The Highliner : About that Whale

The Highliner

Commercial fishing is a bedrock industry in Alaska, and has been for more than a century. Every year scores of fishermen net millions of migrating salmon, challenge the icy Bering Sea to trap king crabs, lay miles and miles of baited hooks for halibut, and scoop up enough pollock for a zillion fish sticks. And when fishermen aren't out fishing, they're usually talking about fishing. That's what this blog by Wesley Loy has been all about for the two years he has written it.

About that Whale

Posted by highliner

Posted: August 3, 2007 - 12:12 pm

Little wonder the salmon tender Whale hit well-marked rocks outside the Kodiak harbor the other day (The Highliner, Aug. 1).

State troopers jailed the man at the helm, Forrest Lee Rice, 42, of Ninilchik, on charges of felony driving under the influence, refusing a breath test and violating probation.

It seems Rice, who was alone on the 82-foot wooden boat, has multiple DUI charges on his record, according to state records.

The Kodiak Daily Mirror quoted a trooper as saying Rice “appeared to be highly intoxicated” as well as uncooperative.