Lobster Trophies

A shed festooned with lobster buoys is a common sight all along the northern coast. It’s a decorative thing. These weathered grey and brown shacks storing the gear make a striking image with the brightly colored bobs hanging on them. This practice has a historical origin. Every licensed lobsterman has their own distinctive color markings that identify their buoys and waters. The waters are territorial, and if a lobsterman lets his traps drift into neighboring waters, his neighbor would cut the lines and hang the buoys on his shed as a warning and a mark of shame.