Arborwood Press

Painting by Mark Fenter of the fictional
commercial boat, Madilin.

Incessant Expectations 
by Kenneth Fenter
Salmon fishing at Winchester Bay, Oregon
in the mid 70s. 
  
       When Jim Howard in the novel arrives in Winchester Bay and becomes partners with the owner of "the Madilin", he is entering an industry on the way out. Once a thriving industry, Commercial fishing in the late 1970s faced a dwindling resource and ever oppressive government regulation. 
       Foreign factory ships hoovering off shore took bottom fish as well as prize game fish. 
       Jim hears the arguments from fishermen as well as the young woman, Hattie, that he falls in love with who wants to escape the prospect of marrying a fisherman who must face danger on the ocean and poverty from the upkeep of a boat. 
       Jim's partner, Charlie is an old time fisherman who  teaches Jim well. The Madilin is well cared for under Charlie's care. By the end of the summer Jim must decide whether he must give up the dream of a boat like the Madilin before he will have a chance with Hattie.  

       

Photo of an actual Colombia River double-ender
similar to what the Madilin is based on.