National Fisherman articles from August 2004

National Fisherman archives from August 2004

Facing issues head on.(Editorial)
August 1, 2004... I got a phone call today from a reader who questioned some of the assertions raised in a recent "Dock Talk" column. The pat answer is that "Dock Talk" is a marketplace in which readers are encouraged to trade ideas. The reader got that; his...

50 years ago this month.(Fishing Back When)
August 1, 2004... When he's not going to traps, George McKenny of Kennebunkport, Maine, keeps busy working on gear--today he's painting buoys. McKenny, 82, thought he might be a candidate for the title of "Oldest Active Fisherman or Lobsterman" in Maine, which...

30 years ago this month.(Fishing Back When)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Flying the flags of their home states, the Anna Marie and the Denice Dee steam into Gloucester, Mass., as part of the "Sail on Washington" campaign to muster support for a 200-mile limit. The New Bedford dragger Sharon and Noreen will steam all...

10 years ago this month.(Fishing Back When)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Come summer, and the thoughts of Maine lobstermen turn to racing their boats across three-quarter mile courses. Mainers have been racing their lobster boats since the days of sail, but today it's noisier, faster and more expensive. Some...

Mystery writer slips readers a Mickey.(Troubled Waters)(Book Review)
August 1, 2004... Troubled Waters By Donna J. Ferguson Writer's Showcase imprint of iUniverse.com, 202 pp., $12.95 Raise your hand if you like reading a good mystery. Me, too. And if you've been wishing for a mystery series that the fishing industry can...

The mercury must fall.(Forum)
August 1, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and public health officials in 43 states agree that mercury is a major public health problem. Yet recent arguments claim mercury levels in U.S. seafood pose no health risk to...

A day at the beach.(Safety)
August 1, 2004... The vessel, a 78-foot, steel longliner of 176 gross tons departed Honolulu Harbor on April 9, with a complement of six. When the vessel was due south of Barbers Point, the captain set the autopilot on a heading of 320 degrees magnetic,...

Crab rider doesn't fly.(To the editor)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... I have never cared for the flavor of boot leather. This is why I don't shrug my shoulders anymore. Every shoulder shrug is a boot lick. Did you ever wonder why Uncle Ted [Stevens, R-Alaska] had to smuggle the crab rationalization plan...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2004... In the June issue of NF, Stewart Workman's boatshop in Lamoine, Maine, should have been identified as SW Boatworks. The southern Around the Yards in the May issue misstated facts about Show Time Marine. The company is located in Shady Side,...

Acknowledging ripples.(A Letter From Bill Hogarth)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... As NF editor Jerry Fraser points out in a recent newsletter column ("Buzzards abound," May 27, 2004), Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic shrimpers are having a tough time right now. They have shouldered a major responsibility to help save...

Cap'n Sane says ...(Mail Buoy)
August 1, 2004... Well, there seems t'be a snag in the annual Marblehead Yacht Club raft-up. The Marbles have been coming f'years ever since its first commodore drove through here in 1929 in a Stutz Bearcat n'sampled one of Shorty Gage's grandfather's...

Copper River salmon fishery gets off to good start: stock is healthy, and so is demand for kings, which fetch harvesters $6.25 per pound.(North Pacific)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Alaska's fabled Copper River salmon fishery went off with a bang on May 17, and ex-vessel prices continued to hold up well through the first opening in June. "Prices have come down a little, but they're still holding up strong," says Dan...

Herring, roe fail to lure buyers to Norton Sound: evolving Japanese palates, Togiak cited.(North Pacific)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Changing preferences among Japanese consumers and the lack of interest made for a catastrophic herring season in Norton Sound. Biomass estimates have been healthy--warranting this year's 5,000-ton quota for the Norton Sound harvesters--and...

Grand Banks patrol nabs two Portuguese trawlers: but Canada denied permission to observe inspections of vessels charged with violations.(Canada)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The good and the bad of the United Nations Fisheries Agreement under Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization regulations were displayed following an incident involving two Portuguese trawlers. Under the international agreement, Canadian...

