It’s All about Family & Friends!

19 Jul It’s All about Family & Friends!

Alert Bay
July 16, 
Meet Stevie and Stella Beans: 
The best Grease Maker and Fisherman on the BC Coast
              
We left Goose Island, north of Queen Charlotte Sound at 0430 to ride an ebb tide down coast, and then caught a flood tide of 3-4 kts pushing us into Queen Charlotte Sound for a 1630 arrival in Alert Bay.  We wanted to get to Alert Bay before Stevie Beans left the next morning to go Prince Rupert to fish for salmon on his 58ft seine boat Ocean Predator. 
Stevie is a high chief of the Namgis (AKA Nimpkish) Native Band. Stevie is a humble guy and prefers not to be called “Chief” unless it’s as part of a Potlatch Ceremony. 
We had dinner at Stevie and Stella’s home and we talked Eulachon catching and seining.  

Stevie & Stella at home

Steve and Stella are considered the best Gleetna, (Eulachon grease) makers on the BC coast and have over many years been generous in keeping me supplied with Gleetna. I acquired the taste for Gleetna as a small kid.  It’s not for everyone.
Every April-May the whole family, from elders in their 70s and 80’s down to the toddlers go up the Kleena-Kleena river and wait for the Eulachons to arrive.

Stevie & granddaughter Helen-Anne

   
 Some years there are only a few Eulachons; one year they waited for 3 weeks and there were none. This year it was very good.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/150707-salvation-fish-canada-first-nations-animals-conservation-world/

The process of grease making is somewhat complicated and very hard work.
Eulachons are small, very oily fish, 6-9 inches long and so oily that they used to be used as candles.
The process is to first hand net the fish.

Bucket of Eulachon

Then put the fish in 20ft x 20ft x 2ft wooden cribs built on a gravely base above high water.

 

Eulachons in the pit

Let the fish rot for a week or two so the blood and innards drain thru into the gravely base.
Transfer the fish to deep wooden tubs with metal bottoms. The tubs are about 4ft x 6ft x 4ft deep

Nephew Matt and Grandson Stephen stirring Eulachons in box

Build a fire under the tubs and heat to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit. 
Strain out the bits and pieces and keep skimming until only the oil is left.

Shaking Eulachons

The oil is poured thru filters until it is a clear golden color and then it is bottled for future use.

Processing Grease

                                               
 Eulachon oil is a major part of the Namgis culture, is high in Omega 3 & 6 and is part of Stevie and
Stella’s daily diet.

                                               Stevie’s’ Ocean Predator

 Stevie is one of the highest, if not the highest producing seine boat fishermen in BC.

OCEAN PREDATOR

Captain, Papa Stevie

Grandma Stella giving bon voyage hugs to the grandkids.

Granddaughter Helen Anne, Licensed 100 ton captain (but 1st mate on OP), plus chef and winch operator

nephew Matt Willie, seine drum-man

Helen-Anne, Stephen, brother Edgar Cranmer, and Matt

 
If Sharry would let me I would have gone fishing with them!