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Meet the Italian Gill Netters of Portland, circa 1920s
Italian immigrants living in Portland during the 1920s pretty much cornered the market on gill netting. In 1926, about 100 fishermen operated twelve vessels from 30' to 50' in length. At the height of the season, it was not uncommon to see children out on the docks mending nets. This… SEE MORE
Making a Life on Stonington's Working Waterfront
Of all the famous fishing ports I have visited on the eastern Maine coast, Stonington remains the most impressive. Everywhere you turn, there are lobster boats of all shapes and sizes, hundreds of skiffs, lobster traps, piles of neatly coiled rope and weathered buildings and wharves that cater specifically to… SEE MORE
Ice Breaking in Rockport Harbor
The Coast Guard ice breaker Tackle came into a quite solid Rockport Harbor on the morning of January 4. Ice is dangerous, especially to boats still in the harbor. Rather than run through and create a bunch of tennis court-sized chunks, they appeared to take it slowly and work at… SEE MORE
Cold Crushing Power: USCG Cutter Tackle
Passing by Rockport Harbor this morning, I noticed the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tackle at work. It was impressive watching her carefully navigate to break free the handful of fishing vessels still in the harbor. The Maine winter freeze has only just begun. I couldn't help stopping and taking a… SEE MORE
Penobscot Bay Sea Smoke on a January Morning
Sea smoke, also known as arctic steam fog, usually arrives when the cold winter air moves across the warmer ocean water. It is quite something to see, but the swirling sight dictates that temperatures will easily be below zero and the wind will sweep across the land. January is here… SEE MORE
Why Was 2012 Such a Great Year for Stripers in RI?
Before the season began I would have guessed that we were heading for a lean season as far as striper fishing was concerned here in Rhode Island. After all, the young of the year indexes from the Chesapeake Bay, those seining surveys that count juvenile stripers, had been poor for… SEE MORE
Maine's Working Harbors, a Precious Commodity
Two schooners coasted into Burnt Coat Harbor last season and gave us a lesson in sailing. We followed in the wake of the schooner American Eagle as it took us deep into the harbor, rounded up into the wind, and dropped its anchor, all under sail. Then later, the schooner… SEE MORE
Seeking Solitude on the St. George River
The small peninsula that encompasses the towns of Cushing and Friendship is a very quiet place where fishing is a huge part of everyday life. Pleasant Point Gut, down at the southern end of the peninsula where the St. George River empties out into Muscongus Bay, is a small harbor… SEE MORE
The Long, Salty Heritage of Gloucester
Few cities have played as important a role in America's commercial fisheries as Gloucester. These historic images, from the archives of Atlantic Fisherman and housed at the Penobscot Marine Museum, give a taste of this important harbor. SEE MORE
Exploring West Penobscot Bay's Working Waterfront
In the middle of December, when the sun sets far too early, the nooks and crannies, inlets and coves, of the eastern Maine coast seems as quiet as they will ever be. A diesel engine coming off the ocean rings incredibly clear through the early winter air. Seafood shops and… SEE MORE
Red Paint People to be Subject of Rockland Talk
The existence — and the disappearance — of the Red Paint People is one of the most interesting aspects of Maine history. The Friends of Maine's Seabird Islands is pleased to welcome an expert and author who will help shed some light on this ancient culture. Bruce Bourque, Maine State Museum… SEE MORE
Portrait of an Unknown Maine Fisherman
This gent is showing off periwinkle traps used in Biddeford Pool. Though this photo lacks the depth of context we typically like in our posts, we thought it was a striking portrait and couldn't resist sharing it. This image is from the Atlantic Fisherman collection housed at the Penobscot Marine… SEE MORE