Heading back to Dutch Harbor

ABOARD THE F/V EXITO, BRISTOL BAY, BERING SEA -- The F/V Exito is nearing Dutch Harbor, and the crew is more relaxed and rested than at any time since leaving port seven days ago. With the crab still uncounted, the captains expect that the boat finished a little below average -- the first time in the Exito's 15-year history it didn't better the fleet average.

Co-captain and co-owner Quinn Ferguson blamed the media presence on the boat. He was kidding. I think.

It's possible that just a few boats hit it big this year and left the others fighting for the rest of the crab. According to the radio rumor mill, one or two boats pulled in a remarkable 200,000 pounds of crab. If true, this would make a single full deckhand share $60,000 for seven days' work, before expenses.

Owners deduct expenses, such as fuel and food, from the gross of every catch before figuring out crew shares. An experienced deckhand generally will get paid between 5 percent and 6 percent of the catch. Most boats have three full-share crew members and a couple of half- or quarter-share people. The Exito has four full-share crew and one half-share. Co-captain and co-owner Steve Toomey explained that the more experienced the crew, the better. In difficult conditions it makes the boat run more safely and smoothly.

Once we reach Dutch, we will unload the pots and get in line to unload the catch. Then, of course, it's time for a beer in the bar once called the world's second-most dangerous: The Elbow Room.

Posted by Mike Lewis at October 21, 2003 02:11 PM