I must say it is a small world! I had just finished a trip to Maine and was back in the NW and made a trip to Vancouver, BC, I walked into the Hotel, Pan Pacific and order a drink at the bar, I had just sat down and noticed this very handsome man over to my left.
In conversation we talked about Maine and he said he was brought up on an Island off the coast of Maine, I said really he said yes, Matinicus Island! I told him I had just been there and talked to a lot of the Island folks and got there story.
I asked what is your name he said Gordon Ames, I said no kidding a lot of the people over there talked about you.
Gordon: Really nothing good I bet?
Gordon, what happened over there and why are you here?
Gordon: Well I was raised there and went to High School at a boarding school, then went to Maine Maritime but ran out of money so couldn't afford to stay in that school and my folks had no money, and things were not where you could get school money then, so I had to quit and go to the Coast Guard, I had great grades at Maine Maritime and soon as I got in the Coast Guard went right up the ladder in rank and made E-5 then got promoted to Captain of the Port job, inspecting oil tankers and looking for drug dealers etc. If I had stayed in I was up for warrant officer but I had to put more time in and I said no, I got other things to do. So what you doing in Vancouver?
As a woman I was more and more interested in this guy tall full head of hair and green eyes and did not look like he was more then late 40's found out later he was 57.
I asked what happened then?
Gordon: Well I got out of the Coast Guard and went back home to lobster fish, I got a loan from the bank because i was a Vet. and bought a small boat and built some gear and went fishing moved my then wife from England to the Island and started fishing it was great at first but soon as I got there was told by the local lobster buyer, Vance Bunker that he would not buy my lobsters? Never did find out why, because I never had done a thing to the guy and just thought the world of him and his wife, Judy,she later died of cancer.
So I built my own lobster float and packed my lobsters to the mainland.
Then what happened?
Gordon: well I brought two cars to the Island but the people out there soon sugared them so they would not run, now my parents lived on the Island as well.
Then I bought a house and a share of harbor point and two other acres of land up on the Island so I owned now three different places and my folks owned so thought that would make everyone happy.Becouse they were all saying you had to own property and have been brought up there to fish the waters, so I bought property!
Well did it?
Gordon: No they just broke into my place and stole the appliances and smashed the windows out found out later it was ,Gary Vandyne he was one of my relatives married my Aunt.
They tossed shit in a bucket in my skiff and did all kinds of awful things until I realized, why am I putting up with this when I could live on the Mainland, so I moved and kept my property on the Island so as to have fishing rights there.
So then what happened?
Gordon: I got a new fishing boat a 40' wooden boat and went fishing even further off the island this time running from the mainland and fishing about 50 mile out no where near these people from the Island and at the time I had about 1200 pots in the water and another 1200 on the bank. Had two stern men and went fishing everyday, I did keep some gear on the west side of the Island near Batom Ledge, and Foster Ledge and green Island channel just to keep a presents near the Island but by this time I was way off shore.
So what happened then?
Gordon: Well I was fishing mostly now in the winter and it was really cold over there, One day I caught Lavon Ames Jr. stealing some of my gear he hauled it on and moved it to another location. I just figured, Oh ,well let it go! I just hauled my gear where he put it and kept fishing.
Next thing I new Lavon had stolen some of my gear and put his bouys on it, now the guy fishing with him was a long time child hood friend Clayton Philbrook.
So as time goes on I'm down off shore I come up to the Island from offshore early one morning with the sun at my back and right in there eyes and there Is Clayton and Lavon seeing me coming they start pitching my buoys over the side and now I realize these guys have been up to no good and sure enough they had just cut off 150 of my lobster pots. Or traps!
So what did you do?
I was taken back because here is my child hood friend and my Dad's long time friend cutting off my traps for no reason just they didn't like the fact that I was making a very good living and up until then had done nothing to them and never thought of doing anything to them.
So I called my Dad and said hey, I just caught Lavon Jr. cutting my gear and they were pitching the buoys when I came out of the early morning sun from down off shore to the south.
You had plenty more traps?
Gordon: Yes but the pain of seeing those guys doing that to me was awful.
So then what happened?
Gordon: Well I went fishing off shore and lobsters were $4 a pound and I was catching a 1000 to 2000 pounds a day and fishing in the worse part of the winter ice and all and none of these guys were fishing at this time there were no lobsters up around the Island.
They had there spy's watching me unload at night and they just got so jealous, me making all that money so jealous that I came in one night, Jan. 9th, 1980 at about 10PM cold around zero and unloaded about 1500 pounds and went home. About midnight I got a call from one of the people that live on the harbor saying they heard pounding of hammers on my boat!
What did you do?
Gordon: I grabbed my gun and called Steve Waterman and a few other guys and drove to the harbor in Spruce Head, Maine and went right aboard my boat and found that someone had used a maul and smashed into my cabin and engine room and smashed up my engine, a diesel!
So what happened then?
Gordon: I figured it must be Lavon, found out later it was Max Ames, Lavons son and another son of Lavons, Lavon bisquit Ames III, that smashed up my boat and engine.
Funny thing is I didn't even fish any where near them and was fishing no where near any Matinicus Island fisherman I was so far off shore.
Lavon and Clayton Philbrook was so jealous of me and the money I was making they just could not help themselves they had to work me over.
I never hurt any of those guys just fished off shore minding my own business and owned more property on Matinicus then they did, so that was not something they could say about me.
Seemed every time they did something I just did better Lobstering, they just couldn't stand the fact that as much as they did to me I still did well.
So then what happened?
Gordon: Well my insurance company paid to put a new engine in my boat and my wife and I went to England sold the boat and left. Later we moved out west USA and I suffered with depression and we got divorced, had some real hard times had to be helped by a church we went broke lost everything!
My kids and I and first wife have really suffered because of those guys over there in Maine they are just no good! I understand that Max died of brain cancer later so he got paid back.
My kids my then wife my parents and grandparents all suffered because of what happened.
Had I been there fishing and making the good money that was to come the way I fished my family would have been in great shape because I would have helped them all out but I was on skid row and we all lost because of it.
Matinicus , has got some pretty bad people, it is a great place to be from!
So looks like you have recovered?
Gordon: Yes god has been good to me since, I have a new wife from China, a Ballerina and performing arts teacher here at Vancouver, BC and we are very happy, but I wouldn't give you a plug nickel for that Matinicus and the people they almost killed me and my family.
Well Gordon , I must say you have a beautiful wife and look to be a lucky man and age has not caught up with you yet.
Gordon's wife Kimberly is just a lady she looks like a China Doll and for all he went through looks like God is blessing him now!
Small world we are in, funny I should run into a guy from Maine in Vancouver BC??
GOD! ??
4,939 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 4939 Newer› Newest»I don't believe Gordon smoked cigarettes let alone Mary J!
Gordon was pretty straight, maybe a drink once in awhile
How I remember him.
No, I'm not an attorney, but I play one on TV! :)
lawyers the most hated in the country,
they rate behind most evryone.
world war and the only thing left will be lawyers and cock rouches!
A judge was annoyed to find that his car wouldn't start. He called a taxi, and soon one arrived at his house.
Climbing in, he told the driver to take him to the halls of justice. "Where are they," asked the driver.
"You mean to say that you don't know where the courthouse is?" asked the incredulous judge.
"The courthouse? Of course I know where that is." replied the driver. "But I thought you said you wanted to go to the 'halls of justice.'"
this is boring...i'm all done!
I hope the State tracks down these NSKK GANG MEMBERS and makes them pay for there wrong doings!
Matinicus if your hiding some be on notice.
Hey guys on the mainland Vance Bunkers bouys colors are yellow and black.
Go out and cut his gear off for voting like that.
their going to regulate us right out of business
zone c is a joke
The fighting never stops in the lobster business.
But Matinicus is one of the most famous fighting spots on the Maine Coast! :) :)
I got to say we finally found someone with balls enough to tell the world what Matinicus is really like!
Way to go!
Gordon tells it like it is and others join in, Glad to see some one have the guts to tell on these assholes out there on Matinicus.
They hurt my family bad years before Gordon.
Thank God for the internet!
ZONE C ZOne C Zone C zone c
Not Zone C
Matinicus is the Twlight Zone twlight zone twlight zone music >>>...........
Price dropping on Lobsters!
No money out there!
With off-the-boat prices as low as $2.60 a pound this week, some lobstermen say they're ready to pursue different careers. Some dealers bracing for the loss reportedly are suggesting the lobstermen set fewer traps, which would create artificial scarcity and likely push prices upward.
"People will be getting out of this business."
He said some wharfs are not buying lobsters.
"That's never happened before," he said. "I've never seen it."
He said the major processing plants require a lot of credit to operate and they're not getting it now due to the financial market crisis.
Fishermen are only receiving about $2 per pound, he said.
"$2 a pound is catastrophic," he said.
Get ready Matinicus you have only one way to make a living, Lobsters!
This maybe pay back time.
Should have let Victor fish, don't be so greedy.
Not good that's for sure!
Gordon maybe right Matinicus you should have listened 28 years ago.
Instead you went with Vance Bunker and the boys of the Gang and now you have nothing to fall back on!
Lobstermen -- and all those who count on them -- say they are basically victims of supply and demand and the world economy. The price has dropped dramatically -- at exactly the best fishing month of the year.
