Take a Ride on the Wild Side
Although Arthur Matherne has lived on the island since he was 5 years old, he worked in a chemical plant until nine years ago when he made his "escape." Determined to make his living on the bayou doing what he loves best, Matherne became a commercial crab fisherman while his wife, Cathy, set about raising soft shell crabs.
Since that time, their lives have been guided by their love for Louisiana's wetlands and the ingenuity it takes to live off the land.
"I would fish crabs the rest of my life but the thievin' has been so bad that I can't afford it," said Matherne, who had more than 400 cages in March and now has just over 300. "It's like if you go off to work every day and come home and somebody has slashed your tires. At the end of the week, when you expect to get $700 you get $200."
