The Lobster Gangs of Maine

Winner of the American Association for State and Local History Award of Merit (1988)

James Acheson€s detailed account of lobstering in Maine quickly dispels notions that the lobstermen is the eastern version of the cowboy, struggling alone for survival against the elements. In reality, he writes, €œthe lobster fisherman is caught up in a thick and complex web of social relationships. Survival in the industry depends as much on the ability to manipulate social relationships as on technical skills.€ Acheson replaces our romantic image of the lobsterman with descriptions of the highly territorial and hierarchical €œharbor gangs,€ daily and annual cycles of lobstering, intricacies of marketing the catch, and the challenge of managing a communal resource.