Out on the Deep Blue: Women, Men, and the Oceans They Fish

Out on the Deep Blue: Women, Men, and the Oceans They Fish

This is the first collection of dramatic, first-person accounts of commercial fishing written by the men and women who work in the nation's most dangerous occupation. Nineteen diverse fisher-writers, from the famous to the unknown, take the reader swordfish harpooning on the Georges Banks, winter crabbing in the Bering Sea, sea-urchin diving off Maine, herring fishing in Alaska, shark-harpooning off Scotland and points between. Together, they plumb the extremes of living, working, and sometimes dying at sea, creating the most intensely personal portrait of fishing and fishermen to date. The best writing on commercial fishing is gathered here, blending the voices of such well-known writers as Peter Mathiessen, Gavin Maxwell, Linda Greenlaw, Spike Walker, and John Cole, together with experienced and emerging writers, many of whom have spent much of their lives on the water. With its layers and rich textures, this collection will have strong, enduring appeal to loves of nonfiction. Contributors: Marie Beaver John Cole Michael Crowley Wendy Erd Leslie Leyland Fields Robert Fritchey Joel Gay Linda Greenlaw Seth Harkness Nancy Lord Peter Mathiessen Gavin Maxwell William McCloskey Paul Molyneaux Debra Nielsen Toby Sullivan Martha Sutro Joe Upton Spike Walker Though journalists and other outsiders have often written about the perils and rewards of taking to the sea for a living, this is "the first collection written by fishermen themselves," a distinction that proves substantial after reading Out on the Deep Blue . These first-hand accounts by men and women involved in the world's most dangerous occupation are gripping not only because of their authenticity, but because these people represent a slim minority who willingly engage in a daily battle against nature at a time when "85 percent of Americans live in urban or suburban areas," far from any kind of true wilderness. These are gripping stories of quick riches and even quicker death, of fishing seasons that last less than a day, and of jobs that involve hours of tedium interrupted by bouts of frenetic effort. Set in the frigid and unforgiving waters of remote places such as the Bering Sea and the North Atlantic, these 19 chapters vividly describe the realities and motivations of those pursuing swordfish, herring, salmon, crab, urchins, and other creatures of the deep. They also deal with the realities of dwindling resources, and subsequent jobs, and the bitterness and loss of purpose that often results for those whose sense of self is intrinsically tied to their occupation. Featuring such noted authors as Peter Matthiessen, Spike Walker, and Linda Greenlaw, this fine compendium is an absorbing look at a world few even consider, much less experience. --Shawn Carkonen Fields (English, Univ. of Alaska; The Entangling Net: Alaska's Commercial Fishing Women Tell Their Lives) gathers 19 first-person accounts by people who fish, some of them also well-known writers (e.g., Peter Mathiessen and Linda Greenlaw). While some of the vignettes concern working with or for sports fishermen, many others deal with the business of fishing, covering areas from the U.S. coastline to remote locations such as the Barents Sea. Ocean fishing is inherently dangerous, as the oceans themselves are changeable and often threatening. Each account conveys this danger to the reader but at the same time expresses the writer's respect and love for the ocean. The collection is pulled together by Fields's insightful introduction. While not a sports book exactly, this collection will be of interest to people who fish as well as to those who enjoy stories of adventure at sea. Recommended for public libraries. William Scheeren, Hempfield Area H.S. Lib., Greensburg, PA Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. Here are 19 essays, all of them written by men and women who make their living on the water. Some of them are well-known writers--Peter Mathiessen is here; so is William McCloskey--but many are journeymen, still learning this particular craft. But they all share one thing: an understanding of what it takes to be a commercial fisherman. Like Highliners , McCloskey's marvelous 1979 novel about commercial fishing, these true stories concern men and women forced to face one of life's toughest facts: your way of life is in serious danger. Putting out to sea for these folks isn't like going to the office, and catching fish (or crabs or urchins or sharks) isn't a hobby. It's putting food on the table, and in some cases, it's all they know. Although the quality of the prose in these essays may vary, their impact does not: we gain a deeper understanding of the life of the commercial fisherman. For readers interested in that topic, especially those who liked The Perfect Storm , it is sure to satisfy. David Pitt Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved LESLIE LEYLAND FIELDS is a writer, national speaker, workshop leader and professional editor who lives on Kodiak Islan