Bob Baines, chair of the Lobster Advisory Council, said, "It's as bad as it's ever been, it's unprecedented. Guys are not making the money they need to make to get through the winter."
Bob calls it a kind of perfect economic storm. Canadian processors buy 70% of Maine's lobster. Their freezers are full and lobster's not selling because of the poor economy. A number of Canadian companies are now caught up in the financial trouble in Iceland. The crisis is costing the entire Maine economy a fortune.
Where is Gordon to comment on this?
The worldwide economic crisis is to blame. Traditionally, most Maine lobster are sold to Canadian processors at this time of year. However, many of those processing plants have shut down in recent weeks because they were financed by Iceland-based banks, which have collapsed.
At the same time, the lobsters are hitting like crazy, creating a glut of product – and lobstermen are paying near-record fuel and bait prices.
It all adds up to one of the toughest times the industry has ever seen, Somers said.
"People feel out of control. Events are happening that they don't understand, and they're shocked at how quickly the impact of this is felt at the Main Street level," Somers said. "This has been sudden and fierce and hard for people. It's like being hit by a hurricane."
Well Matinicus all I can say is you should have had something other then lobsters to make a living. Maybe should have been more into having tourist and encouraged that business?
Vance Bunker, Lavon Ames Jr., Lavon Biscuit Ames, Clayton Philbrook, and others Like, Max Ames, Ronald K. Ames, and Edward Spencer.
Wanted me out of the business and they formed their little Gang and recruited the likes of Austin Ames, Mark Ames and David Ames, Robert Young and started their little campaign and drummed me out of the area by intimidation.
Sooner or later the Karma will come back on them and some have already gone to Hell where they belong and the rest will follow soon.
These guys are no good to the core and they're a washed up old motorcycle gang the NSKK, they're all a bunch of old has been's now, but the past is still out there and will come back to haunt them! The sins of the fathers will cause them all some trouble including the generations to come.
If your thinking of going to Matinicus ?? >> Don't, find some other place to go, the devil lives on Matinicus.
Have a good one,
Sincerely,
Gordon Ames
That NSKK motorcyle gang headed by RK Ames:
Story goes that in the late 70's, that RK got mad at one of his pal's he calls his brothers in the motorcycle gang.
They go to this guy's house and crush his balls kicking him in the crotch and rape his wife in front of him.
The guy is so fearful that he does not press charges and the motorcyle gang go free.
RK Ames is a bad cat.
If you go against them in any way they would attack your family or something that is important to you.
So the story about Gordon's boat I would say is true.
If someone wants to investgate futher just look up Leeann Ames.
Okay people. I know who JL is and she isn't Ellen. Her name was JODEY JARVELLA (sp?) She married some guy she met on Matinicus while he was out there constructing something and they moved to CT and had kids. I don't know what her last name is now. She had spent the summer trying to get back w/ Biscuit and he didn't want her because at the time he had a girlfriend and two kids that he adored. Not to mention the fact that years ago they had dated and she tried to get him for rape after something happened at the Navigator. Anyway, she is an idiot and doesn't know shit about shit so I wouldn't pay any attention to what she has to say. She was nothing more then a summer jerk that only returned to the island (usually w/ her cousin, Missy) to try and stir up shit. She may have a total of 2 friends out there and they don't really like her either! TROUBLE MAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Trust me, I know! :-)
I new that JL was a flake just didn't know how bad.
She sure was trearing into Gordon and didn't even know him!
Go figure???
She better not come back to the Island, we don't need her here.
Jody was good friends w/ Claytons kids (even though she is about 20yrs older then them! I guess that shows her mentality?) and spent time in Claytons house and at one point lived w/ Claytons daughter. She never got over her relationship with Biscuit Ames, even though she is married. She simply sees dollar signs in that relationship. Maybe she is hoping that Biscuit will read her ignorant posts and want her back! hehehehe! Wishful thinking on her part.......she's to old for him.....he likes them in their early 20's!
Well that explains her comments about Gordon!
JL has been living and sleeping with Biscuit and Clayton and hanging around with Clayton's kids.
How cozy!
JL is actually good people. She's long over Biscuit and very happily married. She never had anything with Clayton! That's bologne! She has found happiness and I'm happy for her. Let's keep the focus on the person that initiated doing all the slandering of island folk. Mr. GORDON AMES, himself. He's the instigator in all of this. Don't get side-tracked and put JL as the scapegoat.
Speaking of stirring the pot, what about JOE BRAY! He and his wife, Diana, have been calling LURC EVERY WEEK for MONTHS about Craig and the Centennial. Now, LURC and DEP are all over the entire island like flies on shit. You can thank JOE BRAY when you get a bill from the state saying you are in violation with regards to your gray water, out-houses, outdoor showers, etc. They've already been out and started the process. Don't be surprised when they come knocking on your house/cottage/sternman apartment and hand out violations. Thanks SO much JOE! We can give all of our bills to JOE BRAY! Pay back will indeed, be a bitch! And he's playing dumb, saying he's the only one who gave his name; that there have been numerous calls from people about Craig. It's just Joe and Diana who've been calling LURC. Heard it from an inside source. He's had it out for Craig for a long time. Why? Stay tuned!
Wait until the DEA and the Coast Guard get done over hauling us.
After this blog.
Just wait that is coming to!
violations. Thanks SO much JOE! We can give all of our bills to JOE BRAY! Pay back will indeed, be a bitch! And he's playing dumb.
Some is threating again this is Matinicus for ya!
Watch out Joe the Matinicus Gang will get you!~
OH! that's right you have had a go round with them before.
Just tell whoever is threating that they need to bring it on!
Oh they might burn your house down or sink your boat, whatever!
JL is actually good people. She's long over Biscuit and very happily married. She never had anything with Clayton! That's bologne! She has found happiness and I'm happy for her.
JL is a BITCH, She Is the one who started this BS on here, JL if you would have kept your mouth shut we wouldn't be here now and Gordon would have just gone away. Just where we wanted him and his family gone.
They are gone now his Mom and Dad are in the cemetary and his sister is someplace in Maine and Gordon is out West.
No more mental illness on the Island we got rid of them and a possible gene that might have popped up!
Gilbert was a good guy but mental and we didn't want that around here!
Watch out for R K Ames, he was a second cousin to Gilbert, R K 's Mom was a first cousin to Gilbert.
Gene might be in Ronald K Ames's family as well. :) :)
they's all related. instead of a family TREE, it's more like a root-ball!
what a inter bred bunch!
Gilbert had a couple of nervous break downs but you have to have some brains for that. He was appointed to the Navy Academy and graduated three years early from High School.
Most of the ones making comments on here had a hard time getting thru High School.
Shows you the IQ of Matinicus.
Don't have to be smart to be a drug dealer! most out there are drug dealers!
Say it aint so Joe!
Did you call the EPA?
Oh, no say it aint so!
No Joe, OH!
It is so, says Joe!
Poor Joe back to fighting with the locals.
Joe will never be a local in their eyes, he can't out live them.
Sorry Joe, say it aint so, back to war with the locals.
If they piss you off Joe just call the DEA.
they's all related. instead of a family TREE, it's more like a root-ball!
My fiance and I refer to it as the "Ames Family Wreath!" Hehehe!
I dont know whats wrong with you people!!!! Almost everyone you want to talk a bunch of crap about here is my family. That bullshot comment about my uncle Max getting what he had coming to him becuase he got brain cancer is one of the worst things I have ever heard!!! Do you have any idea what his death did tou my family? What it did to my father? You need to shut the fuck up about them , just becuase you couldnt hack it on the island doesnt give you the right to be degrading to those who can. You think your the first to cave traps cut and shit left in your boat and windows busted out! Gary VanDyne happens to be another uncle of mine, who I also live very much, who I happen to know has a very big heart and I can't believe how unbelievably immature the comments about him are. i hope Karma comes right back around and bites you all in the ass because its what people like you deserve.
I would say Karma already got Vonnie and Max and Gary Vandyne.
Those fuckers were no good and did a lot of awful things that you don't know anything about but believe me they did some terrible things to people and got their reward when karma came back and bite them in the ass.
Sorry to hear you feel hurt but I hope for your sake that it is not a curse that goes down through the family line.
It says in the bible that the sins of the fathers will be felt for generations to come!
at least monica is brave enough to say her name! and yes, your uncle max was a very charming man. don't know loon as well, but i love his kids. not all of us wrote bad stuff about your family. sorry you're feeling so offended. i don't blame you, though!
notice that the last person to write (just before my entry) doesn't mention his name...we all know it's GORDON! here he is going on and on about the bible, yet he enjoys hearing about other's poor health and circumstances. shame on him! not a real christian thing of him!
Well to the last comment:
I notice that everyone is so scared that Gordon is doing some anonynous posting, that is so funny to think that you people are still worried about Gordon!
He has friends that post on here and I know you hate the fact that someone likes him!
I did notice that when Gordon gets on here he always says who he is!
There are many of us on here and we have a right to our opinion.
Max was an ASS and was in the NSKK he went down the wrong road and paid a very heavy price for it!
Sorry that we all don't see it your way!
To the smart Ass that thought I was Gordon if your so brave why don't you say who you are and maybe Gordon will join us!
