Maine-ly Fish Prints Rope Story
Every door mat that we create tells a story of multiple different lobstermen. No two mats are ever the same. Every mat has a different story as to where the rope originated from. Each mat tells a little bit of Maine’s history while saving the environment.
Years ago, I lived in Boothbay harbor and met a handful of lobstermen. I was always taken back, by their true character and passion for their profession. I kept in touch with many of the lobstermen over the years, learning more about their line of work. After learning that once a lobstermen is done with their rope it ends up in a landfill, my eyes were opened and brain began to think of how long the rope would sit their.
Always carrying about the environment, my husband and I knew there must be a way to give this retired rope a second life. Most lobstermen have to pay to get rid of their rope at the dump or landfill, we began paying them for their rope. After we had gathered rope from our first lobstermen in Boothbay we began to create recycled products from the rope. After quickly running through our supply we began contacting more lobstermen for their used rope. We now travel from York, Maine all the way to St. George’s and beyond to gather rope to recycle.
Every rope mission as we call it, is a new adventure. We never know what color rope a lobstermen is going to have. Every lobsterman has their own preference of rope widths, colors and lengths. From season to season often this colors change. Like any market, lobsterman have their preferences of rope but also need to think with their wallet about what rope is the best investment for the season.
Every new season most lobstermen haul all of their pots also known as lobster traps out of the ocean and check their rope. Lobster men do this because with the high winds, long winter and rough seas most lobsterman want the rope that is going to guarantee to be sturdy holding their pots together. If a lobsterman doesn’t pick a sturdy rope, it wears very quickly on Maine’s rocky coastline. They make sure the rope doesn’t have snags, dry rot or been too damaged by the sun. If the rope has shown too many signs of wear and tear a lobstermen replaces the rope with new rope. If he doesn’t do this, he might potentially loose all his gear or catch.
When choosing a rope some lobstermen are very environmentally aware and choose rope that is recycled soda bottles or some lobster men chose rope that is bright enough to see and won’t be damaged by the sun. It’s all up to the lobstermen as to what color combination or rope works best for him to secure his livelihood.
Every door mat that we create tells a story of a multiple different lobstermen. No two mats are ever the same. Every mat has a different story as to where the rope originated from. Each mat tells a little bit of Maine’s history while saving the environment.