Albatross IV - Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA

Ray Bowman continues:
The salted/dried cod fillets hanging all over the aft deck during my first cruises (1975-76), and learning to
love to rip pieces off and eat them during the watches.
Gordon Waring continues:
They taught me how to efficiently fillet round and flat fish, and due to the cold weather we salted and hung
cod all around the deck.
*****
Remember how a cup of fresh brewed coffee tasted straight out of the pot, or the aroma of bacon being
fried in the morning and the 12-6 watch starting to dream of breakfast at 0400? Remember how we would
run to one side or the other of the ship to see whales and porpoises leap out or seemingly dance on the
water or play tag with the bow? Remember those quiet moments by yourself when you could just think
about what you would do or do differently at home or at work once you got back ashore? Remember not
blinking while trying to watch the sun set in hopes that you would finally see the 'green flash'? Remember
praying that if you got back home safely after a particularly rough cruise that you would never put yourself
through another trip like the one you just got off from, but somehow you signed up for another cruise
anyway? Remember cheering when the cod end came up opened or there was a light catch or there was a
30 mile steam to the next station? Remember how cold and frozen your fingers were trying to get that last
piece of a broken otolith out in the name of better science or hosing down the bongo nets with water
coming over the railings...one hand for you and one for the ship? Remember the taste of a freshly cut
scallop? Remember being thankful that you weren't seasick like your room or watchmate? Remember how
you enjoyed (most of) the food out there, especially because you didn't have to buy, prepare and clean up
afterwards? Remember being thankful when we were finally heading offshore after a series of inshore
stations not only to get a break from those endless catches of small fish but also to get away from those
nasty, man-eating, piranha-jawed flies that they have down south?
Ahhh....life's simple pleasures....I wonder if those who sailed on the other Albatrosses also did the same
things or had the similar thoughts...cherish these and other experiences you've had on this ship.
- Linda Despres, Fishery Biologist, Woods Hole, MA
Poetry Corner
Did ye ever sail the northern sea
Under the Hull and Crossbones
In waters where men should never be
Seeing things men should never see
Under the Hull and Crossbones
There are many misty mysteries
Keep sailors up at night
Be there gold in Georges Bank?
And does Menemsha Bite?
But we followed the lines the computers drew
Captain, scientists, and crew
Fighting the seas and the storms that blew
Not looking for gold like men of old
But 10,000 pounds of dogfish netted
Each load measured and then forgetted
Under the working lights blinding glare
Up to their boots in the fishes there
No joy there if the truth be told
From the frigid seas of Newfoundland
To shores where your boat needed oars
Dodging freighters and tankers
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