I'm sure he will disclose himself.
at least monica is brave enough to say her name! and yes, your uncle max was a very charming man. don't know loon as well, but i love his kids. not all of us wrote bad stuff about your family. sorry you're feeling so offended. i don't blame you, though!
notice that the last person to write (just before my entry) doesn't mention his name...we all know it's GORDON! here he is going on and on about the bible, yet he enjoys hearing about other's poor health and circumstances. shame on him! not a real christian thing of him!
October 29, 2008 4:09 PM
This is that stupid JL again.
She just wants to be a hero to Biscuit so she can crawl in bed with him again.
She is so Cheap!
Don't pay any attention to her!
Actually, it wasn't JL who wrote that. I know JL and have nothing against her, nor Max, nor Loon.
Well, if it wasn't JL it was some stupid woman with the same type of personality!
I;m glad you had nothing against Loon and Max, still doesn't take away the fact they both went down the wrong path.
Max paid the ultimate price and Loon looks like something from the book the Ring.
Either way you sound like a stupid woman that was taken in by charm, hey, Max was a charmer and so is RK but that does not make them good people.
Gordon Ames here:
Well, I'm out of the country right now but got on to see what is being said, interesting how someone expressed the desire to clean up any mental problems on the Island.
I guess I was not to far off on the NSKK it sounds pretty much the same type of cleaning that Hitler wanted to do in Germany. To those that on one side, say how much they loved my parents and on the other cursing my Dad and wanting to rid the Island of any and all siblings that may have the gene. Come on you hypocrites!
I can see why, some would be offend, Dad's IQ was way to high for Matinicus, as was my Mom's and my sister's she is in the top 10% in the USA in the honor society awards from college, I never failed a subject in High School or college and they say I have and IQ over 120, my sister is over 130 and our Dad's was said to be by the doctors over 150.
Probably none out there on the Island would want anyone around that smart.
The price some of these NSKK members and asso paid and are paying says it all, seems it would have been better to just get along.
Sorry to hear in the news about the young guy, sounds like lost his life in the ocean out there, my Dad always told me the ocean is not forgiving and it sure is, my condolences go out to his family and all that are affected by such a tragedy.
Life is not fair sometimes and makes us all wonder why do things happen but we just have to keep going until it is our turn to go. No reverse gears in our life.
I hoped when this post got started by Sunny that this would expose the evil that I encountered on the Island and around it, some have gotten away from the main focus but with some of the comments seems that nothing has changed out there on the Rock.
Seems that God has contained some pretty nasty people on a little rock in the Atlantic for a reason.
Unfortunately some get caught in the web and get eaten by the others out there.
I'm glad I got to tell my side of the story as to what happened to me there on the Island, I'm sure that some that live out there now can relate, because they probably have experienced something like what I went through.
Happy Halloween! 2008
Well Happy 2009!
Gordon Ames Here!
I see where Victor is doing well in his case against Matinicus Island Fisherman Group and it is about time someone brought them up short on there evil ways out there on Matinicus.
Victor never hurt any of these people and was always a gentleman if anyone needed anything he was always there,it is a crying shame that they treated Victor this way in his later years.
Victor was always ready to help with his plane and boats whenever needed and never really got angered or hurt anyone on Matinicus,
to bad they treated him like this I have great respect for the man I known him for 58 years.
opinions/kravchuk/2008/MJK_11192008_1-08cv289_Ames_v_MarineResources.pdf.
Google automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the web.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTDISTRICT OF MAINE VICTOR AMES, ) )Plaintiff,))v. ) Civil No. 8-289-B-H )DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES) COMMISSIONER, et al., ) )Defendants ) )RECOMMENDED DECISION ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS (Doc. Nos. 12, 41, 42, & 43) The plaintiff in this action, Victor Ames, is a self-described "lifelong resident of the Island of Matinicus, and a licensed lobster fisherman, who has been disabled due to a heart condition since September 2005." (Compl. ¶ 4.) He has named twenty-three defendants, essentially complaining that they conspired against him to exclude him fromharvesting in the Matinicus waters, converted his lobster traps, and confiscated his fishing gear. Paragraph 10 of the complaint alleges: “The Matinicus Island Fishermen[']s Group” (sometimes herein referred to as “the Group,”[)] is a collusive combination and conspiratorial group of fisherman who either reside on or claim exclusive rights to the Group to fish in the waters off Matinicus Island and at all times material hereto have acted under the tacit or express protection of the State Defendants. " (Compl. ¶ 10.) Also relevant to the present motion, Paragraph 35 describes the following confrontation: On about May 26, 2006, Frankie Thompson, while tending the Plaintiff’s Lobster traps in “Hurricane Sound,” was surrounded by several lobster fishing boats and lobstermen from the Matinicus IslandFishermen’s Group” and advised by Defendants’ Lavon “Biscuit” Ames, Dennis Young, and several others of the Group, that if he were to be found in “Matinicus Waters” again that they would “destroy all his gear on
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Vinalhaven Island, and anywhere else, if he ever came to Matinicus Island again ... “and that “(W)e haven’t decided what we are going to do with Victor Ames yet.”(Compl. ¶ 35.) Ames further alleges that on June 13, 2006, one of the defendants, Joseph Bray, shot at him while Ames was out tending his traps.1There are eight counts in Ames's complaint, three of which are brought pursuant to the United States Constitution and five of which are state law claims. In this recommended decision I address a motion to dismiss filed by Robert Young (Doc. No. 41) and I recommend the court deny the motion. DiscussionWith respect to specific mention of Robert Young, Paragraph 9 of Ames's complaint alleges: “Defendant Robert Young has a residence on Matinicus Island, County of Knox and at times material hereto has acted as part of the Matinicus Island Fisherman’s Group and has confirmed the continuing nature of the conspiracy alleged herein." (Compl. ¶ 9.) And Paragraph 73 avers: "In June 2007, Defendant Robert Young of Matinicus Island, County of Knox advised David Ames, age 16, that if Victor Ameswent to Matinicus he would be 'coming back on the bottom of the ocean.'" Id. ¶ 73. Notably, this alleged statement was made approximately a year after the two confrontations described above. Robert Young's motion rises and falls on this court's application of the Bell Atlantic Corporation v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 127 S. Ct. 1955 (2007) pleading standard. In Twombly the United States Supreme Court explained: "Federal Rule of 1In Paragraph 91 of the complaint, not cited by Ames in his response to the motion to dismiss as being one of the paragraphs pertaining to Robert Young's liability, Ames alleges apropos his assault count that all the named defendants and co-conspirators were armed, and with the exception of the State defendants, were prepared to kill Ames. (Compl. ¶ 91.) 2
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Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only 'a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,' in order to 'give the defendant fair notice of what the ... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.'" 127 S.Ct at 1964 (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957). Furthermore: While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, ibid.; Sanjuan v. American Bd. of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc., 40 F.3d 247, 251 (C.A.7 1994), a plaintiff's obligation to provide the “grounds” of his “entitle[ment] to relief” requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do, see Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986) (on a motion to dismiss, courts “are not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation”). Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level, see 5 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1216, pp. 235-236 (3d ed.2004) (hereinafter Wright & Miller) (“[T]he pleading must contain something more ... than ... a statement of facts that merely creates a suspicion [of] a legally cognizable right of action”), on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are true (even if doubtful in fact), see, e.g., Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N. A., 534 U.S. 506, 508, n. 1 (2002); Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327 (1989) (“Rule 12(b)(6) does not countenance ... dismissals based on a judge's disbelief of a complaint's factual allegations”); Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (a well-pleaded complaint may proceed even if it appears “that a recovery is very remote and unlikely”). 127 S. Ct. at 1964 -65 (footnote omitted, emphasis added). "In applying these general standards to a § 1 [Sherman Act] claim," the Supreme Court held "that stating such a claim requires a complaint with enough factual matter (taken as true) to suggest that an agreement was made. Asking for plausible grounds to infer an agreement does not impose a probability requirement at the pleading stage; it simply calls for enough fact to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will reveal evidence of illegal agreement." Id. at 1965 (footnote omitted, emphasis added). In his motion to dismiss Robert Young frames the question as being "whether the complaint makes out a claim for some form of joint or vicarious liability." (Mot. Dismiss 3
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at 3.) He asserts: "The complaint does not present factual allegations on this issue, but legal assertions of conspiracy, collusion and agency relationships among defendants. Conclusory allegations unsupported by facts need not be accepted as true, and do not properly state a claim upon which relief can be granted." (Id.) Robert Young explains: Plaintiff does not allege that Robert Young was present at or participated in any meetings alleged to have had the purpose of excluding Plaintiff from harvesting lobsters in the vicinity of Matinicus Island. Plaintiff does not allege that Robert Young was part of any confrontation with Plaintiff’s associate, Frankie Thompson. Plaintiff does not allege that Robert Young harmed, converted or received any of Plaintiff’s property. Plaintiff does not allege that Robert Young played any role in the shooting incident. There are no dates, places, statements, actions or other facts alleged in the complaint to show that Robert Young endorsed or agreed upon any such course of action. The complaint similarly lacks any specific allegation that Robert Young took any action that would otherwise bind him to torts allegedly committed by other defendants.Plaintiff failed to allege any facts showing that Robert Young formed any agreement with others to commit a tort against Plaintiff and that such tort was committed.(Id. at 4.) In addition to Paragraphs 9, 10, 35, and 73 set forth above, in his response to the motion to dismiss Ames cites to a handful of paragraphs of his complaint that, although they do not specifically name Robert Young, are key to his theory of liability apropos him. These are: 36. On or about June 4, 2006, being the first Sunday in June, in the Old School Building on Matinicus Island , in one of several meetings with members of Defednant [sic] Lapointe the Group, Defendants George Lapointe, Joseph Fessenden, Marlowe Sonksen, and Robert Beal, on behalf of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, met with the Matinicus Island Fishermen’s Group to discuss the exclusion of various individuals from fishing in the Matinicus waters, and jointly agreed and conspired that certain individuals, including Plaintiff, would be excluded from fishing in Matinicus waters. 4
