Articles
A way of life ends in Prospect Harbor, as only remaining American sardine cannery closes
“That sardine factory has been a part of my life and a part of my family’s life for three or four generations,” said Gouldsboro Selectmen Dana Rice. “Well, almost anybody in this area has some relationship [with the cannery] unless you just moved here a couple of weeks ago.” When cannery owner Bumble Bee Foods
A history of the Stinson Canning Company
E. T. Russell & Co. built the Prospect Harbor cannery in 1906, according to Ronald Peabody, owner and director of Jonesport’s Maine Coast Sardine History Museum, and operated it until 1921. Calvin Stinson worked in this cannery as a teenager. He and Wass bought the cannery it in 1927. Then in 1931 they bought their
Performance center brings entire community together
When Suzy Shepard, Stonington hair stylist and fisherman’s wife and mother came to the first tryout for Fiddler On The Roof back in 2000, she never planned to try out for a part. Shepard saw the ad in the local paper, Island Ad-Vantages, and was curious because she knew the story of the musical. “I
Fishermen react to proposed offshore wind testing sites
“There’s very little [ocean] bottom that isn’t fished for lobster,” stated Spruce Head fisherman Robert Baines, referring to state waters from the beach to three miles out. Ocean bottom chosen for offshore wind testing sites, “will inevitably displace fishermen,” he said. The Maine State Planning Office and the Maine Department of Conservation have nominated four
Refrigeration company is an immigrant success story
The story of Wolf Marine Systems, Inc., the first company to build and install large industrial refrigerated holding systems used in the seafood industry, is the old one of hard-working immigrants who, despite setbacks, reach eventual success. In 1922, Rena Belzer, jobless in post-World War I Germany, applied to emigrate to the U.S. In 1925,
Attorney General investigates allegations of lobster price-fixing
The state Attorney General’s office issued summonses to three lobster dealers, part of what appears to be an investigation into allegations of price-fixing, focusing on Washington County dealers. Three dealers confirmed that they received the summonses in November from the Attorney General, but spoke on the condition that they not be identified. All three dealers
Fishermen concerned about new right whale petition
On September 16, five groups filed a petition to expand critical habitat for the North Atlantic right whale to include the American waters of the entire Gulf of Maine. This set off a chain of events that could cause even more problems for ground and lobster fishermen. The petition, filed with the National Marine Fisheries
Debate continues over lobster buyers on town docks
How do you figure what to charge an out-of-town company for the use of a town’s public dock to buy lobster? It’s an old story and problem still seeking solution. Two years ago this paper carried a story about dealers parked on the Stonington Fish Pier buying lobster at a price higher than local dealers
Cooperative building tank to maintain a steady supply of hard shell lobsters
For members of a lobster co-operative in eastern Maine to decide to build a refrigerated tank house in the midst of a worldwide recession takes tremendous courage. But that is precisely what the 32 members of the Winter Harbor Lobster Co-operative, Inc. did. Their system will be able to hold 23,000 pounds of lobster for
Broker advises Jonesport lobstermen how to get a better price
Lobster fishermen, already angry and frustrated at having to fish with rope that causes problem after problem, grew even angrier at what they consider an unsustainable new shell lobster price of $2 to $2.25 per lb. Up and down the coast lobster fishermen gathered to consider striking for a higher price with a boat tie-up.