Limited re-opening set for troubled cod fishery: move buoys Gulf of St. Lawrence fleet.(Canada)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Fishermen hope a limited re-opening of northeru and southern cod fishing areas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for the 2004-05 season means better days ahead for the troubled fishery. On May 4, Geoff Regan, federal Fisheries and Oceans...

Shellfish-sniffing dog putting bite on poachers: former police dog trained to smell trouble.(Canada)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The nose knows, and Chrissy's knows shellfish. Chrissy, a German shepherd, has been hired by the British Columbia Underwater Harvester's Association to put the hurt on shellfish poachers. The former police dog is trained to sniff out...

R.I. fishing center seen as key resource for industry: five fishing associations transform an unused university building into new headquarters.(Northeast)(Rhode Island)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... A fisherman's success, and perhaps even survival, often depends on relationships, alliances and cooperation. And not just with the guy who ties up down the dock, but with fishermen in other ports and other states, as well as politicians,...

Oceanside, Calif.(Home port: where we live)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... THE CITY Population: 171,909 Number of boats: 11, including four dories TOP FIVE LANDINGS IN 2003 Spiny lobster--51,265 pounds worth $349,932 Spot prawn--13,624 pounds worth $118,615.60 Blackcod--42,266 pounds worth...

St. Mark: hook and line boat.(Boat of the Month)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... After 20 years, Martin Spargo has been entertaining thoughts of getting a new boat. Yet the St. Mark has been good to him. "It's been a reliable boat; it's been a very stable platform for the fisheries that I've been in," Spargo says. The...

Crab gains don't prevent halving of harvest quota: Delaware Bay catch limit cut to 300,000.(Northeast)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... More horseshoe crabs and fatter shorebirds were seen on Delaware Bay beaches this spring, according to early reports from researchers just weeks after the Mid-Atlantic commercial horseshoe crab bait harvest was slashed yet again. A mild...

Congressman honored as friend to fishermen: Mass. group salutes Barney Frank's work.(Northeast)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) received acknowledgement for his many efforts on behalf of commercial fishermen in his state when in May the Massachusetts Fishermen's Partnership presented him with its coveted Wheelhouse Award. "We were...

Oysters on the half shell: Randy Millender, Eastpoint, Fla.(Galley watch: at-sea cuisine)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... At-sea fare doesn't get any simpler--or fresher--than this. Oyster harvester Randy Millender takes a break from tonging, pulls a good-sized Apalachicola Bay oyster from the pile on the culling board of his boat and pops the top shell off...

Bust of two Calif. divers yields record illegal catch: officials seize 468 red abalones estimated to be worth $20,000 on the black market.(Pacific)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Two San Diego-area commercial sea urchin divers were arrested in May in Mendocino County and charged with illegally harvesting 468 red abalones, worth more than $20,000 on the black market. The California Department of Fish and Game says...

Trollers savor soaring dock price for chinook: healthy payouts may last all summer long.(Pacific)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Chinook salmon fishermen in Oregon, getting a nearly record-setting price of $5.50 a pound, expected strong prices to last during most of the summer season. Processors did, too. "We expect our troll salmon business to pick up and be the...

Grassroots group starts marine reserve petition: aims to revive stalled California MPA plan.(Pacific)(Maritime and Port Authority )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... While California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in May held an ocean summit to discuss the state's response to fire recent U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy report, a coalition of environmental groups and small businesses called for a revival of the...

Mike Walsh: Stoughton, Mass.(Snapshot: who we are)(Brief Article)(Biography)
August 1, 2004... Mike Walsh says working on fishing boats at Boston's fish pier when he was 15 years old saved him from the mean streets of Southie--South Boston--where he grew up. "I know it kept me out of trouble," says Walsh, 41, who grew up on D Street...

Ore. negotiations bring higher pink shrimp price: but better payday in Wash. irks harvesters.(Pacific)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Oregon Department of Agriculture, the agency that monitors price talks between Oregon fishermen and processors, in mid-April claimed victory for another successful negotiation--this time for pink shrimp. The April 8 settlement,...

