Urchin fishing in Maine

[gfisher4792]

Interesting little article: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...753&e=4&u=/ap/20040928/ap_on_sc/urchin_season

 

[Chebby]

There is only one type of sushi I hate - urchins. Eww...

 

[MSilvia]

I wouldn't eat that stuff on a dare, and I'll eat almost anything. Blech.

I had a housemate who was an urchin diver when I lived in Lubec, Maine back in the early 90's. He made good money at it, but most of his stories were about the piss-poor skills and dangerous attitudes of some of the other divers he saw out there. More than a few people have waded out of the gene pool doing this stuff, and it isn't rocket science.

The tricky part comes when a year's livelihood depends on it, and it makes it hard for folks in one of the nation's poorest counties to call a dive for bad weather, a head cold, malfunctioning gear, etc. Stuff nobody in their right mind would do for a recreational dive got done in recreational gear in the interest of making some money while the season was open.

 

[adshepard]

I wouldn't eat that stuff on a dare, and I'll eat almost anything. Blech.

I had a housemate who was an urchin diver when I lived in Lubec, Maine back in the early 90's. He made good money at it, but most of his stories were about the piss-poor skills and dangerous attitudes of some of the other divers he saw out there. More than a few people have waded out of the gene pool doing this stuff, and it isn't rocket science.

The tricky part comes when a year's livelihood depends on it, and it makes it hard for folks in one of the nation's poorest counties to call a dive for bad weather, a head cold, malfunctioning gear, etc. Stuff nobody in their right mind would do for a recreational dive got done in recreational gear in the interest of making some money while the season was open.

You lived in Lubec? Cool!

Bought a house there this year. Spent summer diving the area. Best diving in New England. Dove there this past weekend and headed back up Columbus Day weekend.

As for urchin diving/fishing it's a killer indeed. Lots of work, multiple dives per day in cold water with heavy current. Very exhausting and tough way to make a living.

DSDO

Alan

 

[mello-yellow]

There is only one type of sushi I hate - urchins. Eww...

Not me. In Dominican Republic they have big urchines with very short spines; I found one the size of a large cantaloupe. It was not a "food dive", but I was not going to pass that one up! As I carried that thing across the beach to the bar, several old Frenchmen with little or no English, tried to explain to me with great enthusiasm how exactly to cut it, and which parts to eat. All the Americans were looking on in horror...

Its roe tasted quite good.

 

[MSilvia]

Must be an acquired taste.

 

[MSilvia]

You lived in Lubec?

Not exactly. I lived in Trescott township, off a fire road about halfway between Lubec and Whiting.

It was nice having a 5 bedroom house on 75 acres of waterfront property with a mountain view. Especially since the rent was $400 a month and we split it 4 ways!

 

[Green_Manelishi]

it makes it hard for folks in one of the nation's poorest counties

Which makes it even more difficult to "appreciate" Maine-achusetts' heavy tax burden. Maine learned its lesson well from the "mother country", NAZI-chusetts, and adopted many of its attitudes toward taxes.

"Welcome to Maine - the Way Life should be" is not funny.

FWIW ... I've lived in MA, ME and NH so I know the situation.
God willing I will someday return to America (NH).

 

[ShakaZulu]

Leave it scavenger man, to find everything possible out that that he can eat and destroy, unreal.........

 

[MSilvia]

Maine ...adopted many of its attitudes toward taxes.

I got a speeding ticket in Maine one time (okay, four times), and had to pay a 10% tax on the fine! :11: