One of the Island's last male bastions has been felled by a Bermudian woman.

Since the beginning of the week, 44-year-old Karolyn Perinchief has been mixing it with the boys along the docks.

A tally clerk in Number Seven shed in Hamilton, Mrs. Perinchief is responsible for collecting goods for customers. While she does not have to physically lift any items, she admits the job entails a lot of running around.

"I like the activity, it can get very busy here,'' she told The Royal Gazette ."Yesterday was very hectic I was just moving, moving, moving all day.'' "But I could do with the exercise and I really enjoy it,'' Mrs. Perinchief added.

Working alongside men does not bother her. In fact Mrs. Perinchief explained this has become quite the norm for her. With some 23 years in the shipping industry under her belt, she knows it is a predominantly male area.

"I've been in this business for 23 years and I've mostly worked with men,'' she said. "I have no problem with that. I think I prefer it.'' Mrs. Perinchief recalled that she started with shipping agents John S. Darrell in 1976 as a claims secretary and moved up. When the company split, she went to Bermuda Container Line and worked in the freight traffic department.

"I stayed there until 1994,'' she said. "After that, I moved to Sea Venture who deal with consolidating. In October 1994 Stevedoring Services approached me to join them as a switchboard operator/terminal clerk, and I have been here ever since.'' Excited with her new position, Mrs. Perinchief explained that it gives her a new perspective.

"I got insight into shipping and doing what I do now gives me experience in another aspect. I've done agency work, consolidation and now stevedoring.'' While it's unclear if Karolyn Perinchief is the first ever female docker in Bermuda, Stevedoring Services operational manager Bruce Lines said: "Karolyn is certainly the first woman to work on the docks in the 16 years that I've been here.'' Responding to why the company had never hired a woman in such a position before, Mr. Lines said Mrs. Perinchief has been the first suitable candidate.

He admitted that women have applied for positions before but was adamant that the company did not discriminate by gender.

"Mrs. Perinchief has been working for us for a long time and was a well qualified applicant,'' he said.

Asked if she has any plans to try her hand at the work that longshoremen do, Mrs. Perinchief hesitated before saying no.

"I don't know that I want to do that,'' she admitted. "The work that those guys do is very dangerous and I would probably get knocked over.'' Despite the preponderance of men on the docks, Mrs. Perinchief claims that she has been totally accepted. She holds that her male colleagues "feel good'' about her appointment, have welcomed her, and treat her well.

"It has been a good reception, with even the truck drivers coming up and introducing themselves to me, and saying that they welcome `the pretty face','' she said.