Maine Lobster Fishing

Imagine a time when Maine lobsters were considered a "poverty food", and Native Americans used them to fertilize their land. According to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, because of an over abundance...

...lobster was not considered a delicacy when it was first hauled, nearly two centuries ago. That has changed. And as a result, so too has the Maine lobster fishing industry.

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History of Lobster Fishing in Maine

Today's Maine lobster fisherman has a much more efficient process in place than those of the lobstermen of the early 1800's, who stood at the water's edge hoping to snatch the clawed crustaceans by hand.

Demand and technology have greatly influenced the lobster industry over the years. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the Lobster Institute provide an interesting insight into the industry's timeline.

1836 - To meet a buying demand that surpassed the storage capacity of lobster boats, Burnham & Morrill Company (the company we know today for B&M baked beans) began canning lobster meat. Distributing canned lobster meat was easier than shipping live lobster, and because of its popularity, canned lobster quickly became more expensive to purchase than fresh lobster.

1850's - Trapping began as wooden lobster traps came into existence.

1875 - Vinalhaven, Maine became home to the state's first lobster pound, with other pounds quickly being introduced.

1930's - Up until this time, the primary repository for hauled lobster had been "smacks" - small sailing vessels containing a tank with drilled holes that allowed for water circulation. During the 1930's smacks were phased out and replaced by land-based lobster buyers who acted as agents between harvesters and people wishing to buy their lobster.

1939-1945 - During the Second World War lobster was not a rationed commodity, and thus gained popularity as a protein-rich food.

1942 - The Marine Fisheries Commission was formed to help coordinate the efforts of interstate and federal fishing regulations.

1950-1969 - After a post-war decline in the purchase of lobster, per capita consumption increased dramatically. Lobster prices rose higher than the rate of inflation, increasing profits and making Maine lobster fishing a more lucrative business.

1970's - Wire mesh parlor traps were introduced, replacing wooden parlor traps.

1987 - The Lobster Institute was started "by industry associations in partnership with the University of Maine". The Institute's functions include communications, outreach, research and educational programming.

2004 - The Maine lobster fishing industry reported that nearly 71 million pounds of lobster were caught. Valued at over $285 million this was the largest Maine lobster catch to date.

For comprehensive information on...

...Lobster Research, Monitoring, and Assessment, Commercial Lobster Fishery Management, Recreational Lobster Fishing, Lobster Fishery Economics, and other Maine Lobster Links...

...visit the Department of Marine Resources, Sate of Maine (DMR) website at: www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/lobster/index.htm

Maine Lobster Boats

Although today's Maine lobster boats may appear very utilitarian...

...according to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute...

...and information they derived from Kenneth R. Martin's, Lobster and the Maine Coast, today's boats are not nearly as simplistic as their predecessors.

Beginning in the late 18th century, Maine lobstermen enjoyed the comforts of nothing more than a simple rowing Dory. Inexpensive to build or buy, these high-sided, flat bottomed boats were the preferred way for New England fishermen to reach their traps. However, Dory's had their deficiencies.

Another rowboat, the Peapod (named for its elongated and rounded shape, much like the vegetable) soon joined the Maine lobster fishing fleet. The Peapod had an advantage over the Dory - it was larger, and because of its shape, it could be rowed from either end.

But why row? The double-ended design of the Peapod was modified. The new boat, the Hampton fishing boat - so named because of its origin in Hampton, New Hampshire - had a keel, and spritsail rigged masts. Lobstermen could now call upon the power of wind in their fore-and-aft sails to make their expeditions more efficient.

Another modification, the Reach, was a cross between the Peapod and the Hampton boat. The Reach was approximately 14 feet long, with a keel and square sails, and was well suited for both sailing and rowing. In later years, the Reach's flattened stern, like that of the Hampton, would make it adaptable to the addition of an outboard motor.

Perhaps one of the most recognizable images of the Maine coast is the beauty of a sailing sloop. What many people don't realize is the role that the Friendship Sloop - also referred to as the Muscongus Bay Sloop, or a lobster sloop - played in the history of Maine lobster fishing, in the latter part of the 1800's.

Although the late 19th century sloops were only 16-20 feet long, they were much better equipped for Maine lobster fishing than the Reach, Hampton, Peapod, or Dory. The sloops had a single mast, a small forward cabin - with bunks and a stove, were capable of hauling large loads, and were adequately designed for single-handed sailing and trap hauling.

By the early 1900's, the use of gas engines began to have its effect on Maine lobster fishing. The Hampton and Reach boats were soon outfitted with engines - becoming the first gas-engine lobster boats. Sailing boats were gradually replaced by power boats that allowed the lobstermen to not only go farther, but to extend their lobster season, as they were no longer as dependent on weather conditions. The use of engines also allowed the lobstermen to utilize engine power for trap hauling.

Today, modern Maine fishing boats are primarily gas or diesel powered vessels, ranging in size from 20-40 feet, or larger, and since the 1960's, constructed primarily of fiberglass. Many lobster boats are equipped with a partial enclosure - to protect the helmsman from harsh weather conditions, and have an open deck area with enough room for several fishermen to load and offload a large number of traps.

It is not just bigger and better boats that have allowed Maine lobster fishing techniques to improve so dramatically over the year, but lobster boat equipment, such as radar, radios and depth finders have aided in the lobsterman's plight.

For complete information on Lobster Research, Monitoring, and Assessment, Commercial Lobster Fishery Management, Recreational Lobster Fishing, Lobster Fishery Economics, and other Maine Lobster Links you may want to visit the Department of Marine Resources, Sate of Maine (DMR) website at: www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/lobster/index.htm