Hey, White Man
Nathan B. Spooner
Just south of Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, and just beyond a
body of water aptly called Icy Straits we find the Tlingit Native community of
Hoonah, located on the northeastern side of Chichagof Island.
That summer work of 1968 on the salmon fishing boats so far seemed
almost like an uncharted adventure. After the crew and I on the F/V Billy and I
had some disagreements and the other boat I got on, the F/V Mary Lou, sank at
Little Roller Bay a few weeks before, I managed to get on as crew with Franklin
James, captain of the F/V Scandia. Franklin’s nephew Donny, who was also the
deck boss, called him “Chinook” which means “King Salmon”.
I became cook and deck hand as the 6 man crew headed up to Icy
Straits near Hoonah. Franklin knew we could do well there. Even though the
tides were very strong, almost violently so, the swarms of returning salmon:
silvers, pinks, kings and maybe sockeye could provide more than enough to make
for a successful season.
After 2 days of hauling salmon out of the icy waters with the
seine net and doing just fine, we tied up to the dock in Hoonah for the 3 day closure.
Donny and Ken got some beer and started a poker game. Soon the whole crew sat
in the galley laughing, drinking, tossing money all around the small table.
This went on into the evening and night time with winnings
changing hands over and over. By 11:20 that night I called it quits and went
down in the fo’c’sle to sleep.
After what seemed like a few minutes, Ken leaned over by the steps
and said, “Hey cook, come on back up and play some more cards.”
I flipped back the cover and said, “Leave me alone, I’m too
tired.” Another ten or so minutes and Donny yells down at me, “Come on and join
us.”
Once again I reply “I’m going to sleep, don’t bother me anymore.”
Finally they’re done, I think to myself, and pull the covers over my head.
About 2 minutes later, Franklin James leans down into the fo’c’sle
and says, “Hey white man, get up her and join us.”
I sit up in the cramped bunk bed and reply, “I’ll
be right there boss.”