This summer Alvin Owletuck Sr. enjoyed tendering fish from fisherman to the processors. Sometimes he and his crew member, Herman George, worked over 12 hours during the fish openings. The boat they ran was the Kimberly Ann. Alvin likes operating bigger boats. Both he and Herman needed helper's licenses to fish collect, so the Marshall Fish Plant provided the money to get the license. The manager at the plant was Lloyd Stiensky. He was also the manager of Mas. Inc. Nick Duny was the assistant manager.

Whenever there was an opening the two boats, Kimberly Ann and Kathleen, loaded up with ice and totes, then waited for fishing boats to come around. During the little runs sometimes the two boats waited for hours until they were able to buy fish from fishermen. But when there were big runs they were filled up fast. Some boats even had to deliver their fish themselves.

After the MFP bought all the fish they could, the fisherman had to deliver their fish to Boreal Fish Processors, located near Pitka's Point. Both the Kathleen and Kimberly Ann, and also a smaller collecting boat called the Agnes 0., brought the fish down for delivery. It took them six hours. While at Boreal they had to wait for at least an hour to unload their fish. After unloading they were invited into the office for snacks of pop or coffee. Then they bought gas for their return which they charged to MFP. When the drivers were done pumping gas they loaded up the totes then headed back upriver to Marshall. On their way up Alvin and Herman took turns driving the boat. After traveling for five hours they went straight home and took a rest.

Alvin says this is a good paying job and provides the income he needs. He was even able to buy an outboard motor he needed. "Being a fish buyer was one of the things I liked doing best this summer,"said Alvin.

Story by: Alvin Owletuck

Interviewed by: Matthew Shorty