Due to a few requests I figured I'd tell you about the life of a fish gutter. You people disgust me by the way, who in their right mind wants to be told about the feeling of fish slime freezing to a persons face when it's -30 out not including wind chill?! What some of you freaks want to know is beyond me, but I'm a whore to your whims (Just like FOX network - ratings at any cost). So I shall tell you my story of the worst day of bein' a "Fish Processing Technition" but first some basics.

First off, I am a land based processor. I don't do boats, can't stand them, I also like sleeping where the only movement if from an earthquake, not a storm. The key benefits of land based processing is you can go home at night, you can actually quit without being brought up on mutany charges, and the food is generally far better. There is a reason boat based processors are affectionately known as "Slaver Ships" - because that's basicly what they are. Many times men have jumped overboard 4+ miles from shore tryin to swim to Kodiak, there is not quitting and going home, if you quit they'll charge you every cent and more for "fare".

If you want "quick summer money" next year, call ahead to processors and line it up ahead of time. You can just walk to one and start within 30 min of finishing your application normally, but it's not advisable. You won't make it workin' a 40 hour week. That'll allow to maybe survive, but to thrive, you have to be hard as nails and work some 80s (I've even worked 102 once). These hay-days of more overtime than some think is humanly possible only lasts for approximately 2.5 months. But different processors work different seasons, and some year round. If you're in a tough spot and nearing homeless stage, might as well sign up even if it's January. Summer is a cake walk even with it's 80 hour work weeks compared to the "tame" 20-40 hour winter weeks.

So now I'd like to warn y'all about winter processing, it'd probably be the most miserable job any of you could ever have. This is the true story I tell people who say they want to work here, it's the hardest day of work I've had, but could easily happen again. So imagen if you will, you are me..... Once I off-loaded a boat in Homer when it was -24f. This alone isn't that bad, you just dress for the weather. Okay now that you look like the Pillsbury Doughboy® from wearing 2 pairs of socks, thermals, jeans, shirt, work shirts, snowmobile suit, rain gear, heavy parka, stocking cap, rubber boots... we're ready to go!

First it's kinda nice actually other than it feels like ones lungs are on fire as they adjust to the temp. 3 hours later without a break and you've been coated with slime on your face, you realize something. It's not the cold that's keeping your face from moving but infact the fish slime has frozen. Thick by the way, I peeled 1/4" chunks of halibut slime at a time. 5 hours now without stoppin' for break, things get real fun - see, that slime don't all freeze to you, some has finally bypassed your rain gear, bled through your clothes, and it basicly coating your entire body. Break now happens when the bag/nets used to move fish from the boat to the dock becomes to iced up, you smoke a cigarette and get told you are now needed in the hold. Ohh lovely, now you're burning up like you've ran a marathon throwin' 10-220 lbs (not a typo) fish into a giant burlap bag/net. You're now drenched in sweat.

Here we are at the 7 hour mark of this 90,000 lbs offloaded, it's all done... almost. I remember sitting on the boat staring at that ladder goin' up a good 25' and thinking... there are two ways to go, up and into the water and I didn't know if I could even make that 25' at that point, but you could be damn sure if I went down I'd probably end up dead or in the hospital. Ultimately I did make the climb.... geared down, and jumped into the crew van while I shook uncontrolably and my legs stopped obeying my orders to move for a few minutes, but at lest it was over.

At the end of this day I cleared 80 dollars before taxes (probably 60 or so take home). True this is the worst case scenario as a processor, but it does happen a few times a year. To sum up, if you want to know misery, follow me. But if you make it, you will have full knowledge there ain't a job on the face of this Earth you probably can't do.

Iateronmly - Kill Crazy, Rompin' Stompin' Cannery Worker

"He's under the couch!"

I bet the bar smells real nice after everyone piles in after work..

I can't realy complain about a bad day at work again after that!!!!!!

And that my friends is when the days are going great....BUT!!
don't nobody get him started on the Homocidal, crazed, razor weilding, boss is on crack today and I'm doing his job, covering his lame ass, cause his o'lady is a decent person, tranny goin' bad, thoughts of owning a DELL instead, guess what I ordered from Newegg -rolls.
Heh life in the day of the slime line, Brother I feel for ya.

BTW,You buy your lotto tickets this week?
Excelent post, you get rep...

Quote: Originally Posted by $SOLID$ Necro I bet the bar smells real nice after everyone piles in after work.. I can't realy complain about a bad day at work again after that!!!!!!

I don't know Necro, there are times when I would gladly take the physical labor over the mental stress due to incompetance at work.
Granted, that is maybe once in a paisley moon, but still.

So, I guess you don't have fish sticks for supper very often, huh?

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob So, I guess you don't have fish sticks for supper very often, huh?

Next week I'll tell you about fish sticks.

heheh if a blind man walked into the bar with all you guys in it, he would say helllo ladies.