Rockport, Mass. - Lobster Boat

"The Genny W. Leaving Sandy Bay - Rockport, Ma." (14"X18", Oil on Canvas, $550)

This is a painting done at the same time as the previous post - in the fall, before the lobster men stop for the season, usually in November. I don't know if that's because of a season permit or because of the migration of the lobsters, or just because trying to fish in these small open boats in winter too much of a nightmare. They usually pick it up again around March or April.

This view shows the line of expensive property on the waterfront leading to the mouth of the bay on the left. The road these properties face onto leads to The Headlands, which offers great views of the bay as well as out to sea. On the end of this road, to the right, is the house of Hannah Jumper. She's the woman who took it upon herself to lead a group of Rockport women around the town smashing up the taverns and pubs with hand axes. There was lots of drunkenness in Rockport in the very early days, and the result of her efforts is that Rockport is still a dry town. She's usually pictured in her black hoop skirts and bonnet, looking very stern and holding her hatchet. But I digress.

Anyway, lobstering is also a big feature of Rockport life and has been for generations. You can visit the Roy Moore Lobster Shack on Bearskin Neck to look at the live lobsters and choose your own to have cooked. I think it's great fun to look at the sea-spiders, some of them quite large (the biggest one I personally ever got and ate was from Roy Moore's - 6 pounds). I like the way they answer the phone at Roy's: "Moore Lobster!" You can also go to the Lobster in the Rough restaurant right next door to Roy's and eat the lobsters that somebody else chose for you to eat - also great fun. I'm sure this guy is going to sell some or all of his catch to Roy's or the LITR.