Ketchikan

We decided since we were hanging out here that we would do a tourist activity, Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour.  http://56degreesnorth.com/
The Aleutian Ballad is docked near us in the city Floats. This fishing vessel is a little over 100 feet long and was used during the second season of Deadliest Catch. We have never watched it but it follows crab fishermen in the Bering Straight of Alaska.  These fishing boats go out for weeks at a time and can be caught in winds of 50-70 mph and 20-30 foot seas.  This is said to be most dangerous occupation in the world.  The Aleutian Ballad has been re-fit to function as a research and education vessel.  There is stadium seating and glass tanks in front of us for them to place the creatures brought up in their pots.  It is literally raining side-ways but that is no deterrent.  We were the first to board because everyone else was coming off a cruise ship.  Initially a huge cage was pulled up containing several Alaskan King Crab and an octopus. A fellow picked up the octopus for us to see and then it was placed in the salt water tank in front of us.  As the octopus hit the water it let go with a huge stream of ink.  Poor thing.   Each member of the crew held a crab for all of us to see closely (well, not too closely). These Kinjg Crabs get as big as 4-5 feet from tip to tip. The crabs were then placed back in the cage and sent back down into the sea.  The crew members were all professional fishermen.  There talk was not scripted and all of our questions were answered as well as some wonderful anecdotes.  Next a pot containing Dungeness crab was pulled onto the deck.  We weren’t allowed close to these fellows because this type of crab in so combative.  Apparently a Dungeness can kill a King crab.  These crabs in the pot were again placed back into the sea.  The last pots pulled looked like a barrel with holes in it. This is an octopus trap.  There is a very small hole that the octopus from fit through.  We were told that an octopus can fit through any space that its beak (mouth) can fit through.