New goal set to reduce marine mammal mortality: industry advocate pans revised limit, says interactions will increase as population rises.(National)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... As a result of a lawsuit settlement, NMFS was planning in May to implement more stringent regulations to enforce the Marine Mammal Protection Act's zero-rate mortality goal. The act was amended in 1994 with the aim of reducing mortality...

Report says 'dead zones' growing global problem: lists 150 low-oxygen spots around world.(National)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Commercial fisheries worldwide are increasingly under threat from growing areas of very low oxygen in the world's rivers, oceans and seas, according to a recent United Nations Environmental Program report. The report states there are now...

Fishermen attempting to navigate Amendment 13's uncertain waters.(Northeast: groundfish)
August 1, 2004... As Northeast fishermen struggle to adapt to changes wrought by Amendment 13 to the groundfish management plan, they're wrestling with several problems. The most obvious is the decline in the number of days they can fish. For some...

Yen's slip causes dock price to fall and cold storage holdings to rise.(North Pacific: blackcod)
August 1, 2004... Blackcod ex-vessel prices started out on par with last year, but fell sharply as Japanese cold storage holdings increased in response to a recent downturn in the yen's value. Last year's ex-vessel price ranged between $3.80 and $3.95 early...

Signs point to better days ahead for beleaguered Florida trappers.(Gulf/South Atlantic: spiny lobster)
August 1, 2004... Florida spiny lobster fishermen cinched in their belts yet another notch as the 2003-04 season brought a fourth consecutive disappointing harvest. The final tally is not yet in. But preliminary numbers suggest landings aren't likely to top...

Shifting fishery seascape is posing challenges for West Coast industry.(Pacific: groundfish)
August 1, 2004... Trawlers who were upset that NMFS raised catch limits only slightly after the federal buyback was implemented at the end of 2003 can at least relax a little, knowing that markets remained relatively stable during the first half of 2004. ...

A-peeling harvest: David Karwacki proves that there are plenty of blue crabs in Georgia waters--you just have to know where to look.(At Sea)
August 1, 2004... By 7 a.m. on April 15, David Karwacki has already been up for four hours, and he hasn't been working on his taxes. "Went to bed at 12, got up at three," Karwacki, 44, says. "I can do that a couple of weeks a year. If you don't want to...

Where the herring take you: plans change almost as fast as the weather, but the 80-year-old Tyee handles whatever Mother Nature and the British Columbia fishery can dish out.(boats)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2004... When Henry Heline took over as skipper of the wooden-hulled Tyee No. 1, an 80-year-old 109-foot halibut schooner, it was the size of the timber that impressed him. "You could tell she was a well-built ship," Heline says. Heline was...

The risk of fixed income.(Finance)
August 1, 2004... Fixed income investors, take heed. Bill Gross, the manager of the PIMCO Total Return Fund, the largest bond mutual fund, with over $70 billion in assets, reportedly made an interesting move in February: He liquidated some of his personal...

Information sought regarding construction of Ceylon canoe.(Mail Buoy)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... I am a reader of Wooden Boat magazine and in doing so learned of your magazine as well. I have a bit of an offbeat problem. I am interested in building a-Ceylonese Balham [sailing canoe], single-man version. Any information on the Balham...

Reader familiar with MRSA offers an alternative remedy.(Mail Buoy)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... Regarding the "Around the Coasts" article on Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ["Rising infection rate has Florida harvesters' attention," NF May '04, p. 11]: Keeping honey, plain honey on staphylococcus aureus cures the open sores...

Mass. organization reacts to U.S. ocean policy report.(Mail Buoy)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... Regarding the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Preliminary Report: The Massachusetts Fishermen's Partnership applauds the Commission's focus on an ecosystem approach and the research required to develop this policy shift. The MFP strongly...

