Neptune's Apprentice: Adventures of a Commercial Fisherwoman

By Marie de Santis

Book Overview

Novato, CA published Sea & Sailing This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 089141200X
• ISBN13: 9780891412007
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Presidio
• Length: 219 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

One Womans Life Living Off the Sea

From Front Jacket: "To read the story of Marie De Santis's eight years as a 'fisherwoman' is to begin to know the fascination that lures people back to the sea again and again. It explores the soul of a people - those who choose to wrest their living from the ocean, subject to its moods, tempting its fate -- the people of the commercial fishing fleet. Becoming a fisherman means trying to make sense of the changing rhythms of the waves, winds, and the fish. It means becoming part of the fiercely independent fishing community, and dealing with uncertain uncertain economics and volatile politics. It means coming to grips with fear, and the realization that the same ocean that gives life is the one that takes it away. Following a dream, a fundamental yearning, and completely unaware of the realities involved, the young Marie De Santis finds herself captain of a commercial fishing boat. Her dream quickly becomes a mixture of enthrallment and frustration, enthusiasm and despair. Her mentors are Hobo, Freckles, and a roguish band known as the Yukon gang, and she makes a total commitment to their world, learning the language of the sea to share in its riches...and to stay alive. Her life is spent wrestling with balky engines, mending nets, tracking elusive fish, then dealing with shifty buyers who could make it all come to naught. The camaraderie of the fishermen sustains her: she jokes on the radio, trades stories of the sea, and tries to find an answer to the constant question -- 'Why's a girl want to be captain of a fishing boat?'"

Please Re-Print this valuable book!

This is out of print but should not be. It is full of well-crafted description and about a subject of wide interest - the life of the Ocean and the fishermen who risk their lives (or used to) to chase the seafood we all love to eat. It is a very personal memoir of a woman who went to sea as a commercial fisherman. But, though so personal, her experience and insights illuminate the whole sweep of that life. Anyone who lives near the California Coast should find this a fascinating, at times gripping, at times humorous and always absorbing real-life story of what it is like to be on the Ocean and try to make a living at fishing. It is full of colorful, real people, true drama (commercial fishing is or at least was 20 years ago the most dangerous of all professions), full of insight. I had no idea. I live and work right next to the Coast she describes - ALL the locales she fished near or out of are familiar landmarks. But I had my eyes opened totally to what goes on just a few miles away.

neptunes apprentice

A GREAT READ. IF YOU ARE INTO COMMERCIAL FISHING, OR ARE INRERESTED IN THE SAN FRANSISCO BAY FISHERIES, THIS IS YOUR BOOK. MS SANTOS REALLY SPINS A GREAT CHRONICLE OF HER FISHING CAREER, AND SOME OF THE INTERESTING PERSONALITYS THAT ARE IN THE FISHING GAME.