 The
fishing fleet has grown smaller each year, but there are
still local boats which fish from our harbor for many different
types of fish. Commercial fishing is still one of the most
dangerous occupations to be found, but also one of the local
fishing boats is chosen to represent our fleet, and will
proudly hang a Blessing of the Fleet banner in its rigging,
showing that this boat represents all of our fishers for
the year.
There
will be a memorial service for Blaine fishers who were lost
at sea and those local fishers who have died on land since
last year’s ceremony. Among
those that we will be remembering this year are these long-time
local fishers:
Emmett
Van Luven died in July, 2001, but is remembered by many
for his long years as a worker at APA, both in Blaine and
Alaska, and as a local gill-netter, first on his boat the
Topper, and in later years on the Empress which he fished
with his son, Paul. He was in his 80s when he died.
Gary
Westman died in August, 2001, at the age of 53 years. He
started fishing in Washington and Alaska with his father,
Eythor Westman, at a very early age, and succeeded his father
as captain of the seiner/dragger Dakota, as well as manager
and half owner of Dakota Fisheries. He was on many fisheries
boards, and loved keeping up on political issues.
Robert
Erickson died in November, 2001 at the age of 82. He was
co-owner of the purse seiner Chinook, as well as working
as a shipwright. He was known as a good man to have around,
very handy and helpful with fishing problems.
Benny
Bennett died in December, 2001 at the age of 49. He worked
as a fisherman for many years in Alaska and Washington,
mainly on draggers, where he was known as a good person
to have on your crew, before leaving the fishing industry
to be home more with his wife and young family.
Holy Hanson was a longtime fisherman who died in February,
2002, at the age of 61. He was a debonair man who was well-known
and liked as the owner/captain of the Delta Dawn, a crabbier/seiner,
and also known for his joy of life, both with his family
and many friends, and love of fishing in Alaska and Washington.
He was on several management boards for Washington and Alaska
fishers.
Tony
Evans fished for most of his adult life, dying in March,
2002, at the age of 87. He fished with Eythor Westman for
more than 40 years, in early years on the Bonnie C and then
on the Dakota, as well as fishing at Moser Bay, Alaska for
salmon at his set-net site. Tony loved to tell a good story,
and loved hunting and sport fishing when not commercial
fishing.
These
men will all be missed by their friends in the fishing industry.
They spent more years on the water than on land. They are
a part of a continuum of fishermen who through the centuries
have defied the odds to make their living at sea, and then
left the sea to spend their final days on land. We honor
their memory and dedication to their chosen profession.
As
the names of those who are listed on our memorial as lost
at sea, as well as those fishers who died this past year
are called, family or friends of each are invited to come
forward to place a flower in the memorial wreath in their
honor. Flowers will be available at the ceremony, or you
may bring you own if you wish. Music will be provided by
the music department of Blaine high school. Refreshments
will be served after the ceremony at the Blaine Harbor office
meeting room. All who would like to attend are invited to
come and join in with the fishing community for this special
annual event. I hope to see you there!.
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