Customer Reviews

North by Northwestern: A Seafaring Family on Deadly Alaskan Waters

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For those of us who have never had to make our living off the sea, crab fishing in the Gulf of Alaska in the middle of a fierce winter storm is better read about than personally experienced. The Hansen family of Norway, by way of the Pacific Northwest, offer us their mind-numbing, bone-chilling, and spirit-exhilarating experiences, fishing for crab off the south-west coast of Alaska in the form of a very entertaining and colorful book, "North by Northwestern". Though written by a ghostwriter, this intertwining story of three generations of mariners lacks for nothing as it strives to establish the background of this now legendary family. The reader is treated to a variety of near scrapes with death, a profound sense of courage and determination during some very tough moments, and a thorough explanation as to how to make a successful living from deep-sea fishing. Some of the book's main features include a vivid description of what life was like back in the old Norwegian town of Karmoy at the turn of the 20th century, why some members of the family moved to Ballard, Washington and how they eventually came to be renowned fishers with their own media trademark in the 21st century. Life in pursuit of crab in the treacherous waters of the Aleutians is meant only for the seafarers who serve as deckhands, first mates and skippers in the foulest of weather on the roughest of seas. This is definitely an extended family that has stayed together during the tough times in order to reap the windfall profits during the good times. Though the language in the story is salty in places, it does convey a way of life that is rough and ready as it braces for uncertain adventure. Those who go down to the sea in ships are definitely a special breed with nerves of steel and minds ready to sidestep danger at a moment's notice. As times change, with a serious reduction of wild stock due to overfishing, Captain Sig Hansen, the present skipper of the family vessel, is philosophical enough to realize that his accustomed livelihood could be disappearing too. Thus, the clever remarketing of the family business in the form of a popular, made-for-TV series called "Deadliest Catch". I recommend this very readable, though slightly disjointed, book to anyone who wants to be there in spirit rather than person.