Who Was Joe

Frank Dean often told the story of Joe. Who was Joe, everyone would ask? As the story goes, every professional fisherman on the Murray was required to obtain a licence and respect each other’s claim to an area. This sometimes proved to be hard if the fish were not biting, so the temptation was to stray into other’s territories and set their nets there. 

The water police would also be keeping a watch-out. Frank and Reg, in separate boats, would quietly move into the area with oars only, tie the nets and get out. Their secret alert call was “Joe”. “Is that you Joe?” The answer would come, “Yes, it is. Is that you also Joe?” “Yes it is”, came back the answer. Who was Joe, everyone would ask after they heard the calls at night. The police could never find out who Joe was.

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