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37. Any individual who was opposed to the “cutting of lobster traps” was excluded from the meeting by the Group and its leaders because opposition was not tolerated.…. 39. Shortly after the confrontation with Thompson in early May 2006, and after the meeting of June 4, 2006 at the Old School House, at the request of the Matinicus Island Fishermen’s Group, the State Defendants Sonksen and Beal, on information with the knowledge of State Defendant Fessenden and Defendant Lapointe, caused the Plaintiff’s lobster traps to be tagged[.] …. 44. Members of the Matinicus Island Fishermen’s Group have admitted in the presence of others attending the June 4, 2006 meeting held in the Matinicus Island Old School Building; have admitted att[e]nding the June 11, 2006 meeting; have admitted molesting lobster traps; have admitted being part of a collusive action and conspiracy to deny persons not members of the Group to fish Matinicus waters; and to cutting the Plaintiff’s traps and confiscating Plaintiff’s fishing gear. …. 48. On June 11, 2006, the Matinicus Island Fishermen’s Group held a second meeting, this time at the Old School Building, at which Defendants Marlowe Sonksen and Robert Beal were in attendance, and where, under the direction of Defendants Lavon Biscuit Ames III and Ira Tad Miller, it was decided that the members of the Group would keep guns on their boats, lying in wait for Plaintiff Victor Ames. (Compl. ¶¶ 36, 37, 39, 44, 48.)2To get a flavor of his insistence that the complaint allegations are insufficient to state a claim against him, in his reply memorandum Robert Young complains vis-à -vis the constitutional claims: Plaintiff … alleges that Robert Young conspired with state actors to interfere with Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. Aside from questions as to what constitutional dimension there is to any of this, the complaint again lacks any specific allegation that either Robert Young acted individually in concert with state officials, or was a member of an entity through which liability may be imposed on passive members. Plaintiff’s response states that “each Defendant, including Robert Young, had the intention to complete the groups [sic] decision to kill the Plaintiff Victor Ames on the high seas.” This highly inflammatory and 2In his specific discussion of the Maine state law claims in Counts Four, Five, Six, and SevenAmes also cites to Paragraphs 41, 42 and 43. With regards to his state law Counts Eight and Nine Amesreferences Paragraphs 34 and 38. 5
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preposterous language, as to Robert Young, is not in the complaint, either explicitly or by any clear implication.In the absence of some legally recognized entity on which to impose collective liability, it is not sufficient to simply name a bushel ofdefendants and then follow with allegations that some unidentified number of them engaged in tortious conduct. The complaint is insufficient because it does not allege what Robert Young did either as a direct actor, or in support of others. (Reply Mem. at 5-6.) The application of the Twombly pleading standard to these conspiracy-premised federal civil rights and state law counts, see Bean v. Cummings, 2008 ME 18, ¶ 11, 939 A.2d 676, 680 (identifying Twombly as providing valuable assistance in addressing Maine Rules 8(a) and 9(b) disputes), is not clear sailing. The majority view among federal courts nation-wide is that Twombly is not limited to Sherman Act anti-trust cases but that its message of identifying a non-speculative, 'plausible basis' for relief in the complaint allegations as to each defendant must be tailored to the theories of liability at issue in the case. See, e.g., Aktieselskabet AF 21. November 2001 v. Fame Jeans Inc., 525 F.3d 8, 17 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (trademark action); Phillips v. County of Allegheny, 515 F.3d 224, 230 -235 (3d Cir. 2008) (42 U.S.C. § 1983 state-created danger claim). With regard to those cases addressing non-Sherman Act conspiracy claims, almost always in unpublished decisions, courts have required more than conclusory allegations of conspiracy to justify proceeding against a named defendant. There are a handful of such decisions at the Circuit Court of Appeals level. For instance, the Districtof Columbia Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of a bar applicant's RICO conspiracy claim, noting that the "allegations include no facts suggesting 'unity of purpose' or a 'meeting of the minds' among the defendants, a necessary element of a conspiracy."Rodriguez v. Editor in Chief, Legal Times, No-07-5234, 759, 2008 WL 2661993, 2 6
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(D.C Cir. July 02, 2008) (unpublished decision) (citing Twombly and Kreuzer v. Am. Academy of Periodontology, 735 F.2d 1479, 1487 (D.C.Cir.1984)). The Fourth Circuit addressed claims that the defendant/appellees conspired to violate the plaintiffs'/appellants' substantive due process, equal protection, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights and stressed, citing Twombly, that the plaintiffs/appellants: needed to plead facts that would "reasonably lead to the inference that Appellees positively or tacitly came to a mutual understanding to try to accomplish a common and unlawful plan,” Hinkle [v. City of Clarksburg],81 F.3d [416,] 421 [(4th Cir.1996)]. The complaint makes the bare, conclusory allegation that the defendants conspired to violate his constitutional rights and that the conspiracy culminated in the fabricated testimony. No common purpose is alleged and nothing beyond conclusory allegations of conspiracy are made. Ruttenberg v. Jones, No. 07-1037, 2008 WL 2436157, 8 (4th Cir. June 17, 2008) (unpublished decision). The Panel affirmed dismissal of the 42 U.S.C. § 1983 conspiracy claims. Id.And in Patton v. West the Tenth Circuit opined: Plaintiff's complaint claimed entitlement to damages under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985, and 1986, for violation of her rights under the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments and included claimsunder the Americans with Disabilities Act and various other constitutional provisions. … The plaintiffs' claim in Twombly failed because the actions they complained of were not “placed in a context that raises a suggestion of a preceding agreement.” Id. at 1966. The challenged action could just as easily have been evidence of independent conduct free from any illegal agreement. Id. So too here. Plaintiff's allegations of conspiracy fail to raise any suggestion of a preceding agreement among defendants to deprive her of her rights. She advanced no allegation “plausibly suggesting” an improper agreement. See id."No. 07-4154, 2008 WL 1844078, 1 (10th Cir. Apr. 25, 2008) (unpublished decision). 7
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With respect to the many private citizens that Ames has named as defendants to this action and contends are subject to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 liability on his federal civil rights counts, Ames has the additional burden of pleading a sufficient conspiracy between these private citizens and the state actor defendants. The Tenth Circuit's Ellibee v. Fox addressed this dynamic under Twombly: We recognize the inherent difficulty of producing direct evidence of a conspiracy and therefore proceed with caution in considering the pre-trial dismissal of [a § 1983 complaint against former counsel]. See Fisher v. Shamburg, 624 F.2d 156, 162 (10th Cir.1980). At the same time, however, we have held that “[w]hen a plaintiff in a § 1983 action attempts to assert the necessary ‘state action’ by implicating state officials or judges in a conspiracy with private defendants, mere conclusory allegations with no supporting factual averments are insufficient; the pleadings must specifically present facts tending to show agreement and concerted action.” Sooner Products Co. v. McBride, 708 F.2d 510, 512 (10th Cir.1983). … While Mr. Ellibee's amended complaint contains extensive allegations, he does not present any facts establishing an agreement or meeting of the minds between Ms. Fox and the state actors to deprive himof any federal rights. Thus, he failed to state a § 1983 claim against Ms. Fox. No. 06-3382, 2007 WL 1776347, 3 (10th Cir. June 21, 2007) (unpublished decision). These unpublished Court of Appeals cases discussed above do not really make the task of ruling on Robert Young's motion to dismiss clear cut. In my view, when push comes to shove, Robert Young, as the movant, has not carried his burden of convincing the court that he is entitled to judgment under the Twombly standard: Twombly was concerned with the plausibility of an inference of conspiracy, not with the plausibility of a claim. A court deciding a motion to dismiss must not make any judgment about the probability of the plaintiff's success, for a complaint may proceed even if it appears ‘that a recovery is very remote and unlikely,’ ” Id. at 1965 (quoting Scheuer); a complaint “may not be dismissed based on a district court's assessment that the plaintiff will fail to find evidentiary support for his allegations,” id. at 1969 n. 8.". 8
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Aktieselskabet AF 21. November 2001, 525 F.3d at 17. Nothing in this conclusion about this movant's failure to carry his burden is meant to imply that I find that Counts One through Three necessarily state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Robert Young has moved for his dismissal from the entire complaint, and under the Twombly standard I amnot persuaded the claims against him can be dismissed in their entirety at this juncture. With regards to the state law counts, Robert Young cites to Cohen v. Bowdoin, 288 A.2d 106 (Me. 1972) and Potter, Prescott, Jamieson & Nelson v. Campbell, 1998 ME 70, 708 A.2d 283, 286. See also Fiacco v. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, 484 F.Supp.2d 158, 176 (D. Me. 2007). However, this line of Maine cases on civil conspiracy stands for the proposition that you cannot have a freestanding/free wheeling civil conspiracy claim. Ames has not pled such a count. With regards to his state law counts there must be an underlying tort vis-Ã -vis which conspiracy liability can adhere. Robert Young has not claimed that these state law counts fail to state a claim that a tort was committed by any of the named defendants; he simply stands on his claim that there are insufficient factual allegations to tie him in as a conspirator. So, while I recommend denying Robert Young's motion to dismiss in its entirety, I add the following observations. As the complaint currently stands, the allegations tying Robert Young to the specific actions underlying the theories of liability in this case do appear "remote and unlikely." Scheuer, 416 U.S. at 236. Ames's response to the motion to dismiss does not shed a great deal of light on how he envisions factually supporting his theories of liability as to Robert Young. This case is racking up docket entries at a quick rate, multiple defendants have filed separate answers, and Ames, although already faced with four motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim, has not attempted to amend his 9
