Ida Lewis

On the way in from scalloping today I spotted the Coast Guard buoy tender, Ida Lewis working out in the sound. I went out and got a closer look. The crew had just hauled the "NB" buoy out of the water and were working on it on the deck. The "NB" buoy is the first buoy you come to as you enter the main channel. It is sometimes referred to as the fairway buoy. Here's a close up shot of the buoys on deck. Notice how large they are when they are out of the water.

And here's a shot of the Ida Lewis stern-


Click here for info on buoy tenders

FINALLY!!!

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They are finally starting to build the concrete portion of the Children's Beach boat ramp. I was down there at the site today and saw the above two sections have been laid in place. I think they are making the sections off-Island and bringing them over by trailer truck on the freight boats. Here is another view of the project-

Shouldn't be long now when they wrap up this project that seemed to take forever.

I investigated that little black boat today that has been in here at the end of the Town Pier on and off. She looks to be a research vessel. Her name is Wolf River. No documentation numbers were visible on her hull and I could not see where she was homeported. Are research vessels exempt from documentation? Here are a couple of pictures of her. Notice in the second picture, the strange apparatus on her bow. I'm thinking it could be a sonar unit which can be lowered into the water?



I spied another research boat tied up on Straight Wharf recently. Her name is Carol Leigh. I believe she's a 25' Parker. Not sure what she is researching either. Here's her picture-


The western rigged scalloper, Miss Maria was at the Town Pier today also. When I was there checking out the Wolf River, her catch was being offloaded and sold to a local fish market. I heard the price paid to the fishermen for sea scallops is $6 per pound now. That is down from a high of $9 earlier this year.
Here's a shot of the Miss Maria-


Only one bay scalloper ventured out in Town today. And one went out in Madaket. The strong wind today kept most of the guys on shore. I know of two people who got their 5 bushel limit of scallops one day this week. Tomorrow is the last day of the commercial bay scallop season.

Warmer weather is right around the corner. The charter boat slips along Straight Wharf will soon be filled-

Nice Morning Out On The Water

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It was a beautiful morning out on the waterfront today. I was a little late getting out to the scallop grounds and caught only part of the sunrise. Most of Nantucket is still asleep and never gets to see scenes like these.


The sun was at the perfect height as it reflected off the church steeple making it appear to be on fire.


There are still scallops to be had out there. And there is a respectable amount of seed scallops for next season. Here's a shot of a few adult scallops I dredged up in one of my secret spots. Not bad for this late in the season.


There was a good sized flock of Brant following me around all morning, feeding on the eel grass I dredged up.


Friday is the last day of the commercial scallop season. I will go once more before it's over.

As I was heading in, this scalloper was heading in as well.


Her name is Casa Blanca. She's a regular visitor here. Don't let the net reels in her stern fool you. She's not a dragger. She is currently sea scalloping. The red, western rigged scalloper, Sheriff, arrived early this morning and tied up at the end of the Town Pier. There is another small boat at the end of the Town Pier. She came in yesterday. She looks to be a pilot boat but I'm not sure. I'll investigate tomorrow.