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The Richard & Arnold also doubles as an art gallery. The aft deck features an original painting of a mermaid. The artist, Chrissy, is a long-time close friend. That friendship was refined when Judy ultimately felt the need to instruct Chrissy on mermaid apparel limitations when she was on board to paint and sketch while the crew fished – or tried to focus on fishing.

Multiple decades of working in the elements as a commercial fishermen may have impacted David Dutra’s outer epidermis, but not his inner soul.

Describing David, Judy says, “Some times, he can’t sleep at night he is so excited if he is going fishing the next day.” He says, “I work in God’s garden. This is a privilege. You got to work hard to make it work though. Fishing is in my blood. When I bleed, you can see little fish swimming in it. l’m an old man now, and I will have to be dragged off before I quit.”

The by-catch found in each tow often brings up surprises. Like antique bottles. Judy saves them, many in perfect condition. Once part of an airplane was snagged in the net. Squid fishing in Nantucket Sound, they discovered a pair of eye glasses when the catch was dumped on deck.

David was reflective. “Every day is different. There is no normal. I use the same equipment day after day, but change is a constant.”

The skies and the tides change, but there is no foreseeable change in the role the Richard & Arnold plays for the Dutra family. David points out that the same equipment is used day after day. Controls on the equipment allow the techniques to change, accommodating changeable weather factors and fish habits.

Hair-raising experiences? In a near-sinking at the dock, David observed at the time, “Well, the floorboards are not floating yet.” He succinctly sums up surviving the perils at sea. “God loves me so much. I cry sometimes because he loves me so much.”

Grandchildren now enjoy special days on the water with David. According to Judy, “The grandkids just love what David does, they love David, and they love this boat. The best day we had all summer was the day we had three generations aboard. We’ve also taken Provincetown Boy Scouts out for a day of learning about fishing. It’s really fun to watch the bag get dumped on the deck when the net is pulled in. David is just as excited as the kids to see what’s in it.”

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Posted Wednesday March 30, 2016 by Melinda Penkava

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