East of the Hague Line

Maine's rugged coastline is made up of more than three thousand miles of bays, inlets, coves, and craggy peninsulas. Such wild and dangerous terrain has a way of creating isolated, close-knit communities that value neighborly courtesy over the law of the land. The men who live in such seaside towns have one thing in common: a love-hate relationship with the wild waters, where careers have been made and lives lost. The men of the Jubilee are among these brave fishermen, whose wives wait at home, hopeful for a big catch and yet fearful for the lives of their loved ones. Written by a retired fisherman, East of the Hague Line takes a close, personal look at what it takes to be an offshore fisherman in the unpredictable North Atlantic. Through the eyes of old ship hands and green crewmen, boys become men-and sometimes men end up dead. Life is not only lived on the water, though. Being a man of the sea involves certain intrigue and deals made in seedy shore side bars. The life of a fisherman is dependent on a good catch, but what happens when the fish don't bite? Sometimes, good men must look the other way in order to turn a profit. Sometimes, illegal avenues must be walked in the exciting life of a seaman-a life that could end up behind bars or at the bottom of the sea.