Fishing Boat’s Enemy ~ Ice

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin
It appears that we'll be out of the arctic's grip in a few days. In this circa 1950 photo, the fishing boat is iced up and cannot go out. Ice can destabilize a vessel to the point of capsizing if not removed. It needs to be removed with sledge hammers and shoveled overboard. The crew, already tired from fishing around the clock, becomes exhausted from ice removal.
It appears that we’ll be out of the arctic’s grip in a few days. In this circa 1950 photo, the fishing boat is iced up and cannot go out. Ice can destabilize a vessel to the point of capsizing if not removed. It needs to be removed with sledge hammers and shoveled overboard. The crew, already tired from fishing around the clock, becomes exhausted from ice removal.

Published by Fredrik Bodin

Fred Bodin is a photographer who owns a gallery on Main Street in downtown Gloucester, MA. The gallery features Fred's land and seascapes, as well as historic images printed from the old negatives.

8 thoughts on “Fishing Boat’s Enemy ~ Ice”

  1. Very much enjoyed reading yesterday’s and today’s posts Fred-always, always interesting facts and history. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and keen eye!

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  2. Another chapter in the life of a fishermen. Thinking 1950 and before must have been difficult to get to the boat then to fight the ice once you got there. Nice reminder ~ Something to think about as we clean our windshield ~

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  3. Fred – you should distinguish between the bad kind of ice, as freezing spray frozen on the rigging and superstructure, and the good kind of ice, Cape Pond Ice, which keeps the catch fresh and valuable….

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    1. Hi Scott, I think most people can figure that out, especially after my Fernwood Lake Ice Company post. This is an entirely different subject, and I don’t mean to discredit our local ice company. You make good ice.

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  4. Just so we’re clear: The ice on the exterior of this fishing boat is sea ice, and not the ice you buy at the local ice company to preserve fish. But you already knew that, right?

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    1. Fred…I really hope Scott doesn’t think that the readers on this site are so simple that we can’t make the connection of your picture to your story. I would guess that it’s just another opportunity for one of his many shameless plugs.

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  5. Rule #1 the hard way I learned that way before when swinging the hammer to break off the accumulated ice watch out for bounce back or miss a very painful experience you could say it is bruising 🙂 Think this is the single digit type with high wind very cold! This is the same type of ice that forms on your mustache from condensation when arctic condtions are about…and not to be confused with the ice that goes into the hull to ice your catch down!

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