Donald McMahon Sr. works to repair the engine of his son's lobster boat, one of two sunk by vandals in the early morning hours of Aug. 5 in Owls Head, Maine. A third boat was also damaged in the incident.Posted on 08/16/2009 10:15:35 PM PDT by BGHater
Maine lobstermen are cutting competitors' trap lines, sinking boats and, in one case, shooting each other.
Law-enforcement officials and people in Maine's tight-knit coastal communities say economic pressure on the state's 5,000 active lobstermen may be fueling the tension. With prices for the state's crustaceans at the lowest level since the early 1990s, lobstermen are having trouble covering bait, fuel and equipment costs, they say.
Lobsterman Keith Simmonds, of Owls Head, Maine, suspects rivals sank his boat, First Light, on Aug. 5. In the hours after midnight, vandals slashed the boat's pipes and flooded it with salt water, damaging its motor, starter, pump, batteries and wiring. By the time a fellow lobsterman called Mr. Simmonds to the dock, the boat was under seven feet of water, its roof barely peeking out.
Two boats moored near Mr. Simmonds's boat were also vandalized at the same time, though they didn't suffer as much damage. Authorities say they are still investigating the incident.
In late July, one lobsterman shot another in the neck in an argument over where the underwater traps could be placed around Matinicus Island, 20 miles off the coast. Authorities say the victim, Chris Young, had argued with the shooter, Vance Bunker, over Mr. Bunker's son-in-law fishing in the island's waters. Since the son-in-law was not from Matinicus, Mr. Young didn't think he had the right to set his traps there. After the shooting, Mr. Bunker was arrested on charges of aggravated assault.
Donald McMahon Sr. works to repair the engine of his son's lobster boat, one of two sunk by vandals in the early morning hours of Aug. 5 in Owls Head, Maine. A third boat was also damaged in the incident.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Maine is a blue state.
They should raise big fat taxes on lobster boats.
That’ll fix the problem. :)
Keep voting for Dems and RINOs.
The state voted for Obama - they are getting Hope & Change - enjoy it.
Umm isn’t the solution to this problem to not trap as much so demand will increase? Why are these people falling all over themselves to catch even more lobsters?
‘Why are these people falling all over themselves to catch even more lobsters?’
Dunno, I’m not from up there. But, sounds like it’s the only thing they know. It’s just a symptom of the economy as a whole.
It’s the right time to buy Maine lobsters now!!!
I used to like lobster until I read an article where they were called “cockroaches of the sea”. Now I can’t bring myself to even look at the things.
Maine, huh? Oh yeah, I remember....
Others:
Pigeons, rats with wings.
Squirrels, rats with bushy tails.
To each his own.
I can't read the rest of the article because one has to subscribe. Otherwise, I can't determine if prices are low because of an oversupply of lobsters or an under supply of customers ordering lobsters at restaurants because of the price. If it's an oversupply of lobsters, that will eventually level out. If it's an under supply of customers because of the bad economy, tough luck. Quit voting for the friggin Democrats.
I bought mine on Wednesday night. My wife and I went to McCormick & Schmicks and had lobster dinners. Mine was a 1 lb Maine lobster for $22.50. It was nice.
Hey, Mainiacs, how’s that hopey change thing working out for you?
I know, I know...
It’s just the mental association. Realistically, crabs are nothing but aquatic spiders, but that doesn’t seem to bother me as much.
I just have a mental horror of roaches...
Could it be a genetic thing whether or not lobster tastes good to a person. Maybe the number of lobster lovers in America is dwindling. I greatly prefer almost any fish to lobster. The same goes for shrimp, crab, and clams. Why these are considered deluxe items is beyond my sensory ken. (I grok oysters, though.)
Alternate Headline: Lobster Trade Feeling Pinch of Recession
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