To The Best of Our Knowledge

from Wisconsin Public Radio

How far would you go for something to eat? Paris? Mom's house? The drive-through at Mickey D's? I bet you wouldn't swim thousands of miles, from Mexico to the Arctic, just to scarf up mud from the bottom of the ocean. Whales do, and they've been doing it every year for eons. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll cross the ocean with whales, with sharks and with some pretty unusual people. And we'll go lobstering with Linda Greenlaw.

Brenda Peterson talks with Steve Paulson about the gray whale. They mate and give birth in Baja, where they exhibit "friendly whale syndrom" and migrate to Alaska. Peterson talks about their many links with humans, and why they should not be hunted. Peterson and Chickasaw writer Linda Hogan are the co-authors of "Sightings: The Gray Whales' Mysterious Journey." Also, Peter Nichols tells Jim Fleming about the Golden Globe race of 1968, when a group of unprepared sailors in inadequate craft attempted to sail alone around the world. He tells the story in full in his book "A Voyage for Madmen," now out in paperback.

Linda Greenlaw talks about her life as a lobster fisherman in "The Lobster Chronicles." She tells Anne Strainchamps that fishing for lobsters is mostly a matter of hard work and persistence, and that for the fishermen, lobster is cheap eating. Greenlaw was a commercial tuna fisherman for 17 years, which she described in her first book - the best-selling "The Hungry Ocean." Also, shark researcher John Musick tells Steve Paulson what makes sharks unique and why people should get out of the water at 5 o'clock. Musick and his wife, Beverly McMillan are the co-authors of "The Shark Chronicles." (Not a typo - both books this segment are chronicles.)

Jill Fredston and her husband spend months every year rowing in the Arctic. She tells Jim Fleming about their boats, and why they do what they do. And she tells a whale of a fish story! Jill Fredston is the author of "Rowing to Latitude: Journeys along the Arctic's Edge."

Books:

• Jill Fredston, Rowing to Latitude: Journeys Along the Arctic's Edge (North Point Press)
• Linda Greenlaw, The Lobster Chronicles: Life on a Very Small Island (Hyperion)
• John A. Musick & Beverly McMillan, The Shark Chronicles: A Scientist Tracks the Consummate Predator (Times Books)
• Peter Nichols, A Voyage for Madmen (Harper Perennial)
• Brenda Peterson & Linda Hogan, Sightings: The Gray Whales' Mysterious Journey (National Geographic)
  
  

Music:

• Button after Peterson: “Herd Noises” from Deep Voices: Recordings of Humpback, Blue and Right
  Whales Living Music Records, LD0029 (P.O. Box 72 Litchfield, CT 06759) Performer: nameless whales
• Button and Option after Nichols: “Dave’s Delight” from Schooners Limin’ Music CD 005 P.O. Box 840 Camden Maine 04843 Performer: Gordon Bok, Carole Rohl
• Button after Greenlaw: “Incredible March of the Spiny Lobsters” from A Darker Passion Green Linnet GLCD 1118 Performer: Ingrid Karklins
• Button after Musick: Theme from “Jaws” from The Hollywood Sound, Sony SK 62788 Performer: London Symphony Orchestra/John Williams
• Option after Musick: “The Wood Nymph Tune” from Devil’s Tune, NorthSide 530 North 3rd St. Minneapolis MN 55401 Performer: Gunnar Stubseid, Ale Moller
• Button after Fredston and Alternative Close Music: 2nd Movement, “Cantus Arcticus” by Einojuhani Rautavaara Catalyst 09026-62671-2 Performer: Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra/Max Pommer

Distribution dates:

• week of 09/22/2002 - hour 1