Helen FieldsScience Writer

Over the weekend I was in Arizona for a retreat. It was totally idyllic, with hummingbirds and citrus flowers and warm weather, and I spent many hours every day listening to people talk about interesting things. It was a retreat for board members from the various Revels organizations around the country. (Mine is The Washington Revels – our biggest production, the Christmas Revels, is the coolest thing I do all year.)

So, at lunch the second day I discovered that one of the board members from another city is a former commercial fisherman. Who has worked in the Bering Sea. I had to switch lunch tables when I found out. He had stories about ships sinking and giant halibut and whatnot. I asked for advice, and he said his stock piece of advice is to figure out how the zippers on the survival suit work before you need them. But he said I don’t need that advice, because I’m going with professionals and they will take care of me. I’m guessing the Coast Guard is serious about safety training.

Anyway, he gave me a tip which I will now share, in case you are ever fishing with long lines off Alaska. The problem: Orcas are smart. They know what that gear is for, and they’ll hang out chomping your fish as if you were running a free all-you-can-eat buffet. Which you are, really. He says it wouldn’t be so bad if they took the whole fish, but they leave the head so you still have to take it off the hook. Some people shoot at them, but that is illegal and also not very nice.

Here’s the non-lethal method: Pull in your gear. Check the radar for a blip. Go over there. That blip will be another fishing ship. Circle around the other ship about three times until the orcas are like, hey, wait, this ship has fish, too, and the buffet is open! Take your boat and fish somewhere else.