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Page 6. MAINE COASTAL NEWS May 2011 A LOBSTER TRUCK DRIVER'S RECOLLECTIONS By Arthur S. Woodward


“Want to go to Boston?” That could be a typical question that Dad (Vernal) would ask me at his wharf in the morning. My answer would typically be, “Sure! What time?” That would mean he’d just gotten off the phone with a lobster dealer from Grand Manan, NB, Canada, or a dealer in Boston. Boston that day/night would be the destination for a truckload of lobsters, and the place to load could be our wharf in Beals, Maine, the wharf in Welch Pool, Campobello, NB, Canada, or some lobster pound in the Beals or Jonesport area. So, I’d get the details for the trip and plan my time accordingly.


If I would be loading at home or around home I’d probably go up to Addison to the icehouse, on the County Road, Route 1, and have Ralph Look put a ton of ice in the body to cool it down before loading. Canadian boats brought in lobsters to our wharf. Some- times we’d have 200 - 300 crates floating there.


If I had to go to Campobello then we’d have the truck loaded with empty crates so they could be taken back to Grand Manan. On the way down east I’d stop at the ice house and get some ice and then go on to Campo, to meet the boat from Grand Manan. The crates would be unloaded on the wharf at Welch Pool. The boat loaded with lobsters would arrive. They’d hoist (said “heist”) the crates up to the tailgate of the truck and we’d pile the crates, say four across and six high. In our bigger trucks we could take 144 crates, which equates to 14,400 pounds of live lobsters. Whether leaving from Campobello or some other place I’d stop at the ice house, no matter what time it was, and have Ralph put in two or three tons of ice for the trip to Boston. Then I’d pull out onto U. S. Route 1 and head for Boston, some 290 miles away, or


about six hours driving time. The trip usually would be so predictable, barring any prob- lems, that I could tell what the arrival time would be in Boston within minutes. Before we go on with more memories of trucking lobsters, let me give a little of my background.


As a boy growing up in Beals I was fascinated with trucks and with lobster trucks in particular. I always enjoyed riding and traveling and as I got older Dad would tell me he was going to get me a job selling cookies so I could travel around. Of course he was joking, but he recognized my penchant for travel, particularly if I was driving. I got my Maine license when I was 15.


When I was in the U. S. Army, in addition to my regular duties, I went to Army Driving School and obtained my military driver’s li- cense. On off times from my radar duties I’d make assigned trips, many times in the 10 wheeler “deuce and a half” Army trucks. When I was growing up we had lobster smacks and we transported lobsters by wa- ter, in bulk in the well. The smacks were phasing out about the time Lois and I were married in 1956. Trucks were then doing much of the transportation of lobsters. So, we had the wet well taken out of our smack and converted her to a sardine carrier. And, Dad bought a second hand International six wheeler that would carry maybe 8,000 pounds of lobsters.


After the International we got a new F- 700 Ford six wheeler that would carry perhaps 12,000 pounds. That F-700 was named “Miss Ann”, after our little daughter, Ann. Addi- tional trades and purchases brought in Chevy C-60s and more Ford 700s, which were named “Ann and Steve”, in a succession that had Roman numerals added as new ones came on line. Steve is our son, and he’s 26


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months younger than his sister. Too, we had nice professional lettering on the doors and a big block W on the front of the boxes. The bigger trucks had trailing dollies to make them 10 wheelers, and they would carry 144 crates, 14,400 pounds of lobsters, and had a gross vehicle weight of over 40,000 pounds. The trucks each had a big V-8 gasoline engine, coupled to a 5 speed transmission and a 2 speed rear end, giving 10 forward speeds. The trucks had cast metal spoke wheels. The bodies were covered with aluminum and in- sulated and sheathed inside with plywood, and the flooring was wood planking. There were drain holes (scuppers) in the floor so that fresh water from the ice melting couldn’t build up and kill any lobsters. The big rear doors swung from the rear corners of the body so as to open the entire end of the body. Our trucks did not have refrigerated bodies. Since they weren’t reefers we used ice to cool the lobsters in warm weather, and kerosene lanterns provided sufficient heat to keep the chill off the lobsters in winter. I drove the trucks only in summer, so I didn’t have to deal with lanterns.


There were several men from around home that drove for Dad. The trucks were on the road year round. They ranged from Prince Edward Island to New York.


Lobsters were packed and transported in wooden crates, 100 pounds to a crate. Spruce probably would be the wood of choice. The wooden slats were a few inches wide and about ½” to ¾” thick, with spaces in between for circulation. They had a heavy rope becket in each end. The covers were tied shut with two sets of ties. In those days we had never heard of plastic lobster crates.


Owners of crates would often mark the ends of their crates, but that made little difference. An admixture of owners would be seen in about any pile or load of crates. The dimen- sions of a crate would be approximately 30x20x16 inches. A dry crate weighed about 30 - 35 pounds. A wet crate with 100 pounds of lobsters in it would weigh about 140 pounds. Many times we’d pick up ûlled wet crates by ourselves.


In the late 1950s and early 1960s Lois and I were teaching in New Jersey. As teachers we did not get paid during the summer. I, of course, continued teaching after Ann and Steve were born, but she had stopped teach- ing before Ann was born. So, probably after a visit to Butler, PA, with Gram and Gramp Flick, we’d go home to Beals and spend much of the summers with Mom (Thelma) and Dad and we all would enjoy the family times to- gether. Grandchildren Ann and Steve, of course, got the royal treatment and had the run of the house. I worked for Dad, buying lobsters and all that entailed, and driving the company trucks. I made a lot of trips. Lois had great help with the children, and we had very enjoyable summers. It wasn’t until a few years later when I was a high school principal that I had a 12 month contract and got paid year round.


* * * * *


Instead of connecting all of the follow- ing recollections together I’m going to make them a series of short stories. These vi- gnettes will tell the story when taken in the overall concept. They will transport the reader into the world of a lobster truck driver.


Continued on Page 21.


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