Suits them: Oceana's assertion that litigation is a last resort rings hollow with industry observers.(Legal Weapons)
August 1, 2004... Depending on whom you're talking to, Oceana's lawsuits this spring against the National Marine Fisheries Service on scallops and groundfish in the Northeast are either a last-ditch effort to protect ocean resources from an intransigent fishery...

Tender loving repair: skillful shipwrights restore a 62-year old power scow after it runs hard aground off Southeast Alaska.(Boats & Gear)
August 1, 2004... On Jan. 1, 2004, the power scow Eyak was traveling from Wrangell, Alaska, to Sitka when she grounded out in Peril Strait. The accident nearly resulted in the demise of the 62-year-old fish carrier, freight and mail boat. "The grounding...

Electronic synergy: the integration of navigational devices into today's chart systems is becoming more and more seamless.(Staying On Course)
August 1, 2004... When you consider the electronic navigation tools of today, as opposed to those of just four or five years ago, it seems that we are getting closer to the point at which someone will claim that it's impossible to get lost, or even, to run into...

Hold the salt: there are two types of water makers. One may be better for your boat.(Fit To Drink)
August 1, 2004... There's not much doubt that most fishing boats could benefit from an onboard source of freshwater. Oh sure, the water in the tanks is OK--probably--but it can acquire some peculiar flavors after several days or weeks at sea. But the need for...

Auto response: more and more fishermen are being won over by longlining systems that help a boat's skipper and crews save time and make more money.(The Baiting Game)
August 1, 2004... Ask William Hankins, of Seward, Alaska, to expound upon the biggest changes since he installed a Mustad Autoline automatic baiting system aboard his 69-foot longliner, Chandalar, and he'll say more family time. Hankins, 34, has fished...

42-foot bait boat is redone; new owners won't be 'evil'.(North)
August 1, 2004... "I'm superstitious. You've got to keep a little of the wood. You don't want to get rid of all of it," says Damon Rice, as he points to the support base of the aluminum mast. "Some of the old wood is there, but we built up around it," he says....

Versatile small boats built; Wash. yard switching gears.(West)
August 1, 2004... It's not so hard to take a midsize-to-large fishing boat and give it the ability to work in more than one fishery. A longliner can go after halibut or blackcod with out any problem, other than maybe changing hooks and the gangion spacing. A...

Double-dredge rigs hit U.S.; early buy boat gets hauled.(South)
August 1, 2004... Duckworth Steel Boats of Tarpon Springs, Fla., is building a third 165' x 40' clam boat for Dick Meyers of Eastern Shore Seafood in Mappsville, Va., Which is on the ocean side of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Two of the boats, the E.S.S. Pride...

Bulletin board.(Calendar)
August 1, 2004... SEPT. 30-OCT. 2 Fish Expo WorkBoat Atlantic Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, R.I. wwv.fishexpoatlantic.com * www.workboatatlantic.com This biennial event serves the entire Eastern Seaboard, and is the largest East Coast...

Raising the bar on spreaders: replacing stainless steel with titanium offers major improvements for trollers.(Product Roundup)
August 1, 2004... Hook up a giant bluefin tuna or a yellowfin tuna on a trolling line and you know you've got something, both in terms of power and, especially in the case of bluefin tuna, an exceptional price per pound. Of course, you've got to hook the...

Alfa Laval.(On the move)(Michael Kahler)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... ALFA LAVAL, based in Richmond, Va., has appointed MICHAEL KAHLER president of process technology division. Kahler joins Alfa Laval after holding various positions at Nalco Chemical in Chicago, including his most recent position as president,...

Water Quality Insurance Syndicate.(On the move)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The new Chairman Of The Board Of Managers of the WATER QUALITY INSURANCE SYNDICATE will be MICHAEL JACOBS, who succeeds Tom Guarnera after his successful two-year term. Jacobs is a past regional vice president of the National Association of...

Lykes Lines.(Company news)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... One year after its launch, LYKES LINES reports it has received high marks from Alaska businesses for improving options for sourcing goods from Asia, in addition to the United States and Canada. Lykes' weekly Asia-Canada service delivers direct...

