Pistol –a lobster with no claws. If you look at a clawless lobster, you can almost see why, though it probably takes a little downeast logic to get there.
Gear – refers to a fisherman’s traps, line, buoys as in “I’m going to set my gear tomorrow” or “I’m going to shift my gear offshore.”
Shit poke- slang for the cormorant bird, a bird that can swim by diving underwater to take small fish and invertebrates.
Funny eye- refers to a laced in head opening instead of the more typical hoop.
Pocket – refers to a bait bag, which is the knitted bag fishermen put their bait – herring, Redfish, Pogies – in before it goes in their trap.
Rope wrench – knife.
Cull – a one clawed lobster – they are usually cost less on a per pound basis.
Bait iron – the long metal rod with a handle used to pit bait/bait bags in trap.
Spudger- slang for bait iron.
Scrid- little or nothing as in “there’s not a scrid of pie left for me!”
Chix – this is short for chicken and refers to a one pound lobster. Like a cull, it often yields a lower price.
Go to Haul – going lobstering as in “I’m going to haul tomorrow”
Broke down “George can’t go to haul because he’s broke down”
Dooryard – front yard
Select – larger lobster, 13/4lbs+ typically yields a higher price.
“From away” – most of you reading this piece – anyone not from Maine (and to be from Maine your family has to go back at least 3 generations….)
Oilers – the gear fishermen wear hauling – Grundens, etc.
Hard Tellin’ – This one is just what you think, as in “Hard tellin’ what the season will bring.”
Corker – something amazing remarkable – “it was a corker of a day. Ayuh.”
Ayuh – if you don’t know this one…you need to visit Maine!