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complaint to respond to any of the alleged deficiencies for some of these 'outlying'defendants. For his part, Robert Young had the right to file a motion for a more definite statement which would have given the Court an opportunity to better weigh the current issue of the adequacy of Ames's case for holding Young liable as a conspirator. Ames has now insisted in his response to the motion to dismiss that he has a good faith basis for naming Robert Young as a defendant that extends beyond his residency on Matinicus Island, his membership in a group of fishermen, and a statement he made almost one year after the events giving rise to the claims in the complaint. Young could have responded to this complaint by invoking Rule 12(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and seeking a more definite statement, but he chose not to do so. Instead, Young filed an omnibus motion to dismiss providing only skeletal legal argument. Ames has responded to the motion by pointing the court to various paragraphs of the complaint that he claims encompass Robert Young’s actions. I am simply not convinced that the complaint in its entirety fails to state any claim against Young upon which relief could be granted, most especially as it relates it counts eight and nine of the complaint. Two of the other named defendants, John Mitchell and Edwin Mitchell, have jointly filed a motion to dismiss. (Doc. No. 12.) Two other defendants, Clayton Philbrook and Troy Ames have each filed separate motions to dismiss. (Doc. Nos. 42 & 43.) The allegations of Ames's complaint that mention these four defendants by name are as follows: Defendant Troy Ames of Ash Point, and Matinicus Island, County of Knox and State of Maine, was at all times material hereto, engaged in the lobster fishing industry on Matinicus Island, County of Knox and State of Maine, and as a member of the Matinicus Island fishermen’s Group was a self-appointed agent and enforcer of the Group’s decisions. 10
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Defendant Edwin Mitchell of Matinicus Island, County of Knox and State of Maine, was at all times material hereto, engaged in the lobster fishing industry on Matinicus Island, County of Knox and State of Maine, and as a member of the Matinicus Island fishermen’s Group was a self-appointed agent to convert the Plaintiff’s personal property to his own use.3Defendant John Mitchell of Matinicus Island, County of Knox and State of Maine, was at all times material hereto, engaged in the lobster fishing industry on Matinicus Island, County of Knox and State of Maine, and as an active, voting member of the Matinicus Island fishermen’s Group was a self-appointed enforcer of that Group’s decisions. Defendant Clayton Philbrook of Matinicus Island, County of Knox and State of Maine, was at all times material hereto, engaged in the lobster fishing industry on Matinicus Island, County of Knox and State of Maine, and as a member of the Matinicus Island fishermen’s Group was a self-appointed enforcer of that Group’s decisions. (Compl. ¶¶ 19, 22, 23, 24) These defendants' arguments for dismissal are also premised on Twombly. The allegations as to all four defendants are strikingly similar to each other and to the allegations against Robert Young. These four defendants differ from Robert Young only in that the complaint makes no mention of any statements they may have made almost a year after the operative events that Ames maintains give rise to liability. In response to these motions Ames essentially makes much the same arguments he made in response to Young’s motion, only in an even more skeletal fashion. Once more the defendants have filed omnibus motions to dismiss, seeking their complete dismissal from the lawsuit, rather than individually parsing each federal and state law count. And once more I am 3It is unclear why Edwin Mitchell is described in terms of converting plaintiff’s property to his own use rather than merely as a self-appointed enforcer of the Group’s decisions as the other three are described. There are no factual assertions in the complaint pertaining uniquely to Edwin Mitchell, althoughsome defendants, other than the four addressed in this recommended decision, are alleged to have committed certain discrete acts. It is also unclear why Troy Ames and Edwin Mitchell are described as “agents” of the Group and the other two are merely members, albeit John Mitchell is further described as“an active voting member.” The point is, these paragraphs are the sum total of the allegations pertaining tothese four individuals. There are no allegations as to any specific “vote” ever taken by the Group.11
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confronted with a close call regarding the Twombly plausible inference test in terms of the legal theories undergirding this alleged conspiracy, at least as to certain of the counts of the complaint. Because I do not believe that the single allegation pertaining to Young’s statement in 2007 puts him in a measurably different position than these four defendants, I conclude that these motions to dismiss should likewise be denied for the same reasons as set forth above. Conclusion Based upon the foregoing, I recommend the court deny these motions to dismiss. NOTICEA party may file objections to those specified portions of a magistrate judge's report or proposed findings or recommended decisions entered pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 636(b)(1)(B) for which de novo review by the district court is sought, together with a supporting memorandum, and request for oral argument before the district judge, if any is sought, within ten (10) days of being served with a copy thereof. A responsive memorandum and any request for oral argument before the district judge shall be filed within ten (10) days after the filing of the objection. Failure to file a timely objection shall constitute a waiver of the right to de novo review by the district court and to appeal the district court's order. /s/ Margaret J. Kravchuk U.S. Magistrate Judge November 19, 2008 AMES v. DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSIONER et al Assigned to: JUDGE D. BROCK HORNBY Referred to: MAGISTRATE JUDGE MARGARET J. KRAVCHUK Cause: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act Date Filed: 09/05/2008 Jury Demand: Both Nature of Suit: 440 Civil Rights: Other Jurisdiction: Federal QuestionPlaintiffVICTOR AMESrepresented by ANDREWS B. CAMPBELL12
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CAMPBELL LAW OFFICES 919 RIDGE ROAD BOWDOINHAM, ME 04008 (207) 666-5601 Email: abc@207legal.comLEAD ATTORNEYATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDV. Defaulted PartyDAVID G AMESDefaulted PartyMARK AMESDefendantDEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSIONERrepresented by CHRISTOPHER C. TAUBMAINE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE STATE HOUSE STATION 6 AUGUSTA, ME 04333 207-626-8800 Email: Christopher.C.Taub@maine.gov ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantJOSEPH FESSENDENMarine Patrol Officerrepresented by CHRISTOPHER C. TAUB(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantMARLOWE SONKSENMarine Patrol Officerrepresented by CHRISTOPHER C. TAUB(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantROBERT BEALMarine Patrol Officerrepresented by CHRISTOPHER C. TAUB(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantBRIAN TOLMANMarine Patrol Officerrepresented by CHRISTOPHER C. TAUB(See above for address) 13
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ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantLAVON AMES, IIIalso known asBISCUIT represented by ROBERT J. RUBINRUBIN & STROUT, PA 480 WEST STREET ROCKPORT, ME 04856 207-236-8260 Email: rjrmelaw@midcoast.comLEAD ATTORNEYATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantDENNIS YOUNGrepresented by WILLIAM B. DEVOEEATON PEABODY P. O. BOX 1210 BANGOR, ME 04402 947-0111 Email: wdevoe@eatonpeabody.comLEAD ATTORNEYATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantIRA MILLERalso known asTAD represented by WILLIAM H. WELTEWELTE & WELTE, P.A. 13 WOOD STREET CAMDEN, ME 04843-2036 207-236-7786 Email: wwelte@weltelaw.comATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantWESTON AMESrepresented by WESTON AMESEmail: weston.ames@hotmail.comPRO SEDefendantLORRAINE WALKERrepresented by JAMES A. BILLINGSLIPMAN, KATZ & MCKEE P.O. BOX 1051 AUGUSTA, ME 04332-1051 (207) 622-3711 Email: jbillings@lipmankatzmckee.com14
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ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDWALTER F. MCKEELIPMAN, KATZ & MCKEE P.O. BOX 1051 AUGUSTA, ME 04332-1051 207-622-3711 Email: wmckee@lipmankatzmckee.comATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantJULIE MILLERrepresented by WILLIAM H. WELTE(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantJOSEPH BRAYrepresented by CHRISTOPHER K. MACLEANELLIOTT & MACLEAN, LLP PO BOX 1 20 MECHANIC STREET CAMDEN, ME 04843 207-236-8836 Email: chris@camdenlaw.comATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantJAROD BRAYrepresented by CHRISTOPHER K. MACLEAN(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantJAMIE KAISERrepresented by WILLIAM H. WELTE(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantTROY AMESrepresented by NATHANIEL D. HUSSEYLAW OFFICE OF NATHANIEL HUSSEY 33 SOUTH ROAD PO BOX 239 MATINICUS, ME 04851 15
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207-366-3084 Email: nat@nathussey.comATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantJOSH AMESDefendantEDWIN MITCHELLrepresented by MARC N. FRENETTESKELTON, TAINTOR & ABBOTT P.O.BOX 3200 95 MAIN STREET AUBURN, ME 04212-3200 207-784-3200 Email: mfrenette@3200.comATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDSTEPHEN B. WADESKELTON, TAINTOR & ABBOTT P.O.BOX 3200 95 MAIN STREET AUBURN, ME 04212-3200 784-3200 Email: swade@3200.com ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantJOHN MITCHELLrepresented by MARC N. FRENETTE(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDSTEPHEN B. WADE(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantCLAYTON PHILBROOKrepresented by NATHANIEL D. HUSSEY(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantVANCE BUNKERrepresented by CHARLES E. GILBERT, IIIGILBERT & GREIF, P.A. 16
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82 COLUMBIA STREET P.O. BOX 2339 BANGOR, ME 04402-2339 947-2223 Email: ceg@yourlawpartner.comLEAD ATTORNEYATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDLISA J. BUTLERGILBERT & GREIF, P.A. 82 COLUMBIA STREET P.O. BOX 2339 BANGOR, ME 04402-2339 207-947-2223 Email: ljb@yourlawpartner.comLEAD ATTORNEYATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDLEONARD W. LANGERTOMPKINS, CLOUGH,HIRSHON & LANGERTHREE CANAL PLAZA P.O. BOX 15060 PORTLAND, ME 04112-5060 207-874-6700 Fax: 207-874-6705 Email: lwlanger@tchl.comATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDDefendantROBERT YOUNGrepresented by NATHANIEL D. HUSSEY(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDCounter ClaimantJOSEPH BRAYrepresented by CHRISTOPHER K. MACLEAN(See above for address) ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICEDV. Counter DefendantVICTOR AMESrepresented by ANDREWS B. CAMPBELL(See above for address) 17
I see in the Federal law suit by Victor that Mark Ames and David Ames have no Attorney that shows how smart they are!
