“So ya wannna be a Scalloper, Eh?” Hard work…but good money. Well half of that was always true. I first went to sea aboard a Gulf Shrimper during summer break from HS (1978). My buddy and I earned pocket money crabbing from a big skiff after school. When I graduated I was on the road 3 days later up to the scalloping grounds and spent the next several years working my way up the east coast and down the west. Newport News up to New Bedford then Kodiak down to Newport. I ended up as the master of a trawler rigged for scalloping working out of Newport Oregon. After a couple of years my feet grew itchy again and I joined the Navy. After my enlistment ended I worked aboard a Mid-water trawler out of Dutch and then a Yellow Fin tuna longliner in the GOM before re-upping. Just retired from the NAVY after 23 years and just about to start my Merchant Marine Career. Cant help but remember the crazy Maineiacs I have had the privilege to know. “One Eyed” Mickie Gramlich (stabbed himself in the eye with a scallop knife. Larry Sachsman, God Rest His Soul (lost crossing the bar on the Oregon Coast) what a great guy. I wouldnt trade my fishing experiences for all of Davie Jones treasure. Well there ya go, hard work but good money…at least half true.