I left Los Angeles in the 60s for the college town of Tacoma, Washington, home to Pacific Lutheran University. The real education consisted of learning about salmon and fishing as a way to pay for college. Eventually, I found myself working and living in the town of Gig Harbor, WA, during the late '60s. The Gig was a tight-knit, robust fishing town composed of equal parts Scandinavians and Yugoslavians. I stopped going home in the summers and started working on the Slav fishing boats, assimilating into their families and culture. Schools changed, and graduation from UCLA ensued, but time spent on the Purse Seiner was elemental to me.
Fast forward almost 50 years, and I am thrilled to share these captivating memories in my upcoming book, Totem Island. Furthermore, I am eager to provide you with a firsthand glimpse of a real-time Purse Seiner, offering you an immersive experience of the ship and its unique onboard lifestyle. Stay tuned for exclusive video clips featuring the HHM Shenandoah Project, which is currently undergoing reconstruction in Gig Harbor, Washington, as well as the museum.
I plan to film some clips of the museum and the Purse Seiner on display and share them with you.