Vance Bunker has 3 Attorneys he really wants protection!
This law suit is a big suit and in federal court these guys better get some attorneys that can defend them. Victor not playing around that attorney he has is a hot shot,bull dog lawyer with a tough attitude did you read his profile? His last name is Campbell out of Bowdinham
I think those Matinicus scam bags finally are getting what they got coming, Hey they have hurt alot of people, How those fish cops could go along with their under takings is unforgivable those guys should be fired and thrown in jail for allowing these hoods to rule as they did!
State law enforcement are the ones responsible for what happened out there on Matinicus and they should pay, after all they are the ones we empower to enforce the State laws, they failed !
I agree the State should be accountable they hired the Fish wardens that should have stayed out of Island politics and stuck to enforcing the State Laws!
I agree with the last statement State is in this neck deep, they should have stuck to enforcement and they failed to protect Victor and others before him.
I'm glad Victor is fighting this he is taking a stand for others as well that were hurt by these rebels that live out there.
Go Victor! may he win this case.I'm going to follow this one!
Funny Monheagan has had no problems like Matinicus!
Seems Matinicus populated with a bunch of wild unrealsonable people.
I have to agree seems to be the place for fighting and unrest.
Very much like the middle East in their thinking, at Matinicus.
Sounds like someone got smart and decided to use the law of the land instead of fist! WOW! They are getting all grown up out there on the Rock!
I hope Victor wins big! May just turn things for the better and the State needed to get the Matinicus crowd under control. Interesting Blog.
A Matinicus Ames
from what I hear gordon went agenst THE FAMILY with some argument that that took place he sided with some mike strong or something. that pist off THE FAMILY so that is why he was run out of lobstering.
Vonie is mist he died last july but he has been mist for the past 6years. When he ran the sardein plant if your last name was ames you would get two cases of every flavor if you asked for 2 cans.
One the water he did what all ames do when they feel that they or THE FAMILY have been F***ed With pull out the rusty riper and go play pirate. MAX RK SAME THING but the beeting thing that is true, in there defence they are products of the way they are raised. and they do have a temper all ameses do. Do not fuck with them un the water because that meens you fuck with the family
Long time Matinicus Fisherman here:
I call Bullshit on the last comment, if Gordon's friendship with Mike Strong was the problem then Vance Bunker would be out as well, Vance has been buddies with Mike Strong for ever and Mike was even at his last boat launch and the one before that!
Fact is the Ames's didn't like Gordon because, he was fresh young and honest guy, he had a good looking wife a new son and a very nice looking boat and he was a very hard worker. They hated all that and was jealous.
All it was is Jealousy and these guy are a jealous bunch.
Gordon is better off really getting out of here, nothing has changed just some fresh faces. Still the same jealousy of someone else, but none have lived up to Gordon's standards they have tried but can't do it he was the only one God made like that, He was a Good one
Hello!!! I just learned I had relatives from Matinicus Island so I googled Matinicus Island Ames and this came up. I am wondering if anyone who is following this blog is familiar with an Ames family that was married on Matinicus in the 1940s. Her name was Margaret Ames and his was Richard G Ames. They are both deceased. They had a daughter by the name of Barbara whom I am wondering is still in the Rockland area. She would be around 62 years old. Any information you could provide would be appreciated. Thank you.
You know in reading this blog I feel the pain for Gordon Ames and his family!
It must have been a terrible thing to be driven from your home land.
I think that there may have been a plan by God to get Gordon away from the rough crowd that Matinicus seems to attract.
Anyway good luck to Gordon having his eyes opened to new places and things, where as the crowd that drove him are living in conditions similar to 100-150 years ago, may they have to pull and tug to get there goods to their homes and live in confinment on Matinicus, I think they are paying for their deeds in their confinement!
Go and be happy Gordon and enjoy your freedom and comforts, God Bless!
Gordon,I would be happy your from Matinicus!
Not living on Matinicus!
Matinicus is a good place to be from, not a good place to live!
The civil court system was actually created by the Judiciary Act of 1789, well before even Gordon's mishaps
To bad Gordon had not taken these guys through the civil courts!
But things were different in 1980 and we had no cell phones and computers like we do now so it was harder to get the info.
I hope that Victor Ames wins in his case, IMO it is way over due on Matinicus!
Is this Blog still going? I'm interested in anyone who can give me information about Stephen Ames, Sr.
Stephen Ames Sr is dead! Last year buried on Matinicus.
thanks for that bit of news. did you know him well and what was he like when you knew him?
Didn't really know him he lived down south in flordia or someplace and was not up here.
Just know he is dead from heart problems or something at 36 or 37 years old and his father buried him here on Matinicus. All I know.
Have a good one!
You Know I've read these post and can only say it is a Shitting shame what these assholes around here did to Gordon >> His mother was just crushed and so was his Dad they were good people and the only hope they had was there son!
Gordon's sister was never around and married some bum from over Rockland, but Gordon was a hard worker and honest guy and these assholes ran him off here and ran him out of the business, when they did that they crushed Gilbert and Norma as well,To bad! Some idiot was even on here bragging about running Gordon out of the Lobster business. Stay safe Gordon!
I hope Victor and that lawyer of his takes this whole bunch of Matinicus bandits to the cleaners, it will serve them right!
To whomever posted the information about Stephen Ames, I thank you. Do you live on the island now or do you know anyone who grew up with Stephen who might be able to give me more information about his young adult life? And what news of his brother Weston?
Weston is alive and well lives on Matinicus, doing fine!
Thanks again for that information. Now, can you or can you put me in touch with someone who can tell me more about Stephen these past 10-15 years. I can be reached at 206-202-0836.
Reading this Blog:
I have to admit the Ames family with Lavon, he had brothers:
Jack >> Good guy
Dreamy (Alva) >> Good guy seemed always ready to help.
Victor>> Good guy always ready to help and always busy with his projects.
Lavon Jr. >> Always trouble, always causing trouble and always in trouble either with a wife or fighting trap wars or for screwing someones wife or for something always something. He was a theif as well and a lying bastard.
His boys the same way!
Not surprised to hear all this now!
Phone: 207-366-3442
City: Matinicus
Additional Info
LastName: Ames Weston D
FirstName: Weston
LabelName: Weston D Ames
God Gordon this has nothing to do with the blog at all, but I have thought about you 500 million times (at least) and everything you did to imporve/enrich my life! I wish you the very best! You look great,,,happy,,,congrats!
K8e
How did Bob die, do you have boys or girls for children?
You could have just clicked on my name to look at my picture,,,but I'll play along. Big Bob died from CANCER and I was so saddened that I wasn't there to hold his hand and comfort him,,,,my children are BOYS with biblical names. I have thought about you so much and with the sweetest regards. I was actually in Vancouver BC the night you left the last message for me for New Years 2005? on my cell phone - I got proposed to there by some waterfront park,,,I said yes and I'm still not married - ugh. Anyways, it's me, I'm glad you're good and I'd love to "catch up." Email me if you want kb1090@gmail.com
http://www.workingwaterfront.com/online-exclusives/Homeport-licenses-for-island-lobstermen/13122/
Copy and paste this article and it will prove to be interesting, Matinicus that seems to think they run who fishes there waters is in the same licence pool as everyone else in Maine, this should prove to be very much in Victor's favor in his court battle with a bunch of Bullies on Matinicus!
