Captain Sten is really on the crab now. As a result, the table is overflowing. “D-Bo,” the North American’s new greenhorn, is exhausted and is trying to keep up with his duties. There is a lot of work to be done, but D-Bo is staggering about the deck, moving so slowly that it causes the other deckhands to pounce on him repeatedly.
Terje gets my attention and says, “Watch this!” We both observe D-Bo, crowned with a Viking helmet with green horns, as he stops several times on his way to bait pots. Each time he stops, he sets the bait down and rests a bit before stumbling on his way. All of the deckhands have been closely watching him. Terje looks back to me and rolls his eyes. John and Davin shake their heads. Travis looks from one to the other and simply shrugs.
When D-Bo finally arrives at the pot he climbs in, but one of his helmet’s horns gets caught in the pot’s webbing and his head is jerked to the side. As he comes to an abrupt stop, the bait he is carrying slaps him across his face. Terje yells, “Come on, hurry up!” and D-Bo reaches deep one more time, calling upon his fading strength. He climbs out of the pot, closes the pot door and then weaves his way back to his “office,” the area that holds the bait bin and chopper.
As he begins to fill up a couple of bait jars, the full-share boys see the moment that they have waited for. With nods to each other they quickly scramble to the sorting table where they have secretly collected six live cod for their next hazing ritual. As D-Bo lifts his head from the bait bin the attack is on. The other deckhands swing and throw all six fish at him at once. Of course, there is no defense for such tactics. Pinned in the corner, D-Bo gets hit with at least four of the fish. The deckhands roar with laughter and then leap back to work as the next pot comes over the rail.
Later, at dinner, the whole group is in good spirits. Though he has been nipped at all day D-Bo is still considered to be one of the boys. As they laugh and banter, D-Bo climbs to his feet and begins to clown it up, break-dancing for all of the guys, who respond with clapping and laughter.
I am pleased to see that there really is no ill will toward the greenhorn. These guys are just living their culture. D-Bo, also known as Darrell Labay, is just paying his dues the same way that a thousand greenhorns have before. As D-Bo’s silly antics and dancing continue, I laugh and look from face to face and wonder if each of these men once raised their own head from a bait bin, only to be assaulted by flying fish.
Image: Darrell Labay, a.k.a. D-Bo, in his "office."
Photo: Marc Carter/DCL
How can you get a shot of a rescue helicopter at the same level as your camera in a different plane? Wouldn't they be going through the same ice storm? I see a lot of shots where it seems like the boat the camera is on is not in as much danger as the one they are filming. Why? Cant' be that much difference.
Posted by: Kay | June 10, 2008 at 09:39 PM
We need a 'Pot CAM'!!! Would there be a way to rig a sealed camera like the bait on top side in a canister? Could something hold under this pressure? Could it rotate on a small pivot to see the marine environment? I was thinking that if it had a delayed turn on(post soak to get pot full and not spook crab), some small lights, rotate 90' every hour or so...what an awesome view into the world under the waves. Is this possible???
Posted by: Richard Butler | June 11, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Yeah, Sten told me this was up. Its pretty funny to see "D-Bo Office" painted on the wall in back of the bait chopper.
Posted by: norwegian_footballer | June 11, 2008 at 03:35 PM
they need to have D-BO next season he made the whole show, i hope he comes back and shows himself, and the crew of the north american he does have what it takes. go north american
Posted by: mike riddle | July 30, 2008 at 03:10 AM
i am tring to find work as a greenhorn.i worked on ships in the army for 6 years.im willing to start asap my number is 804-932-9060 please call or e-mail asap thankyou.
Posted by: Raymond Torres | August 26, 2008 at 04:22 PM
I am happy to see that Darrell is still up to his usual clowning around! I graduated high school with him and it doesn't look like much has changed. He got a lot of hazing all through high school.
Posted by: Lucas Henderson | August 27, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I am happy to see that Darrell is still up to his usual clowning around! I graduated high school with him and it doesn't look like much has changed. He got a lot of hazing all through high school.
Posted by: Lucas Henderson | August 27, 2008 at 10:52 AM