April 2015 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 21. SEVENTIES MEMORIES: MEXICAN MILLIONS By Lee S. Wilbur


Early eighties, Congress in its unfath- omable way had allowed the Russians and other countries time to vacuum the waters of fi sh before fi nally passing the 200 mile limit. There was now a law and with this new “us-only” area came hope that Amer- ican fi sherman would fi nd a few missed somethings swimming within once fertile boundaries. Our boat business was soon taking orders for, and building small drag- gers, gill-netters, and offshore lobster boats based on the 46’ hull designed by Royal Lowell and moulded by Jarvis Newman. Word had spread rapidly. This was a good hull and one to be seriously considered. Wasn’t long but what another oppor- tunity came along. Being young and am- bitious and having read an ad in a trade publication looking for someone interested in exporting workboats, I called the num- ber. We talked about various possibilities, about our experience, and about how this gentleman had been in exporting and had been contacted by a company to set up an export branch with the goal of selling boats and expertise to other countries. By the end of the call I had agreed to assist in any way I could and that we would stay in touch. I also mentioned I would talk with Eric White at North End Marine in Rockland who were doing a lot of fi berglass work for us at the time and see if they might be inter- ested as well. A few weeks went by before I received another phone call. John, the export sales- man, had been in contact with a “Mexi- can industrialist” interested in setting up


a boatbuilding operation in Mazatlan on the west coast of Mexico who would like to fl y to Maine and spend some time with us. We agreed on some mutually open dates and John set up the visit. By now it was late fall and temperature was dropping fast. I assumed anyone coming to Maine would know it would be cold and neglected to mention bringing warm clothing. Plans were made to not only show them our shop and North End Marine’s but to also go to Portland and spend a few hours on a gillnetter. Father, two sons and a fi shing captain arrive in summer clothes. I showed them around the shop, introduced our crew, and took them aboard a few of the boats in progress. From the production area we looked at some blueprints I thought might be of interest. The youngest son proceeds to pull out of his jacket a holstered and loaded revolver and sets it on the table. I’m think- ing “What the hell is this all about and how did he manage to carry a gun on an interna- tional fl ight?”


“Protection for my father. He’s a wealthy man you know.” No, I didn’t know. Our wealthiest


didn’t need armed bodyguards. A kernel of doubt began to form in my innocent mind. In the course of the few days they were


with us, we fi rst sent them shopping for parkas, wool hats and warm pants. Spent more time going over plans, working on ideas with our draftsman and fi guring what an association might entail. Later toured North End’s shop and with Eric in tow went on to Portland for a short trip on the gill- netter. It was cold, really cold. They could


NEWS MAINE DMR Continued from Page 10.


to see this successful effort continue so they are willing to work with us to bring violators to justice.”


Recently released data from the DMR show that Maine’s scallop fi shery saw an- other year of increased landings and value in 2014 as it continues to rebuild from an all-time low of 33,000 pounds landed in 2005. Maine’s 438 active licensed draggers and divers landed an additional 78,335 meat pounds (without the shell) over 2013 for a total of 584,173 pounds. At $7,464,690, the value of the fi shery increased by more than $1.8 million. Sergeant Dow added that damaging the cable by dragging over it could have meant serious hardship for the island community. “This is the primary source of electricity for this island community,” said Dow. “It is a life line for those folks.” Lemoine not only faces the fi ne and jail time for dragging over a power cable, but also suspension of his license. Fines for the other violations total over $2000.


Rene Cloutier Promoted to Major of Maine Marine Patrol


March 13, 2015 - Rene Cloutier, a 21-year veteran of the Maine Marine Patrol, has been promoted to Major.


“Major Cloutier has earned the respect of everyone who has worked with him, from fi shermen to his colleagues in law enforcement and state government,” said Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish. “He has a wealth of resource experience and knowledge as well as a common sense ap- proach that will serve him well in this new leadership position.” As Major, Cloutier will serve as sec- ond-in-command to Colonel Cornish who was the Marine Patrol Major from 2013 until being promoted to Colonel in January, 2015. “Major Cloutier is a seasoned Marine


Patrol professional who has consistently set a high standard of excellence for himself and those around him throughout his ca- reer,” said Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher. “Rene has a deep passion to protect the resource while also ensuring a strong relationship with the industry. This has been a major asset for both enforcement and resource management.” Major Cloutier’s responsibilities in- clude operational fi eld command, as well as planning, coordinating, assigning, and over- seeing Marine Patrol enforcement activities. He will also coordinate responses to requests by other agencies, and represent the Marine Patrol on homeland security and other emergency preparedness issues. Prior to his promotion, Cloutier served two years as Lieutenant in Division I, which stretches from the New Hampshire border to the St. George River. As Lieutenant, Clout- ier was responsible for planning, directing, supervising and evaluating all Marine Patrol activities of the 16 Sergeants, Offi cers and Specialists in the Division.