For all that cannot copy and paste here is the article:
May 8, 2009 | Incorporating the Inter-Island NewsSEARCH THE SITE FOR: May 2009 | BUSINESS, INTER-ISLAND NEWS, MARINE
Editorial
Homeport licenses for island lobstermen
by David A. Tyler
Every islander knows that lobstering is the lifeblood of nearly all of the state's 15-year round island communities. It is the engine that drives island economies.
It's one of the few careers left in which young people can earn enough to be able to afford the dramatically higher cost of living on islands. Fathers can still teach their sons and daughters how to lobster, and carry on this traditional work.
The lobster industry plays a much bigger role on islands than on the mainland. According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, 18 percent of islanders hold lobster licenses, compared to only 1 percent of mainland residents. On some islands, almost everyone is a lobstermen. On Matinicus and Frenchboro, 60 to 70 percent of islanders hold lobster licenses, according to the Island Institute's 2009 Island Indicators report.
When lobstermen decided in 1996 to run their own fishery, through the adoption of seven zones along the Maine coast, it was an important step, allowing these fishermen to manage parts of their own fishery, in cooperation with the state.
This development, however, meant that all year-round islands, with the exception of Monhegan (which has its own zone) became part of larger, mainland zones. And now every zone except Zone C (from southern Penobscot Bay to western Blue Hill Bay) is closed, which means those seeking to get lobster licenses are now on long waiting lists.
Each lobster zone also has a system in place for new licenses to be issued, based on the number of tags (or traps) already in the water. In some zones, that means up to five lobstermen have to retire before a new license can be issued. Since everyone is on the same waiting lists, islanders end up competing with mainland residents for licenses.
So when an island lobstermen retires, his tags do not go to another islander, but go to the next person on the waiting list. Islanders who wait for years to get a full lobster license may give up, meaning islands will lose both lobster licenses and the men and women who sustain these communities.
"The Maine islands that depend on lobster fishing to maintain their year-round populations will slowly die if they continue to lose lobster licenses," said Swan's Island lobstermen Sonny Sprague, in a story by Sandra Dinsmore about island lobster licenses in the February-March 2009 Working Waterfront.
Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree and Rob Snyder, the Island Institute's vice president of programs, have both heard over the past two years from islanders about the shortage of island lobster licenses and the threat it poses to these communities. "I heard from a number of islanders who were expressing concern, particularly those in Frenchboro and Islesford," said Snyder. The Island Institute held a meeting of island lobstermen who sit on the lobster zone councils. "It was a matter of seeing if everyone could come to agreement on a particular approach," Snyder said. This bill "was the approach everyone felt would best serve the islands."
So Rep. Pingree, from North Haven, proposed a bill to help island lobstermen (L.D. 1231). It would allow each island to determine a specific number of licenses that will help support the island. And these islands could then set up their own waiting lists for the island licenses.
If the bill passes, a two-thirds vote by island lobstermen would be needed to set up this new system. Those who apply for the island license must have lived on that island for at least five years and document that they harvested lobsters in all of those five years.
Mainland lobstermen would be eligible to apply for the island license. "The idea is to keep fishing fleets on islands, it is not about excluding mainlanders," said Snyder.
This bill marks an important step in fisheries management. It introduces the concept of homeport licenses, in which a specific port or island can retain the rights to fish. The rules for licenses in the lobster industry are completely different from the rules that govern groundfishing licenses. However, why couldn't this concept also be applied to the groundfish industry, where the entire coast of Maine is in danger of losing fishing licenses?
Without lobster licenses, year-round unbridged islands could face an uncertain future. This bill is not just about lobster licenses; it is about preserving a way of life on the state's year-round islands.
Posted: May 1st, 2009 | INTER-ISLAND NEWS, MARINE
Online Exclusive
Bill would help keep lobster licenses on islands
by Sandra Dinsmore
Islanders fish. It's one of the only career choices for those who live on isolated unbridged islands miles off the mainland.
Oh, one or two might learn plumbing or electrical wiring, most learn how to do carpentry, some house building, and a few build boats in winter, but just about all rely on fishing lobster to support themselves and their families.
Or they did before the state started limiting the number of traps allowed per license holder and establishing seven lobster fishing zones along the coast. Since then, it's been a scramble, and by now on some islands it is taking so many years for a license to become available, it threatens the year-round population of some islands.
But islanders, concerned that their year-round communities are threatened by their young people's need to move off-island to be able to work, need a solution that meets their needs.
One such solution would be to ask the state's Department of Marine Resources Commissioner to establish a limited-entry program for unbridged islands, while remaining in their zones. House Speaker Hannah Pingree has submitted such a bill, L.D. 1231, "An Act to Protect the Long-term Viability of Island Lobster Fishing Communities." The Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources voted that the bill should pass on May 6.
Island fishermen applying for this license would necessarily have to follow all the eligibility rules. "If a zone is closed," she explained, "an island can vote to create a separate waiting list from the rest of the zone they are in. Otherwise they stay within the zone with no new boundaries, and they are subject to any other management decisions of the zone."
According to veteran Spruce Head Island lobster dealer William Atwood, of Atwood Lobster, this situation started in 2001, the year after the number of trap tags dropped to 800. That year, DMR Commissioner Robin Alden stated that the DMR would limit licenses to those who had had a license or who had been involved in catching lobsters and could produce verification to that end. Like many others, Atwood took action to become qualified for those 800 tags and as he recalled, "They let most everybody in! This was done for hundreds of applicants, which increased the number of licenses after the trap limit was set." The result? Atwood claims it led to "at least a third more traps in the water."
Although realizing it is too late now, Atwood thinks it is "Time to slam the door on entry licenses with no exceptions to the rules until they get to a pre-determined number of licenses they think the resource can support."
But Zone B, which includes Swans Island, the Cranberry Islands, and Frenchboro, for instance, requires five fishermen to retire before a license becomes available. As it stands, the probable wait of 15 or 20 years is enough to force young men to move to the mainland to look for work. In Zone F, which encompasses Casco Bay's many islands, 4,000 trap tags must be retired before a new license can be issued for 300 adding 100 a year to the 800 limit. This was as of January 2009, according to Chebeague fisherman and Zone F chairman Jeff Putnam.
Putnam said he thinks the bill is well thought out, well written, and on the right track. "The most important point," he said, "the idea of keeping lobster licenses on unbridged islands is imperative to keeping island communities sustainable." He said the bill has his full-fledged support.
Bruce Fernald, who fishes out of Islesford, on Little Cranberry Island, also supports Pingree's bill, though he sees a problem. "It will, in some ways, slow down anybody trying to get in on the regular list," he said.
If the bill passes, he explained that if he were to retire, his license would go to an islander rather than to the next person on his zone's list. "I can see where some people might not like it," he said, "but it is, for the small islands especially, getting tough." He also noted that not all fishermen buy all 800 tags. He said, "I'm guessing 20 to 25 percent or more of [tags purchased] are never fished." He stated, "The more the state talks about trap reduction, the more people are going to buy."
Senator Dennis Damon, of Trenton, who represents coastal and island communities in southern Hancock and Isle au Haut in Knox county, submitted another bill, proposing that members of families living in island communities share a license; the license holder reducing the number of traps fished by 20 percent for each person sharing. But Damon also supports Pingree's bill and agrees with Putnam on sustainability problems, saying, "I have spoken often on the peculiarities of island communities at both the Marine Resources and the Transportation committees on which I serve."
These issues include the added costs of transportation; staying over on the mainland for meetings; ferry tolls; the increased cost of food, fuel, and utilities on an island; and the labor of lugging most things from mainland to island.
Speaking to that point, Zone C chairman Hilton Turner said, "I understand the plight of the islands, but as I told the folks on Isle au Haut and also told the commissioner, "There aren't hundreds of people standing on the docks in Stonington wanting to move to Isle au Haut."
A more difficult issue, determining boundaries or who fishes where, looms between Stonington and Isle au Haut, an issue that larger islands, Vinalhaven and Swans were settled with fluid boundaries, or what a fisherman referred to as Gentlemen's Agreements, long ago.
"I think there is a huge potential for real problems," said Stonington Co-op president and Zone C committee member Frank Gotwals, speaking of boundaries between Stonington and Isle au Haut fishermen. "I understand the issues that these islands are facing, and I think they're looking for anything they can to make that kind of life attractive to people, but, in fact, it's becoming less and less attractive to people because the benefits of living on those places, the economic benefits in terms of being close to fishing grounds, etc., have largely disappeared."
Turner spoke of one of those benefits, saying, " I would like to have a nice house on the ocean myself, but I can't because the land's been bought up by out-of-staters." He spoke of a house on Isle au Haut that had just been purchased for several hundred thousand. Turner said the new owners "Are putting several million back into it." The house had been built for his great-great uncle. But no child of the owners will attend school there. It's a vacation house.
Turner said the DMR had called about Zone C's vote on the matter, and Pingree said the House expects to take up the bill probably the first week in May, as, she said, "All the committees are trying to have their bills reported out by May 15th."
"I think it has a good shot," Pingree said. "I think it's not a life changing, not an earth-shattering management strategy change basically to go out and allow islands to manage their waiting lists separately from the rest of the zone, which, obviously, is different." She admitted that, "It does raise an issue for some mainland lobstermen," but stated, "The committee understood the point that islanders face even more specific and more challenging issues when it comes to jobs on islands."
