Chapter 9 Summary

The second lobster war (1928-30) is inconsequential while the third in 1946 is short and ugly, depriving the islanders of profiting from the greatest single year in lobstering history, and the fourth (mid-1950s) consists of routine pushing. By tradition, families fish specific territories but everyone tries to bump others to enlarge his own empire. When the victim becomes annoyed, he issues a ritual warning, which the challenger either accepts and backs off or further challenges. Both spend hours and weeks calculating their opposing strengths and dedication to the cause. Lobstermen cannot be afford to get a reputation for passivity, for their livelihood depends on the catch. Younger men tend to be pushers and older ones cutters. On Fort Niles, Angus is the most aggressive and boastful cutter, issuing no warnings. He even cuts Stan's buoys and confronts him with the evidence, setting off...