Cloutier also served seven years as a Marine Patrol Sergeant based in West Boothbay Harbor where he supervised fi ve Marine Patrol Offi cers and one Boat Specialist. He was also responsible for the investigation and successful prosecution of numerous violations of lobster fi shery laws. Major Cloutier began his career in the Maine Marine Patrol in 1994, serving for seven years as a Marine Patrol Offi cer in Friendship before being promoted to Spe- cialist and working out of Rockland for fi ve years. His duties included operation and maintenance of the 46-foot Patrol Vessel GUARDIAN.


“Major Cloutier has held every position within Patrol and found success at each level,” said Colonel Cornish. “I’m confi dent that he will maintain that commitment to professional excellence in this new posi- tion.”


hardly walk for the warm clothing they’d continued to buy and put on. I was wearing a light parka and freezing. Guy running the net hauler had his sleeves rolled up. From the time we’d already spent to-


gether, it was quite apparent they enjoyed eating. So on our last night in Portland, Eric and I decided we’d take them to J’s Oyster Bar for dinner and drinks on us. In the meantime because of the apparent inter- est, we’d also agreed we would fl y to Mex- ico City and then out to Mazatlan and see if we could work out some ideas to supply them with boats and /or expertise. (hun- dreds of dories on up to draggers and gill- netters.) Dollar signs began to sparkle. At J’s that night the drinks fl owed and our new Mexican friends proceeded to order every- thing on the menu. Course after course after course. I think Eric and I stopped eating, hoping to somehow keep the fi nal check down. We’d have some explaining to do with bookkeeping.


Our trip to Mexico was to be a big deal. Owner of the export operation went with us to lend credence to the monetary side, showing this wasn’t some fl y by night venture and could possibility have backing through the International Monetary Fund. We fl ew into smog shrowded Mexico City to be picked up in two bulletproof Sub- urbans and from there fl ew to Mazatlan where we showed plans to fi shermen and an architect who worked for Manuel. We looked over the proposed boatbuilding site which was next to a steel boatbuilding yard Manuel was already involved with. Morn- ings we’d get up, wash our teeth in Heinek- en beer, (DON’T DRINK THE WATER) and Manuel would insist we have a big breakfast. Then we’d take a break around one, have a lavish noon meal of seafood be- ginning with mounds of fresh shrimp as an appetizer. One noon meal prepared over- looking the water and served under a can- vas awning, Manuel decided the half con- sumed baked fi sh wasn’t prepared just right and had the cooks do another. Siesta would follow. Then we’d gather again around six, work a few more hours and go out at nine for another huge meal. We, in the American contingent, were soon stuffed and spent si- esta breaks running or swimming, trying to work off a few calories and pretend again to be hungry and praise the cooking. Thank- fully, they had invited us. Returning to Mexico City, we had meetings with several representatives from


the Ministry of fi sheries as well as the Min- ister himself. It was soon apparent people in the Ministry offi ces were trying to look busy doing nothing. Some were cutting articles from publications. Others, sim- ply reading. Noone talking on telephones. Strange, and slightly disconcerting. During our conversation with the Minister, he was constantly dialing his telephone trying to place a call outside the building for an appointment with another ministry. Call never went through. Minister thanked us for coming yet no discussion was resolved nor thoughts of a direction to proceed. Fi- nally, we agreed Manuel would continue to explore further ideas and possibilities, we would go back to Maine and our day jobs. Mid-winter and I’m at the Miami


Boat Show. Manuel calls. “Can you come to Mexico. We’ll go to Acapulco. I want to introduce you to an acquaintance in the shrimp business who may need some boats.”


Perhaps this was the big break, but I


doubted it. With more than a little hesita- tion, however, I agreed to fl y down and meet the shrimp packer. I saw his plant, we talked briefl y about his needs for boats and what size and fl ew back to Maine. Some- thing just didn’t feel right. Throughout the entire process had run the thread that the Mexican Government would have plenty of money available from the sale of oil to pay for projects such as the ones we’d been discussing. However, we’d have to fi nd an international bank willing to handle the ini- tial loans.


In an effort to keep the proposition alive, I phoned one of our boat owners, an ex-assistant Secretary of Commerce, who was able to set up an appointment with the IMF for me and discuss funding. I fl ew to Washington for more meetings. Great learning experience. Not only did the bill from the law fi rm we had to hire bill us 150$ for the lunch for which they’d invit- ed me, but a few months later, the Mexican government was forced to devalue the peso and our “Mexican Million” was fl ushed down the drain.


In retrospect, Northend Marine and


Wilbur Yachts were fortunate. We could have made a commitment for which we had been liable and did not. Eric and I have, however, had a few good laughs about the experience over the years. “Always keep the day job until the next is an absolutely sure thing” remained my mantra.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31