Study of a Fish Plant Worker

 

Study of a Fish Plant Worker, oil on canvas, 20" x 23", Steven Rhude, at www.emmabutler.com


Her job duty was evident and simple, to cut, clean and trim fish or seafood prior to marketing or further processing. Specifically, she was to cut fish, separate fillets, and remove scrap parts using a knife. Also, there was the issue of checking fillets to determine optimal size of fillet sections, cut those sections according to specifications and place in a container to be weighed. Her wages range from thirteen to eighteen dollars per hour.

He had seen fish plant workers from Canso to Newfoundland, their shift work day and night. He recalled his routine trips to the Co-op for groceries. He could see the fish plant from the parking lot - see the workers in their rubber boots out on break getting some sun or a smoke - see the life on their aprons and facial expressions - but that was a long time ago when National Sea Products employed around six hundred people at the plant, before it was closed and demolished, reduced to memories in photographic form. Another chapter in small town coastal life.

His fish plant worker is from both another time and today. He's taken her from the plant to the wharf - she's intelligent and knows it's not a wharf, but the wharf. She holds a box of frozen cod fillets to bring home for supper.

 

Steven Rhude, Wolfville, NS    

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