I'm fascinated by the baby boat riding on the back of this fishing boat.
Can anyone satisfy my curiosity? Do you know why this normal-sized fishing boat is carrying what appears to be a miniature?
Many thanks to Cliff, who provided this answer: "Purse boat" from the F/V Starlight, a veteran herring seiner from Vinalhaven. The purse boat is slid down the Starlight's stern onto the water, and, powered by a 400+ horsepower engine, speeds off across the water, deploying the seine net around part or all of a sonar or air-located herring school, and back onto the stern of the vessel. The "purse" created as the seine is drawn tight concentrates the herring so that they can be easily brought aboard.
