The Crown Pilot Cracker is off grocery shelves once again. Nabisco, the national cracker and cookie manufacturing company now owned by Kraft Foods, has ceased making the crackers, much loved by Mainers, particularly coastal dwellers who prefer it for chowder. Working Waterfront sounded the alarm in April, with only vague hints that the cracker might
Boys with Toys… and Vision
One of the great things about living in an island community is the length and breadth a group of friends will go to for a little diversion. Boat launchings, ice boating adventures, timber frame raisings, wind and tidal power generation, cutting and moving monolithic blocks of stone – lofty ideas hatched out around kitchen tables
Friendship man is still lobstering at 84
Six years ago Carl Simmons lost his wife, Glenys, after 54 years of marriage. Five years ago, his shop burned down, taking his owner-built lobster boat and all his tools with it. That might be enough to stop any man in his tracks, or at least kick him into retirement. Not Simmons. He’s still fishing
Lobster fishermen adapt to high fuel, bait prices
“Lobstering is going to be a part-time fishery here,” predicted Deer Isle lobsterman Perley Frazier of a now year-round fishery that started as a seasonal one. “Four or five years ago, someone said the only thing that will put the lobster industry out of business is expenses.” He called the lobster back then healthy, beautiful.
Electric co-op finalizes its wind power proposal
As its annual meeting approaches, the board of the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative (FEIC) is looking for input from ratepayers about a proposal to build two wind turbines that could generate all the electricity needed annually to power North Haven and Vinalhaven. If the co-op decides to proceed, it would be the second largest commercial
North Haven’s Doreen Cabot to exhibit recent works
“Island Merriment,” works by Doreen Brown Cabot of North Haven, will open at Waterman’s Community Center (WCC), 12 Main Street, North Haven, on July 19 from 5-7 p.m. The exhibit will run from July 19 to Aug. 4 during business hours.
A Veterinarian’s Viewpoint
Why are more lobsters dying in tidal pounds? Why is mortality increasing? Harrington fisherman, poundkeeper and Maine Lobster Pound Association (MLPA) President Bruce Portrie reported shrinkage rates in his pound and others “increased over the last three pounding seasons.” (The industry prefers the euphemism “shrinkage” to “death” or “mortality.”) In other words, each year for
Islanders Are Hearty Folk (Not)
With this issue of The Working Waterfront, we bid farewell to our founding editor, David Platt, who is not exactly sailing off into the sunset, but has retired from his fulltime duties as editor of the newspaper, Island Journal and publications director for the Island Institute. During the past 15 years that he manned the
Parallel 44: Terminal Decisions
On a balmy evening last month, the big cruise lines showed up at Portland’s new Ocean Gateway terminal. Not their ships — the $21 million terminal lacks a deepwater berth that can accommodate them — but rather their vice presidents and chief executive officers. Under the soaring roof, they rubbed shoulders with local officials from
Toronto entrepreneur builds new PEI oyster plant
The Prince Edward Island Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development has implemented a new program to strengthen the Island’s oyster industry in this small province on the East Coast of Canada. This newly announced program, The Quality Oyster Aquaculture Program, would provide financial incentives to produce quality oyster leases offering aquaculture operations 50 percent