Remembering Herschel

[AlaskaProf]

Those of you in the PNW who've made the long haul through the wilds of BC may have stopped in Pruth Bay on Calvert Island. There, at the corner of "No" and "Where" you would find the Hakai Institute, a surprisingly opulent marine research facility for young Canadians (yes, Canadians only.)


I've recently discovered that they publish an excellent magazine, which I recommend to you--but be careful, it is a powerful "time sink".


Wandering through their archive, I came across an article about Herschel, the infamous Ballard sea lion. Hope you enjoy it.

 

[Ken E.]

I remember Herschel, Bill. He was downing king salmon in Ballard before it was fashionable with the other sea lions.

Here's another Pruth Bay tidbit....wolves. You may have heard them howling at night, but one of employees told us of a big black male that is something of a legend there...top dog, as it were. The wolves are stealthy and mostly out of sight during the day, but we became extra-vigilant with our dog getting to and from West Beach on the trails, always watching for that big black guy.

Going up to AK next summer if it's possible?

 

[AlaskaProf]

I remember Herschel, Bill. He was downing king salmon in Ballard before it was fashionable with the other sea lions.

Going up to AK next summer if it's possible?

If at all possible. I'll be 78 next summer; I'm in good health, but time is not infinite. I would love to coordinate an itinerary; at least for the long passage. I think I'm through crossing the Gulf, but I would like to see Prince Rupert and Sitka again. Here's a link to my last voyage.


The Hershel article in Hakai is not only fact-filled, it is quite amusing. Seems that the issue was specifically about winter-run steelhead which are now completely gone. I recall the general public attitude was that Herschel was entitled to nutrition, but he appeared to be "playing with his food", grabbing a fish, shaking it to pieces and tossing it aside to grab another. The article suggests that the behavior was more complex.





In my liveaboard years (2.5), Herschel was my neighbor. I was at Ballard Mill, within walking distance of the Locks and walking down for the Sunday afternoon Recovery of the Drunkards was one of my favorite amusements.

 

[rsn48]

Thanks for the magazine link.