164 ABOUT LOBSTERS 



Of course, it may be necessary to switch buyers but the 

 top-liner does this infrequently. A man who has a record 

 of often changing jobs is a poor bet for any employer, and 

 so is the lobsterman who changes his agent often. 



It is not easy to pull up stakes and move to another 

 port, but it is better to start under the best conditions, for 

 once you have learned your fishing grounds it will be a hard 

 job to locate the best reefs, etc., out from another port. 



Another consideration is the number of lobstermen fish- 

 ing out of your port. There are too many lobstermen in 

 Maine as it is; there are so many that only a few can earn 

 a decent living. And there are only so many lobsters to be 

 caught. 



So if there are two lobstermen for each lobster caught, 

 there is little profit in fishing out of your home port. Educate 

 yourself on what harbors are most promising. The Depart- 

 ment of Sea and Shore Fisheries can help you (not just the 

 wardens, they know only one section of the coast), if you 

 write to Augusta. 



Two other facts to investigate: Can spare parts for your 

 motor be procured nearby? Is there a dependable source 

 of bait? 



For: 



You have heard the " outs " of becoming a lobsterman, 

 now consider the advantages. 



It is a life of independence. 



This is very important to many a man, and perhaps 

 more so than usual to Maine men. Your pioneer stock had 

 to stand alone and the trait has not been bred out. It 

 seems to be common to many men in small coast towns to 

 rebel against working for a boss; they are not happy in 

 supervised or confining work, and no man does his best if 

 he is not happy in his work. 



If this independence is a strong part of your nature and 

 you live by the sea, there isn't much choice in what work 

 will suit you best. 



