Tuesday, May 3

Change of plans.  The herring catch was slow so Wallace and I returned to Kodiak from Larsen Bay yesterday.  I was able to call home about midnight on Wednesday morning.  10 hour return trip from Larsen Bay but it is beautiful travelling on the ocean.  I was able to drive the boat for four hours on the return trip.  While in Larsen Bay, we did travel out to Bear Island where I will be spending the summer salmon fishing season.  Herring fishing involves setting gil nets out in the ocean.  The nets have buoys on them to indicate their location and to allow you to retrieve them.  After letting the nets soak for a while, Wallace steers the boat toward the buoy and I throw a big hook out at the buoy to snag  the line attached to the net.  We can then retrieve the net with the fish.  I saw a number of whales on the way back from Larsen Bay to Kodiak which was a great experience.  It is hard to keep track of the day when you are out on the ocean since they seem to run together.  I only got a few hours of sleep in the last 48 hours so looking forward to some rest.  My clothes is covered with fish scales so some clothes washing is also necessary.  Weather is still about the same.  It snowed yesterday while we were fishing.  Since I am back in Kodiak, I think I will be taking a float plane back to Larsen Bay and then a boat to Bear Island in a few days.