March 2009 Cruise News

You didn't hear from us in February because we arrived back in Sitka on February third, and there just wasn't anything newsy to share.  The weather has prevented us from leaving the dock so we continue to do boat projects and make jewelry.  Chuck is installing the new heating system (in between attending to unscheduled and unexpected opportunities).

During March, the lower 48 has March Madness with basketball playoffs.  Up here in Sitka, we have our own madness in March--it's called combat fishing, otherwise known as the Sitka Sound Sac Roe Fishery.

The overturned boat in the center of the photograph is a seiner skiff which overturned while pulling the seine net off the seiner during a short fish opening on March 25th.  The seiner was charging full throttle in one direction and the skiff was charging full throttle in another direction when the net caught up on something on the seiner.  The abrupt stopping of the net flipped the skiff.  As you can see, the skiff driver was unhurt, just cold from the 37 degree water.

If you would like to see what the herring roe fishery is really like, you can click on the following link.  This video is from the National Geographic presentation that was televised just recently and the subject matter is from last years herring roe fishery in Sitka.  This is a two-part video, note the two thumbnails at the bottom of the screen.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/combat-fishing-3435/Overview#tab-Videos/06395_00

So far we have had three openings in the last week, with only about 3400 tons left to catch, of the 14,500 ton target.  We haven't heard the price of herring for this year, but the dock scuttlebutt is that it will be about the same as last year which ran $450/ton with bonuses for exceptional roe content to $600/ton.  100 ton sets are not uncommon (you do the math) and the record set last year was around 1,400 tons.

The other excitement in Alaska are the Mt. Redoubt volcano eruptions.  The eruptions have created havoc for anyone trying to fly within the state of Alaska.  Even though we are way south of the eruptions, the ripple effect from cancelled flights hits here with delays and cancellations.  Alaska hotels have cut their rates to accommodate stranded travelers but AVIS has decided this would be a good time to make up for lost revenue (at some time in their life) and are charging $400-$500 per day.  So much for helping out our fellow man.

Chris is leaving Sitka on April first to visit her mother for awhile.  Chuck plans on leaving Sitka around the middle of the month for Seattle to deliver a boat to Sitka.  April will be a busy month.

We'd love to hear about what's going on with all of you.  Please email us.

Chris and Chuck

ChuckandChris@llnlretirees.org