Miscellaneous Items - 10/29/08

Boat Information. Last weekend we had residents ask about an anchored boat named the "Rogue" that was here for a few days. It turns out it is a fish processing ship that buys fish, most likely from the all the gillnetters that were in the area. Someone sent in the ship details which are noted below:

Data found in current database.
Vessel Name:ROGUE USCG Doc. No.:944290
Vessel Service:FISH PROCESSING VESSELIMO Number:8990809
Trade Indicator:Coastwise Unrestricted, Fishery, RegistryCall Sign:WAI6526
Hull Material:STEELHull Number:14
Ship Builder:GIDDINGS BOAT WORKS, INC.Year Built:1989

Length (ft.):85.6
Hailing Port:SEATTLE WAHull Depth (ft.):8.4
Owner:LIGHTSHIP INC
16721 104TH AVE NE
BOTHELL, WA 98011-4020Hull Breadth (ft.):24.4
Gross Tonnage:162
Net Tonnage:103
Documentation Issuance Date:March 25, 2008Documentation Expiration Date:March 31, 2009

Seals or Sea Lions Barking. Our report on whether the barking is from seals or sea lions brought the following response:

Do not know if the reported barking is from the California Sea Lion critters that have been fall and winter visitors to Shilshole Bay and the marina in Ballard to feed on the fish at the ship canal, but I can assure you that their constant barking is a real nuisance. They congregate there for the salmon and Steelhead runs and rest on the breakwater at the marina and sometimes on the boat docks and on boats. 800 to 1000 # critters can be a problem at the marina. There would have to be a plentiful supply of fish to attract them here. Sea Elephants can also be seen at times near Shilshole Bay, they are really big and ugly.

Illahee Community Plan Letter? We heard there is a group working on a letter to distribute to Illahee residents regarding the recent opposition to the Illahee Community Plan by the Realtor Board and the KAPO Executive Director. We will try to find out more and if possible print the letter.

Jim Aho

Ship and Salmon - 10/25/08

Anchored Ship South of Schutt's Point. We have had several inquires about the ship anchored just south of Schutt's Point. One email said the name of the ship is the Rogue and it is out of Seattle. Let us know if you have any other information. When we had a large ship anchored in Illahee last year someone went out to the ship in a kayak to get the information. We are attaching a photo of the ship taken by George Schaefer for those who haven't seen it yet.

Chum Coming In. We received the following report about chum in Johnson Creek:

We found two apparently spawned out dead male chum salmon in Johnson Creek yesterday afternoon (Friday, Oct. 24). The salmon were splashing in and up Johnson Creek all night. Apparently the run is on early. Based on this report we will start watching for spawning salmon in Illahee Creek.

Gill Netters. The gill netters have been out at night for at least the last week and we are told they usually leave about 4 am. Today, Saturday 10/25/08, they were also out during the day. We had a report of salmon jumping in the bay which confirms the report that the chum seem to be coming in early this year. In case your aren't familiar with this type of fishing we have attached a definition and a picture of a typical boat.

Gillnetting is a harvesting technique employing fine-filament nets that are set like a giant badminton net across the path of migrating salmon. The top edge is held up by floats, and the bottom is pulled down by a heavy lead line forming a wall in the water that entangles fish by their gills.

Reports Received. Attached are a some reports to pass on from your Illahee neighbors.

Thanks for the link on the cougar siting. I live between the Cheney Estates and the park, and I certainly will be more cautious with my evening walks! I have noticed a drop off in raccoons here, and that could be the answer......... something big is eating them. Can they jump a 6 foot fence?

A week ago, we saw a sea lion heading from Illahee State park, north toward Illahee dock, he had not yet passed, what to me as a child was Scutts Point. There was also one seal in the bay that we could easily see. I am also hearing the barking, and to me it seems to be coming from the private docks on Bainbridge, across from the Point.

We also have deer or had deer on our property, and in the past 3 months have seen very large scat, perhaps it was cougar, certainly not any common droppings that we usually run across. Our geese are thinning out leaving a two groups that occasionally merge together to form 17 geese. .....

Keep the reports coming. We will pass them on.

Jim Aho