Baiting the Skates
10 1/8" x 6 1/2""
500 edition
$90

I sketched this fisherman baiting halibut skates in Tenakee one day. A halibut skate is a line 100 ft to 1800 ft. long with a hook every 6 ft or so. The baited skate is set 1000 ft to 2000 ft deep by throwing one weighted end over the side of the boat which is moving quickly. Hooks are flying and occasionally will get tangled during this operation. The skipper knows who baited the skates because each skate is initialed by the crew member who baited it. I put my dog 'Buddy' in this painting even though he went to his reward many years ago.