Simrad.(Company news)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... In an effort to simplify service to its dealers, SIMRAD is centralizing its national service functions out of the company's Lynnwood, Wash., headquarters. The company's Dania, Fla., office will no longer provide local repair services, although...

Honda.(Company news)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Four new dealers have joined HONDA's marine outboard team, according to senior manager Tom Riggle: Hayne's Outdoors of Manquin, Va.; Marine Quest of Lake Dallas, Texas; Riverbend Marine of St. Augustine, Fla.; and Storm Chasers Marine Service...

Telenor Satellite Services.(Company news)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... TELENOR SATELLITE SERVICES, headquartered in Oslo, Norway, is extending its "Inmarsat A to Fleet" and "Super Quiet Time" maritime communications programs to 2005. "Inmarsat A to Fleet" offers users $3,000 of free airtime when upgrading their...

National Marine Electronics Association.(Company news)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The NATIONAL MARINE ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION, headquartered in Severna Park, Md., has distributed exhibit applications to members for its 2004 Conference and Exposition. The NMEA 2004 Conference and Exposition is scheduled for Oct. 20-23, 2004...

Shakespeare Electronic Products Group.(Company news)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... SHAKESPEARE ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS GROUP has recently transferred to a new facility at 200 Business Park Blvd., Columbia, S.C., and can be reached by phone at (803) 227-1590. Its Web site remains the same, www.shakespearemarine.com. The company...

Airmail Technology.(Company news)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... AIRMAIL TECHNOLOGY has redesigned its Web site to provide the boating industry constant online technical assistance and product information. Web site visitors can quickly and easily ask Airmar a question and instantly view a list of related...

Safety Alert.(Company news)(Cal-June Inc personal flotation devices)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... SAFETY ALERT. The U.S. Coast Guard has recently discovered defective snap hooks with corroded spring clips installed on four models of Type I personal flotation devices manufactured by Cal-June Inc., a.k.a. Jim Buoy. The snap hook assembly...

Works like magic: meet "Poof"--a simple but brilliant product that turns fuel and oil into fish food.
August 1, 2004... Expanded to a level that could be seen by the human eye, microbes would probably be a scary sight, definitely appreciated by a Stephen King fan. But at their current size, microbes don't seem to be a threat to us. After all, each of us...

Xantrex Technology introduces its new Pathmaker 250 Battery Combiner that automatically connects two or three battery banks for simultaneous charging, and isolates the battery banks during discharge.(At A Glance)
August 1, 2004... XANTREX TECHNOLOGY introduces its new Pathmaker 250 BATTERY COMBINER that automatically connects two or three battery banks for simultaneous charging, and isolates the battery banks during discharge. A toggle switch allows the user to manually...

Shakespeare's new CA-Series Cellular Amplifiers boost cellular signals, and offers increased coverage with improved connections.(At A Glance)
August 1, 2004... SHAKESPEARE's new CA-Series CELLULAR AMPLIFIERS boost cellular signals, and offers increased coverage with improved connections. The amplifiers use microprocessing technology to continually adjust signal power to keep cell phones connected at...

Terk Technologies has released the SIR5 Marine Antenna specially designed for use with Sirius satellite radio receivers, making available over 100 channels in clear digital sound quality.(At A Glance)
August 1, 2004... TERK TECHNOLOGIES has released the SIR5 MARINE ANTENNA specially designed for use with Sirius satellite radio receivers, making available over 100 channels in clear digital sound quality. The SIR5 Marine Antenna is designed specifically for...

ACR Electronics has introduced the FastACQ Gps Acquisition Chip to improve an EPIRB's GPS acquisition from a cold start and/or under adverse conditions at sea.(At A Glance)
August 1, 2004... ACR ELECTRONICS has introduced the FastACQ GPS ACQUISITION CHIP to improve an EPIRB's GPS acquisition from a cold start and/or under adverse conditions at sea. The company says that under adverse conditions, GPS acquisition may take 15 minutes...

