"I must have presented a strange and humorous sight to him as I carefully approached on the rickety pier, arms slightly extended for balance. Cameras and tape recorders and bags hung from straps around my neck and shoulders, and my right hand tightly gripped a shiny new lunch box. I leaned over his boat and made the request that I would repeat dozens of times over the next three years. 'Hi, I'm doing a book about the watermen of the bay, and would greatly appreciate it if you'd allow me to go along with you and take some photographs.' The older watermen looked at me and then at the...