week 17, post 3: Shrimpers and Farmers

I continue to be impressed with the many parallels in the lives of the shrimpers and farmers. During the winter/off season, equipment is torn down, inspected, rebuilt. Equipment failure can cost thousands of dollars, at best, and lives at worst. Like farmers, shirmpers must be their own mechanics most of the time. Now is the time when the shrimpers are most busy on their gear. Our next door neighbor has a small/mid sized Lafitte skiff with skimmer nets. This year, he and his companions have removed them from the water, maintained the hulls, nets and engines. They are quite a sight sitting on stands in the yard. In a couple of weeks, they will be back in the water, running shakedowns, in readiness for the beginning of the season, about May 15.
Peace, Warren.