Page 75 of Homecoming

“Often, the bigger ones are breeders,” Kara said, “so we always return them to keep the stock healthy. Maine lobstering is among the most conservation-forward industries, and where a lot of fisheries have suffered from overfishing, our lobster industry is robust because of things done on boats like this one to preserve and protect the stock.”

“That’s awesome.”

“I heard one of Bertha’s friends say once that the goal is to not cut off our noses to spite our faces.”

“Makes sense.”

“Lobstering is a family tradition for most of these people.” She gestured to other boats they could see in the distance. “They want to leave a legacy they can hand down to their children and grandchildren.”

“Where’re you putting the ones you’re keeping?” Dan asked Bertha.

“Into a holding tank for now. Buster will move them to those plastic crates over there when we get back to port. They’re sold by weight, and everyone uses the same crates because they’re a standard weight. Makes things easier on the other end.”

“How many pounds will you bring in on an average day?”

“This time of year?” Buster said. “A couple hundred. Other times, we’re lucky to get fifty.”

“Every day is different,” Bertha said.

“My mom can’t bring herself to cook a lobster because you have to boil them alive,” Dan said, “and she can’t bear it.”

“We hear that a lot,” Bertha said. “There’s considerable debate about whether they can feel pain. I tend to think not, but others will disagree.”

“Ah, I see.”

“You want to try the banding, Dan?”

“I’d love to.”

“Are you a lefty or a righty?”

“Righty.”

“Okay, so you’ll grasp the lobster with your left hand. Then take the pliers with your right hand, grab a band and slide it onto the claw, like this.”

Easy enough, he thought, following her directions. With the lobster in hand, he reached for the pliers, managed to scoop up a band and had it heading for the lobster’s right claw when it flew off the pliers, causing Buster to duck lest he get hit in the face by it. “Whoops.”

While the other three laughed, he tried again, losing two more bands before he finally got one on the claw. That’s when he discovered that removing the pliers without taking the band off, too, was as much of a trick as getting it on in the first place.

“That’s much harder than it looks,” he said as he handed over the pliers to Bertha, since they didn’t have all day to wait on him.

He watched in amazement as she did six more claws in the time it’d taken him to do one.

“Tell him about the penises, Ma,” Buster said.

“What’s this you say?” Dan asked.

“Kara, why don’t you do the honors?” Bertha asked, smiling at her granddaughter.

Chapter

Sixteen

“Male lobsters have two penises,”Kara said, giggling when Dan waggled his brows.

“The better to love their ladies with.”

“Except they get things done in about eight seconds,” Bertha said.

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