Airmar unveils the Retractable Tri--a retractable flush-mounted sensor capable of measuring depth, speed and water temperature within a single compact housing, specially engineered for shallow water echo-sounding up to 200 feet.(At A Glance)
August 1, 2004... AIRMAR unveils the RETRACTABLE TRI--a retractable flush-mounted sensor capable of measuring depth, speed and water temperature within a single compact housing, specially engineered for shallow water echo-sounding up to 200 feet. The...

Mcmurdo trumpets the Fastfind Plus Personal Location Beacon, exceptionally small yet powerful enough to transmit a distress signal from almost anywhere to international search and rescue services in three minutes, with an accuracy to within typically 30 yards.(At A Glance)
August 1, 2004... MCMURDO trumpets the FASTFIND PLUS PERSONAL LOCATION BEACON, exceptionally small yet powerful enough to transmit a distress signal from almost anywhere to international search and rescue services in three minutes, with an accuracy to within...

Scanvaegt debuts the Scantrim Fish Trimming Line, an integrated processing system for improving yield, performance, product quality, hygiene and traceability at all stages of the filleting and trimming process.(At A Glance)
August 1, 2004... SCANVAEGT debuts the SCANTRIM FISH TRIMMING LINE, an integrated processing system for improving yield, performance, product quality, hygiene and traceability at all stages of the filleting and trimming process. The system provides total online...

Parker Hannifin has launched a line of 26 Series All-Brass Fittings that provides corrosion resistance and a significant cost savings over stainless steel alternatives.(At A Glance)
August 1, 2004... PARKER HANNIFIN has launched a line of 26 Series ALL-BRASS FITTINGS that provides corrosion resistance and a significant cost savings over stainless steel alternatives. The 26 all-brass series is lightweight, suitable for 221 fire-resistance...

Maptech has released a new edition of Paper ChartKit Region 6 Navigation Charts covering Norfolk, Va. through the Carolinas and Georgia to Florida, featuring the Intracoastal Waterway.(At A Glance)
August 1, 2004... MAPTECH has released a new edition of Paper ChartKit Region 6 NAVIGATION CHARTS covering Norfolk, Va. through the Carolinas and Georgia to Florida, featuring the Intracoastal Waterway. This edition gives fishermen over 80 updated, full-color,...

Lenco Marine now offers Electric Hatch Lifts for a fast, powerful and dependable way to open heavy hatches.(At A Glance)
August 1, 2004... LENCO MARINE now offers ELECTRIC HATCH LIFTS for a fast, powerful and dependable way to open heavy hatches. Featuring a unique ballscrew design, these hatch lifts can easily push or pull heavy loads and remain locked in the desired position....

Dolphin saved after monofilament entanglement: wounds inflicted by recreational line nearly sever pectoral fin, three surgeries required.(Gulf/South Atlantic)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Injurious entanglements of all types, including those in commercial gear, remain threats to dolphins. But recreational monofilament has become a bigger problem on Florida's Gulf Coast. "We're responding to increasing reports," says Randy...

Conservation network raps red snapper plan: parties clash over impact of lowering TAC.(Gulf/South Atlantic)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Marine Fish Conservation Network, which regularly blasts regional management councils for "failed" fishery management plans, says a red snapper recovery plan anticipates a 50 percent collapse of the shrimp industry but does nothing to...

Trade officials extend shrimp ruling deadline: late July is earliest date ruling is foreseen.(Gulf/South Atlantic)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Shrimpers must wait until late in July to find out whether U.S. trade officials will impose tariffs on overseas shrimp, and if so how much. A planned June ruling was delayed, officials said, because the trade action is "extraordinarily...

Ships that pass in the day.(Last Set)
August 1, 2004... Caption: SHIPS THAT PASS in the day: A salmon troller and a southbound crabber pass starboard to starboard along the Inside Passage linking Washington and Alaska, in July 2002. The route has become popular with cruise lines, which have...