The Doryman's Reflection: A Fisherman's Life Book

Fishermen exist as relics, the last hunter-gatherers among us. Their boats, crammed with ropes and nets, carry the mystique of a near-forgotten world ruled by the elements. This is the story of Bernard Raynes, one of Maine's last independent commercial fishermen. The author, now an accomplished writer, was once Raynes's apprentice — then a young man with no experience who came to Maine with a dream of working on a boat.

In the early 1980s, these two men shared some of the fishing industry’s best years. But their world changed. Author Paul Molyneaux discusses the factors — personal and political, environmental and economic — that led to the decline of New England fishing. While Raynes still hangs on, thanks to a philosophy of hard work, consolidation leaves few choices for young fishermen.

For over three centuries, Raynes’s ancestors invested their futures in the lives of fish. They learned to think like fish. Few today could match his skills, but they don’t have to. Technology has edged Raynes out, and his fishing legacy will sadly die with him.

Library Journal

Commercial fishermen increasingly belong to a world we have lost. Theirs has always been a dangerous, demanding profession, but today our harvesting of the sea's bounty has been changed irrevocably, with modern technology replacing sea savvy and a "make a buck now" mentality replacing a sense of conservation guided by an eye firmly focused on the future. This book recounts the life of one of this vanishing breed, Bernard Raynes. Having once served an apprenticeship under Raynes, veteran journalist Molyneaux (who specializes in writing on marine issues) brings vividness and vitality to this biography. Raynes is in fact one of the last independent commercial fishermen in Maine, where he has worked for decades. For all its personal interest, though, this book is more than a mere account of a durable, endearing character. It is an insightful look at an industry in an era of decline and dramatic change. Recommended for public libraries.-Jim Casada, emeritus, Winthrop Univ., Rock Hill, SC Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.