J.W. Decas Elementary School. Wareham, MA. 2nd-5th grade Capt. Robert McDonough. F/V Holly and Abby. Scituate, MA Capt. Mike Russo. F/V Susan Lee. Chatham, MA Cindy Roy, CLS coordinator
| April
2003 -- update ToAll -- sWe have only been out four times since I came to speak to you about a month ago. Three of those trips were not very productive (about 500lbs each) and one was very good (about 12,000lbs). This shows you how variable fishing can be at times. One has to be patient and persistent to be successful. But this is true in school and all life as well, isn't it? That's why we do things over and over again till they come more easily. My son who is also my first mate on the boat, had his second son about two weeks ago. Mother and Kevin James are doing very well. We stayed close to home for a while just in case the baby decided to come early, which he did by about a week or so.... We caught mostly flounder, cod and haddock on the big trip and it helped a lot to catch up to where we would like to be in terms of catch and income. If we don''t catch fish, we don't make any money. We have to be able to go long periods of time with very little income so we need to plan well in advance to be able to pay our bills and go shopping, etc. The weather continues to be our biggest problem as it continues very windy and that makes the waves big and quite dangerous to be out at sea. The temperatures are staying much colder than normal this spring (I'm sure you have noticed that) with the sea water still only about 38 degrees and that is preventing the usual migrations of fish to occur. When the water warms, it will be about 55-60. I hope you are all well and having fun and learning a lot at school. Listen to your teachers, do what they say and be good at home. I am looking forward to seeing all of you again soon. Very Sincerely, Capt. Bill Amaru |
|
|
March 2003 -- update All of the grade 2 through 5 students involved have visited Chatham to watch fish off-loaded and processed for shipping. They understand Capt. Mike's method of fishing, which involves 3 to 4 miles of longline, with 3,500 circle hooks hand-baited with sea clams (we watched that being done). They learned that Cape Cod is named for the codfish, which is a groundfish. They watched Karen dissect a cod, and know all the parts. In essence, they are well-versed on the story of a fish's journey from hook to market. The students have done a tremendous amount of writing and artwork for inclusion in "The Story of Captain Mike," which will be a hardcover book. Next on the agenda is more writing and artwork; the students will be putting together a 12-page publication on the commercial fishing industry which will be an upcoming supplement in the New Bedford Standard Times. |
|
| March 2003 See the article and pictures (below) about the classes visit with their Captain in Chatham, MA. | |
 |
 |
| January
2003 Happy New
Year. We have scheduled a date (Jan. 21 or Jan. 27 rain/snowdate)
for a visit to Chatham and Mike Russo's boat. Everyone is so excited
(me too, as I will be going with my camera and tape recorder). We
(four third grades, one second grade) will also be visiting the fish
market where he brings his catch. He has been faxing me his daily
fishing activities, with the classrooms charting his adventures on
the nautical charts (they are great).
|
|
| December 2002 Mike
Russo from Chatham (great guy) came and met with the third grade teachers
earlier this week. I let him take some of the surveys (which he returned
to me today) to give him an idea of the knowledge level of the students.
He also sent pictures of his boat which I am making copies of and
giving to the teachers. We are planning a boat visit to Chatham in
early January. Also, he will be faxing me (for distribution to the
involved teachers) a log sheet from weekly fishing trips, which will
include wind speed and direction, weather, nautical miles traveled,
type of fish caught, and price per fish at the market. This was decided
upon with the teachers, and then a comparison will be made of the
price we could purchase that same fish(es) at the fish market, supermarket
and at a restaurant. His trips will be followed on nautical maps.
|
|
|
November 2002 The teachers at the Decas School in Wareham met with fisherman Robert McDonough 2 weeks ago. What a great guy. All the teachers loved him, and he and his friend Mark Curry (our other fisherman) will work together with the four 4th and 5th grade teachers; and , Mike Russo of Chatham, will be for the 3rd grade teachers. The 4th and 5th grade teachers and Bob worked out a schedule for the year, which will involve a boat visit very soon, and we will want to go back in the spring. And the four 3rd grade classes will want to visit Mike Russo's boat in Chatham this fall. I would also like to plan a fish market visit (probably in Sandwich) and the Sandwich Fish Hatchery, to give the kids and teachers some links with the fishing industry |
|