The History Of Steinbeck's Fishing Out Of Monterey Bay

It all begins in Monterey Bay California, where author Johnathan Steinbeck and a close friend by the name of Ed Ricketts seek out boat and crew for a Marine Science expedition. Fishing out of Monterey bay is no strange occurrence, but Steinbeck’s and Ricketts voyage was quite different from all the other boating operations in the area. They were planning on sailing into the Sea of Cortez between the boarder of Mexico, and Baja California. This territory at the time was still being explored and documented do to the rather rural area that surrounds it, so extreme caution was being taken. The purpose of the journey was to document the unique sea life and weather patterns that existed in the Sea of Cortez. Alongside the scientific aspects of their …show more content…
They purchased copious amounts of food and non-perishables for the journey, assuring nothing was forgotten. Commanding the research vessel was a fishing captain by the name of Tony. In Steinbeck’s case, tony was a saving grace for this research operation. No other skeptical captain agreed to rent out a charter for the mission, but Tony was all for it. After stowing away all of the necessary supplies, and making the final go-arounds the ship, the crew participated in a celebration in Monterey Bay to mark the end of a successful fishing season. The day after the celebration was all business, and the ship sailed south constantly through the night and days only to stop for more supplies in San Diego. After San Diego, their first stop was in Cabo San Lucas, where they stop to have their papers examined. From there on, it was straight ahead into the Sea of Cortez. From Cabo San Lucas, the expedition leads up the western shoreline of Mexico. The crew stopped almost every day to row the small retrieval skiff into a reef or shore to collect marine organisms. While heading to the next destination, the crew works frantically to preserve and label all species. Heading north along the coast of Baja Peninsula, they collect samples at many embankments and reefs where organisms …show more content…
The crew had the opportunity to observe local Indians and their way of life along the Sea of Cortez. Also, they learned about indigenous people living along the coast of the sea of Cortez, and their ways of life. They experienced the isolation that comes with being on a fishing vessel, and how it feels to leave behind the comforts of everyday modern living. Everything from scientific theories to philosophy was discussed on the trip, and questions the very purpose of man’s placement amongst the natural world. Steinbeck recalled leaving this expedition as an enriching experience in terms of philosophy and science. The information gathered on this great journey has impacted science and literature