Fishermen forced to join whale-watch trip

PLYMOUTH, Mass., July 15 (UPI) -- More than 30 New England fishermen went whale watching instead after an engine fire on their charter boat forced them to abandon ship for a tour boat.

The passengers had to jump from their smoking boat to another vessel that was starting a whale-watching expedition off Plymouth.

The Boston Globe said the 36 anglers saw plenty of whales Monday, but didn't get in any of the deep-sea fishing they had signed on for.

"I came to fish, not to watch whales," said Paul Allen.

But all in all, the impromptu trip was described as enjoyable, the Globe said.

A gasket in one of the new engines on the fishing boat apparently caused the problem.