I’m from the sea. 1 worked alongside the sea all my life. But I’m headed in another direction. “North by Northeast” is a direction on the compass, and now I’m coming from the sea into music.
- Gerard Hamilton
Gerard Hamilton steers his wooden trap skiff through the still waters of Petty Harbour. It is 3 a.m. He has been up since 2 a.m. Soon he will reach his berth on the fishing grounds. Gerard is alone in the skiff. Besides his fishing gear, he has food and a radio. At daybreak, with luck, the cod will strike. Then the work begins.
Gerard is a hand-line fisherman. He baits his hooks with caplin or squid. Hand-lining is tiring work. Gerard catches only one fish at a time. These days the cod are small, but the work is still hard. When the fishing is good, he doesn’t stop.
As Gerard waits for daylight he makes breakfast. While the kettle boils he sings softly to himself. The song is by one of his favourite singers, Don Williams: "You’re my bread when I’m hungry, you’re my shelter from troubled wind, you’re my anchor in life’s ocean, but most of all you’re my best friend ..."
His voice mingles with the distant chug of boats making their way to the fishing grounds.