In 1858 the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable was laid, at great expense after many years of work. Minnesota, while still very much on the frontier, was that same year petitioning for statehood, and Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas also met that summer for their seven famous senatorial election debates on the issue of slavery. In
Journal of an Island Kitchen Grub and democracy at town meeting time
You wouldn’t think food would have much to do with democracy until you go to town meeting. Last year we didn’t even take a break at lunchtime, though some towns do a whole ham and baked bean spread. Still, there was food all over the place, all day long. Our town meeting comes in April,
Minimum lobster size to increase in Gulf of St. Lawrence
Canadian Fisheries and Oceans Minister Robert Thibault has raised the minimum lobster size in certain areas of Atlantic Canada – a move met with enthusiasm by the Maritime Fishermen’s Union. The new multi-year management plan will be implemented in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 23, 24, 25, 26A, and 26B in the southern Gulf of St.
New water taxi plies Casco Bay
One by one, the women appear at the top of the boat ramp at Buoy Park in Portland, then carefully descend to the float. Capt. Gene Willard greets them with a smile, extending a hand as they step up and onto his boat. One of the women teases Willard about his new crew cut. Willard
Urchin harvesters argue against reductions
Determined to hold on to their fishing days in the urchin season, draggers from the eastern end of Zone 2 turned out in full force at April’s Zone 2 Urchin Summit and at the Sea Urchin Zone Council (SUZC) to argue down a 30 percent reduction in landings for their zone. More than a month
Scientist has concrete idea for lobster habitat
A New Brunswick scientist who has been working with different strengths of concrete is planning to construct lobster habitats out of the material. Buquan Miao, an engineering professor at the Universite de Moncton, has been experimenting with concrete for 20 years and has produced, on the one hand, a substance as light as Styrofoam and,
Swan’s Island voters help fund their music teacher
A cold and very windy March day did not deter a crowd from assembling for Swan’s Island’s Annual Town Meeting, held at the Swan’s Island School on Monday, March 3. Along with the voting residents and a few off-island guests, the eighth grade was in attendance, taking notes of the proceedings on their laptop computers
Affordable housing for cats
Ptld.Condo Wtrfrnt w/View; low rent, free food. If you can read this, don’t bother applying. It’s not meant for humans. Down on Portland’s Union and Widgery wharves, Paul and Kim Fischer take care of their feline neighbors. They’ve set up insulated shelters, which they call condos. They feed the cats, and know which flavors and
Report proposes
A recent report suggests a radical change for state fisheries management in Maine. According to the report, “Reforming Fisheries Management in Maine,” prepared for the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), the agency could take itself out of the day-to-day management of state fisheries by turning management over to a council made up of elected
Water one could walk on
Rockland Harbor froze all the way out to the breakwater at Jameson Point during February’s frigid weather, and lobstermen could walk to their boats. Most boats stayed on their moorings, but the island ferries plowed through the ice-bound harbor, and a Coast Guard icebreaker also cleared channels. Local historian Bert Snow, who comes from a