As we motored up the east side of Clarence Strait, DX and Mercy were coming up the west side to all meet in Burnett Inlet. We anchored up, rafted onto Mercy, in the little bay behind Cannery Pt. As in the rest of Alaska and BC the canneries just show up as ruins; testiment to the early days of bountiful fish. We needed to wait for high tide to enter the head of the Inlet. The narrows is just that and has thin water, too (reported to be just 1 and a half feet at low tide. We found 10 feet as we crossed the lowest point. Interestingly we also found 10 feet when we took the dinghy through at low tide. How did that happen?
We again rafted onto Mercy and spent two days in the very pleasant bay. The nice weather prompted us to get to shore for some needed exercise. We all took a long walk on a gravel road that connects to Anita Bay; except we went left instead of right. We found many bones along the way and scat that had deer hair in it. We found out later that this was a sign of wolves.
Ernie, Bob and I took his whaler down to the fish hatchery for a very interesting visit. We were impressed by the very complicated operation and surprised to hear that it is a fisherman's co-op. They tax themselves 3% of their catch to support the hatchery which raises and releases coho and sockeye salmon. The fish must be fed every half hour all day and all conditions carefully monitored. Before they are released, 10% of the coho become pinheads. They are put through a machine, by hand, that inserts an identification pin in their head. The sockeye are marked by changing the water temperature in their tanks alternately between warm and cold. This puts marks on their otolith (ear bones) that identify where they were hatched and when. FASCINATING!
We all moved to the dock at the hatchery on 6-2, and even had electricity provided. Their hydro plant produced plenty. We had the two young men, who were working at the hatchery, onboard Mercy for a dinner that we all contributed to. I think they were really happy to get the good food as well as the company and conversation.
6-3 Ever restless Ernie was up early and away from the dock, headed to Point Baker. We had been listening to wind warnings for several days, but this day seemed to be the best for travel in Clarence Strait. Before long Ernie was calling back to tell us he had wind (one 42 kt gust) and rough water, and that we should stay tied to the dock. After clearing the dock for an incoming supply plane, we suggested that Mercy move off the net pen and onto the dock proper. We then rafted onto them and then spent several hour bouncing up and down as the south wind picked up and brought swells and whitecaps into the Inlet.
More later......I need to catch up.
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