East Fairhaven Elementary School's fourth grade students joined the crew of the Schooner Ernestina today to find out what it was like to be on a 19th century fishing schooner out of Gloucester, MA. The students took a step back in time to learn through the Working on the Water program how to fish from dories and what it was like to be a captain on board as well as a cook below.

Next the crew was joined by the fourth graders from Burkland School in Middleboro, Mass.  Once again, thru the working on water program students had the chance to use simple machines on deck, solve a problem as a 19th century fishing schooner's Captain and learn about navigation.

Program Coordinators: Rhonda Moniz & Polly Zajac
Captain: Willi Bank

Hauling together is the only way to raise the mainsail; it weighs thousands of pounds.

Mechanical advantage makes work easier.

So this is what it is like to be in a dory.

The captain is sometimes the ship's doctor, as well.

In the bow of the dory,

It looks like a Cod...

Life at sea... what is it like?

In the aft cabin, the ship's business is managed.

So what do they eat when they are on the Banks fishing?

Which way did they go? Or where is the stern?

Tug of war... at sea.

The fo'c'sle is the best place to hang out with the crew.