Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
“One With Nature: A Day in the Life of a Lobster Fisher” is a nonfiction
photographic journal written by Christopher M. Meuse with photographs by CMDM.
In 2014, the author spent a day with his son, Captain Anthony Meuse, and his
crew on a lobster fishing trip on Baie Sainte-Marie, Nova Scotia. The day began
hours before sunrise, and the captain’s boat, Major Expense, set out on
the water while it was still dark. Navigational equipment has gotten quite
sophisticated, and Meuse was able to familiarize himself with the arsenal of
GPS units, radio devices, depth sounders and sonic equipment that enable boats
to avoid collisions and wrecks and navigate the waters safely as they prepared
to set out. Lobstermen drop trawls, which are lines that have traps attached to
them, and the location of each trawl is marked by a buoy bearing the
distinctive colors of that fisherman. Meuse spent his day working alongside his
son and the crew, dropping the trawls, baiting the traps and then going through
the catch to release undersized lobsters. Meuse shares his son’s family history
as fishermen; his great-grandfather, Eugene, began his working life as a Nova
Scotia fisherman when he was 15 years old. There’s are archival photographs of
Eugene from the early 1900s. Meuse shares each aspect of his day aboard the Major
Expense with the reader. He also includes a number of inspirational quotes
and poems.
Christopher M. Meuse’s “One With Nature: A Day in the Life of a Lobster
Fisher” is a grand and glorious adventure aboard a lobster boat on a
picture-perfect day. I’ve often wondered what the life of a fisherman would be
like, and while I’m not too keen on getting up hours before dawn, CMDM’s
brilliant photography had me picturing myself aboard the Major Expense along
with the author and Captain Anthony. Meuse gives the reader a good look at the
work and effort that goes into not only getting a boat like the Major Expense,
but keeping it functioning where there are no guarantees of profits and the
work is perilous to boot (between 1999 and 2015, the Transportation Safety
Board data shows 55 deaths on Canadian boats). I was also fascinated to learn
about eco-psychology, which the author has studied, and its focus on nature’s
healing powers. “One With Nature: A Day in the Life of a Lobster Fisher” will
give an aspiring fisher a good idea of what the field is all about, and the
rest of us the peace and inspiration that a day of sun and sea can bring. It’s
most highly recommended.
Detailed information about book can be viewed at the following link:
“The Canada Book Awards program recognizes and promotes Canadian
authors’ accomplishments.The program recognizes Canadian books for their
creative achievement and contribution to the world. It is an ongoing book
assessment program that honors Canadian authors in recognition of their
outstanding accomplishment and contribution to the publishing world. Their
dedication, expression and passion are an inspiration for all of us”.
