To the editor: Having read the book “Lobsters Great and Small,” I would like to comment on several parts of it. The book states that cod, which is a predator of lobsters, largely disappeared from Penobscot Bay in the 40s, so the lobster boom that started in the late 80s couldn’t be explained by the
A world where up is down
About a hundred years ago, Finley Peter Dunne, safe behind his nom de plume of Misther Dooley, no doubt instructed his mythical friend Mr. Hennessey as follows: “Always remimber, no matter whether the constitution follows th’ flag or not, the Supreme Court follows the iliction returns.” And at only a slightly lower level, the Hon.
Lobsters
When I think about fishermen and scientists, I am reminded of a great one-liner from a movie, Cool Hand Luke, where Paul Newman’s jailer drawls his famously understated line. “What we have here,” he deadpans, “is a failure to communicate.” When the Penobscot Bay Collaborative began almost six years ago, the gap in perceptions of
Isleboro debates schools, snow plowing, public access
Islesboro held its annual town meeting on April 24 at the Kinnicutt Center for the purpose of considering 39 Articles. Refreshments for both breakfast and lunch were provided as a fund-raiser for the Islesboro Central School senior class. Over 150 persons attended. The meeting was called to order at around 9 a.m., and the Rev.
When the seals and the eagles get embarrassed and move off shore
A rambling conversation between chance acquaintances over two beers in a bar: Corner Stool: I see where the dam’ gov’ment has slapped a ban on Outer Heron Island. Adjacent Stool: Sure have. Can’t land there this summer. Corner Stool: I had an idea that when it was bought by the land trust, it was for
Next year, Matinicus plans to meet earlier
Town meeting began on Matinicus Island at 7 p.m. on April 27 in the New School, with 36 people in attendance. After nominating Maury Colton moderator, a motion was made to skip to the last article on the agenda, Article 44, wherein the town allows non-residents the ability to speak regarding issues not outlined in
Thanks for Grand Manan Seamen’s Memorial Day Expanding Jackson Lab
To the editor: Thank you for choosing Canada Post to deliver Working Waterfront for the past several years. We will miss doing business with you. Hopefully some of our people will subscribe to your paper. Shirley McGuire, Postmaster North Head Grand Manan, New Brunswick,Canada Seamen’s Memorial Day To the editor: In 1985 the Maine State
Trickling out the fish
This is an off-island report, a home cook’s tour of that big, noisy, glitzy, event in Boston I went to a couple of months ago. Now the Boston Seafood Show has gotten so big that the small fisheries producers among us have to sell their firstborn to afford a tiny booth, so that eliminates all
The gated coast; Oh, deer; Selective gear
At their recent town meeting, Islesboro residents left little doubt that access to the shore is important to them. Overwhelm-ingly, they voted down a landowner’s proposal to close an old public road that lets people reach the shore. “We’re not willing to give up [public] access, anywhere, any more!” declared one resident in a phrase
Burnt Church council election declared invalid
Canadian Fisheries and Oceans Minister Robert Thibault said in mid-May that he was optimistic about future relations between the federal government and the Burnt Church Mi’kmaq fishermen in New Brunswick. But by late in the month there wasn’t a recognized band council for him to negotiate with. On May 10, the federal Department of Indian