If my winter scalloping story was a Hollywood movie, it would have a montage. The visuals were perfect. We steamed across Casco Bay aboard the Jacob & Joshua at dawn, as the orange sun topped the distant line separating the ocean and sky. Then, the hearty fishermen began dredging shellfish from the cold ocean floor, 90 feet below. Later, they shucked them, throwing guts to the shrieking gulls keeping pace with the boat.
Of course, every great montage has a soundtrack. Merle Haggard, George Jones and Willie Nelson streamed from the deck speakers all day — until one Eminem rap snuck in, just before we pulled up to the Littlejohn Island dock.
— Troy R. Bennett
