Reedville, VA - Something Fishy

Man, we are just getting schooled by the Chesapeake. The other day we had a rainstorm, then yesterday they predicted 60% chance of thunderstorms so we stayed put (clear skies all day). So today despite another 60% chance of rain, we headed north from Deltaville (Fishing Bay) to Reedville and we were sailing along fine but the wind just kept picking up speed inch by inch. The waves gradually got steeper. All of this is fine if you are going downwind, which we were, since the waves just kind of pick you up and roll under you. But when the time came to turn west to head into our destination we were taking 23 knots of wind and 4-5 foot waves on the beam, which is really uncomfortable. But at least it was sunny. All day, I might add. Kind of miss Phoenix where the weather is easy to predict and you can always trust the forecast.

So we are anchored in Reedville, which is the menhaden fishery capital of the US. There is a fish processing plant right as you enter the creek and even if you were blind you would know that it was there just by the fishy scent wafting through the air. We are downwind of the plant, so we are definitely smelling it (Boris is enjoying it immensely) but surprisingly it isn't too bad and is much more bearable than the paper mill that we anchored near in Georgetown, SC. Menhaden (MEN-hay-den) is a small herring-like fish that is too bony and oily to be edible, but it has so many other uses that it actually constitutes 40% of all US fish exports. We went to the Reedville Fisherman's Museum and they had a ten-minute video telling you all you ever wanted to know about menhaden, complete with the cheesy elevator music and 50's style narration. The fish swim in huge schools which can be spotted by low-flying scout aircraft. Then the fishing vessel hurries over and lowers two boats down. The two boats surround and enclose the school with a large net that is then pulled together at the bottom like strings on a purse (which is why the method is called purse seining). Then the big boat comes over and literally vacuums them up out of the net with a large diameter hose. Then its off to the Reedville processing plant where the fish is pressed for oil (used to make all kinds of stuff including margarine and cosmetics. Think about that next time you apply your lipstick.) and then the solid part of the fish is dried and ground into fishmeal which is used as fertilizer, livestock food, even Pounce Cat Treats which Boris gets every day. The rest of the museum had more exhibits on fishing, as well as a half-dozen restored boats at a dock outside, and a tour of a turn-of-the-century fisherman's home. Afterwards, Kevin and I were hungry for seafood so we went to a restaurant called the Crazy Crab for crab dip and beers. Hey, if we have to smell the fish we might as well eat some.