Pounding the docks- This is a phrase that describes what commercial fishermen do to find work in this industry. I’ve been at it for a month. I have done some commercial fishing as a “fall back” when my construction business has slowed, or I have become otherwise gainfully unemployed as I did five weeks ago, when fired from a really good, easy, although low paying job, that I really liked and was grateful to have. Rhode Island, being a “hire at will” state, means employers don’t need a valid reason to fire someone with two minutes notice. They were nice enough to give me the reason, which was that “I didn’t fit into the culture of my co-workers” Translation: I didn’t swap porn on the internet with them, party at the clubs, cheat on my wife or accept any of the two or three invitations I got from the pervert who trained me -to boink his old lady while he watched.
It took me three months to find that job after being fired from a good paying property management position when some cut throat douche bag wearing an ankle bracelet offered to do my job for less money. He was able to accomplish this by hiring illegal immigrants, breaking every labor law on the books, and then welching on paying the workers. This was all done with the blessing of the property owners, who got sweaty palms as soon as they heard him say “save money.” I’ve come to expect this from guys named, ahem, Merowitz and Levy. ‘Nuff said. I’m the last guy to be anti-Semitic. I love the Jewish people, and know more about their history, culture, language and religion than most of them do. However, a shyster, no matter what their ethnicity, is still a douche bag in my book. I’ve worked for plenty of Jews who are not shysters, but never met one who didn’t drive a hard bargain. Sorry, I’m not going to lie about real-life personal experience for the sake of political correctness.
So, the other day, when I told my Mother I had to go to the docks…She misunderstood, thinking I said “Docs” and asked me if I was sick. I corrected her, saying “No Ma, the “Docs” is next week, for my annual physical. If I go to the “docks” tomorrow and get a finger in the ass…That’s it! I ain’t fishing with those guys!” Yesterday my ship, er, boat came in. It’s called “The Harvest Moon” The Captain has some carpentry work for me to do to tie me over until next quarter’s scallop season opens in a week or two. I’ve done a half dozen trips on an off shore lobster boat, and about the same on a long liner, catching Tuna and Sword. Scalloping will be a new experience to stuff in my personal history and in my resume. It won’t be easy…The boat leaves the dock at 4:00 a.m. and we start dragging at sunrise. We gather the catch, shuck the scallops open, separating the meat from the waste, cleaning them and packing them as we return to shore at around 10:00-11:00 p.m.
As it is with commercial fishing, the deck hands, my self and another guy, will be working for a share of the catch. This means the pay could be anywhere from maybe as little as $150.00 to as much as $500.00. I hope it’s on the higher end -obviously. An equipment malfunction, the weather, and certain other unpredictable variables can abort a trip leaving us with nothing. Yes, a dangerous and risky business for sure. However, I’ve met some of the most honorable, upstanding and honest men on these boats, who in the face of all sorts of adversity from nature, the nature of the work, and the countless assholes with clipboards who from comfortable air conditioned offices on shore just about regulate them right out of business…More on the DEM and National Marine Fisheries Department later…So, I think the good company will far outweigh the shitty working conditions. It always has from my experience. It will feel good after all this time to be working with people of my own “culture.”
I hope you found this little memoir entertaining and informative. I’ll be logging more on these adventures at sea, replete with photo’s of whales and wild dolphins, and everything else I usually see out there. I’ll gladly accept comments and votes. However, prayers for our safety and for a huge catch will be valued so much more. Thanks readers! God Bless!
