Memoirs of a Modernday Hobo

Wednesday,October 2nd.1991
19:23hrs.(7:23p.m).
Miss Judy Ann T

Back on a shrimpboat off the Florida Keys.Captains name is Shepard(Shep).
We are only two handed which gives us more of a pay check.
I was quite green last night,but first time in two and a half years,Shep had to remind me of alot of things.
Tonight is no longer a holiday.Time for some serious work.
We've set out the nets,7:39pm.


Marks Duties
&
How often

1. Scrub the decks.....3-4 days.
2.Grease nipples on winch....2 days....4 pumps of grease.
3.Grease driveshaft.....once aweek/one tube of grease.

Daily Duties Before Set-out.
1.Pull up the Tickler Chains,Check for debrie.
2.Check net for holes.
3. Run anchor line through blocks ready for pull-up.


Thursday,October 3rd.1991.
01:12hrs.(1:12am).
God I learn quick. Just pulled up the nets and set down within 15 minutes,when last night it took 40 minutes.
I got a high five from Shep.It takes alot off his mind that he won't have to worry about me out on the deck.
Let's rock & roll and make some money.

Thursday,October 3rd.1991
19:08hrs.(7:08pm).
Quiet seas. Haveing $15 steaks for breakfast(Dinner- There is'nt any real meal names out here.When hungery,eat)
I was poking a potatoe with a fork so we could have bakers with breakfast,when the boat took a hard roll and I ended-up putting the fork nearly through my finger.F... that hurt.
Commandering the boat is no problem.
Let's see what happends tonight.
Oh-ya,Shep caught & fought a 25 pound Blof the boatackback Tuna this morning.
It took him about 20-25 minutes to get it on board.
Set out 7:51pm, went fine.

Thursday,October 3rd.1991.
22:50hrs.(10;50p.m).
Two quick notes:One-Portside of a sea going vessel is the left side.Starboard is the rightside.
Two-It just took me 15 minutes to figure out what day is what out here.Because we work at night,the days to mornings and dates get all f...ed up.

Friday,October,4th,1991
15:45hrs.(3:45pm).
Just woke-up.Damn my room is so bloody hot,I was sticky an sweaty and the bed was just soaked.Got to find a way to cool it down and fast.
Set down good. Fresh tuna for dinner.Ya.

Friday,October 4th.1991
20;30hrs.(8:30pm).
Canned tuna taste like cat food.Ya nothin else like it!
THE STARS OF THE SEA.
This is wild.When fosferous hits something like the side of a boat or gets turned up by propellers.it lights up like a swarm of fireflies at night.
P.s. I tied the try net.Hope it holds.
Bloody tired. First night without.
Try net held beautfully.
Time for a pot of coffee or two.