The Pori of Slualaw la quiet during
the evening aunaet.
.I Ilf-. —
Dock hands weigh hah and than
transfer them to sail Ice creates.
A dock hand pours sail In the
crate uaad to preserve the fish.
aces to Port
OkwFim
grata MS
Unco and
crabnata
tafonm
Incoming
iraaaalpartta
on the docks.
skins and fillets a tuna.
Using a sharp knits,
Matatsr cuts otf tha Una.
strips back tha skin
(above) and removes
tha mast (bsfow).
FLORENCE — Al the Florence harbor
rests a crew of three fishermen who had
been out three days and 40 miles off of the
Oregon Coast, just short of a would-be
five-day venture over the great blue. High
winds and heavy swells brought the wind
blown. sun-dried faces to port.
Raw courage and instinct guide the fear
less workers through salt waters; you're
working on the edge day and night, one
fisherman said.
Upon entering or leaving the harbor, the
fishermen of Florence face sandbars that
build up regularly. This presents a prob
lem because the length of the keel on the
FISHING
ON THE
OREGON
COAST
Story and
Photos by
Norman
Mesman
ooat sometimes
runs aground,
causing serious
hull damage.
As a result,
constant dredg
ing is required.
Because of
the lack of
state funds,
drudging of
waterways is
not consistent.
Therefore, fish
ermen must
trust in the reliability of tidal change upon
entering or leaving the harbor. Some fish
ermen challenge the bar. One great captain
in particular is Whitewater Wilson —
when he goes out, as other fishermen
describe it, his eyeballs are out of his sock
ets. and he is going full throttle and pray
ing that he doesn't hit the bar.
Some fishermen have an aquatic sixth
sense, allowing them to venture through
thick fog and still find a catch. Most fisher
men follow sea birds, whales, porpoises
and garbage upon which smaller fish like
and therefore attract larger predators that
are a decent catch for fishermen.
Hardship faces many fishermen today.
Fishing regulations, lower market values
and higher gas prices have forced many
fishermen to live aboard their fishing ves
sels. Many end up broke, not able to pay
the gas bill, and in turn they are forced to
sell everything they own. including their
boat.
Some of the more fortunate fishermen
are able to venture out of the way to places
like Newport or Coos Bay where the fish
value is much higher and profit turn
around is greater.
Florence has grown toward a more
tourist-based industry, where one can
enjoy cafes, novelty shops, gourmet restau
rants and much more.
Florence's coast, with great mountains
of sand dunes, is a sunset of many stories.
On the Florence docks one is able to enjoy
the mouth-watering taste of sashimi fillet,
Albacore Tuna Coho salmon, halibut and,
not to mention, the King Crab.