This is easy to solve, make it so the liense can be sold or passed on to a family member that way if there are family that get a license and they want to sell it they can, you leave it in the hands of who owns the license rather then have the State try to figure it out.
On the West Coast they do it that way and you see liceses for sale in the paper when someone wants to retire. Easy!
Victor won a victory against the outlaws on Matinicus, Yes!
They settled out of court.
Good news for Victor he is back fishing Matinicus waters. :) :)
Well, Victor got his way on this one, he is back fishing at Matinicus, the big cry baby, he always seems to come out smelling like a Rose!
My name is Jan Dearborn. My father Edward Dearborn was the telephone man assigned to the islands in the 1950's and 1960's. He was a highly decorated Marine during World War II, trained troops for Korea, was well read, educated, a horticulturist, a Mainer and all around generous guy.
His closest friend for over 50 years was Lavon (Vonnie) Ames. He has been so villified, I just needed to inject the times I experienced with Vonnie.
My father was a difficult man to know, yet somehow he and Vonnie communicated. As my father's dementia increased near the end, Vonnie was the only person to visit him. And, most of the time my father read a newspaper when he was there and never spoke. Raymond and Vonnie Ames went way beyond what friends do for one another. I live in RI, it was excruciating trying to keep track of a crusty, independent former Marine....but they managed. Just for that, I owe them both a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.There were few people outside of my immediate family at my father's funeral, but Vonnie, Vera and Bisquit were there. It made all the difference.
Vonnie was living in Camden when he told me he didn't want to live on the island if he couldn't fish, it broke his heart seeing the boats come back in at night. His pain was palpable. He told my son about his hauls as compared to his son's Bisquit. Bisquit hauled so many pounds a day, it just amazed Vonnie. I guess this might be a good spot to go out on a limb and say maybe Bisquit made his money fishing.
Everyone realizes if Vinalhaven had the same unwritten laws, there wouldn't be a harbor filled with mainlanders' boats. They rent a house, never pay taxes, they're just there to make money. The islanders suffer because it dramatically decreases their hauls.
Matinicus is a world unto itself. I doubt if they filmed the TV show "Survivor" on Matinicus, there would be a winner. They want to simply be able to survive on an island they love. Resorting to being vigilantes as they are accused, hardly helps their cause.
I am truly sorry if what Gordon Ames describes happened to him 30 years ago. Why didn't all the people that have written anonymously rise up as a group and make it right? He landed on his feet, but a great personal loss.
It is sad to read this blog, it doesn't reflect the island I remember.
I was about 8 years old, out on a lobster boat with my father and friends. As I was playing on deck, a bullet came over my head. I then received sage advice from my father..."go below" as if I wasn't halfway down the stairs already. Two boats pulled along side and opened fire. My father came below to get a rifle and his service revolver and went back up. When the shots ended, a time went by and soon they broke out the booze. I guess they felt a Marine sharpshooter would make a hell of a sternman that day.
My father wasn't a saint, I imagine he was the first one on the boat to Stonington to drink in the old days. But, I can't imagine my father wasting his time on a person as Vonnie has been described. Yes, he probably was a pirate and I suppose his father was before him. It always seemed generational to me. I don't excuse the behavior I know about firsthand, I simply judged Vonnie by how he treated me.
It's no bulletin that really hard economic times are here. I believe for islands to remain viable, they have to help each other. It would be a great time for the Hatfields and McCoys to drop the petty crap and deal with survival. Island life isn't for sissies. I loved living on Vinalhaven with all my heart, the freedom I had simply isn't plausible for my son where I live.
Protect what you have, protect fishing.
Gordon Ames has created a vehicle for eveyone to vent and call names, give it a rest and spend your time saving your way of life.
The only thing I can say about the last article is there are dead bodies where Vonnie has been he left several, in the gaz of, OH, they must have drown or we found there boat going in a circle!
I',m sure that is why he sat with your Dad making sure he kept his mouth shut until he died.
Vonnie was no good never was never will be.
Raymond, Victor, Dreamy not bad guys but Vonnie was no dam good!
Now Gilbert was a Good guy rasied his kids good, Gordon and Susan both good kids, Gilbert was pretty good friends with Vonnie, and after Vonnie did the nasty shit to Gordon, Gilbert's boy, I'm surprised Gilbert didn't snap and kill Vonnie!
Jan Dearborn
I'm very curious if any of you remember my father? If so, please hit me with your best stuff about him.
In writing about Vonnie, it was an attempt to present a little bit of balance. I'm naive enough to think a person can't be ALL bad, as he is portrayed. But, having read all the comments on this blog, I understand the hatred runs pretty deep. Hatred creates folklore and unfortunately, truth takes a back seat.
I would appreciate anyone who knew my Dad to let me know if they think he was a mobster. The insinuation in the previous post as much as says "my father knew where the bodies were buried" and Vonnie wanted to make sure he didn't talk.
What gives?
4th of July parade on Matinicus got to be a first!
Good for them, to bad there are very few veterans on the Island but at least they honored the country.
Well, this is an interesting story. Sad, because I knew one of these men when I was young. He looked me straight in the eyes always. I don't ever remember him needing to lie about anything. He even warned me no to judge someone once. He was strong and knew right from wrong. It seems to me he was a live and let live type of man. I always thought he would become something great, He still has time. I never witnessed him use a drug or hurt anyone. He seemed hard working and came from an island family that extended hospitality to me even though they did not know me. I never properly thanked them and I wished I had. I hope all works out well for him and his family.
Violence is not stopped on Matinicus, someone shot somebody this morning!
Chris Young Shot on Matinicus!
Vance Bunker always was a prick and he considered himself the guy who decided who stayed and fished an who did not on Matinicus!
Vance in his younger days was a prick and a big man with an attitude,he was the bull of the water front.
He decided when I went home to go fishing on Matinicus that he was not going to let me fish the Island waters, and at the time he was the only lobster buyer, so he wouldn't buy my lobsters, and he soon got other fishermen on his side like Vonnie Ames and Max and Clayton Philbrook and they proceded a campain to drive me from the island and from lobstering all together.
They drove me off the Island when I had been brought up there and owned almost as much property there as Vance. My parents lived on the Island and from other post long before this happened I spoke of Vance Bunker.
Vance finally got caught up with and God is making him pay for the nasty shit he has done to people that have tried to fish there.
Vance always was a big asshole and I guess a younger asshole came along and the old asshole didn't like the younger one so he shoots him and this was attempt at murder because you don't shoot a guy in the neck if you just want to scare him he was trying to kill him.
I hope the judge throws the book at Vance Bunker he is a total asshole that finally got nailed.
I hope Chris Young is going to be OK, I use to baby set Chris and use to take him with me all the time in my car when he was young, his mother and Dad and I were good friends!
I wish Chris the best of health and my regards go to his Mom! and his family.
Regards,
Gordon Ames
Vance is losing control, he will never out think Ronnie Ames, RK way to smart for him!
Vance just took on to much when he took on RK and his boys!
Chris is RK's step son, nobody screws with Ronnie's boys!
NSKK biker boy!
State shuts down Matinicus fishing grounds
For the first time in Maine history, the state has decided to close a fishing area due to conflict.
They should shut it down for a year and sit the bad guys out.
State needs to clean up Matinicus put some real police out there build a jail and police station at Maine expense and get a good grip on the place.
I think God is calingl Vance Bunker up now to the bench and going to make him pay for his involvment in hurting Gordon Ames and his family like he did when Gordon was on the Island.
He has called Max up, Vonnie, and Austin, now Vance, Vance was one of the key players in the campaign against Gordon.Didn't want Gordon fishing at all. Gordon owned almost as much land as Vance on the Island was raised there and his parents lived there, didn't matter to Vance he just didn't like Gordon and wanted gordon gone.
Now Vance was trying to do the same thing to Chris Young and it is the same game I promise you!
Vance Bunker has to be taken from the Island he is no good, there are many more he has hurt! Please come forward and tell your story about this monster named Vance Bunker!
Sounds like Vance Bunker getting a taste of his own medicine!
He is squealing like a pig! :)
I guess when Vance's daughter is sleeping with a guy then it is Ok for that guy to fish Matinicus, but if anyone else wants to fish Matinicus Vance will have to have committee meeting on that one, he may think about it for a 100 years.
So I guess it goes like this if it is good for Vance Ok if not good for Vance they got to go!
Vance is a idiot that so many follow, just an old Maine hillbilly!
Let's see with Vance's guidance Matinicus has no school, no store, and no ferry!
Ya, Vance is the man to follow, OH! and they have a trap war every year under Vance's guidance, yap that's there leader!
Folks...before you go and bawl out certain people on the island you should know the whole story. Chris had a problem with Vance's son-in-law. Matinicus fishermen have set down their rules for fishing off Matinicus: Be born into an island family or marry into an island family, own property, pay taxes and be a good island citizen. Vance's son-in-law met all of these requirements. He married an island girl. Vance's daughter grew up on the island, went to school there and eventually ended up there living on the island with her husband and children (child?). Chris had some sort of problem with this guy (the son-in-law, don't know his name) or with Vance's daughter and was adamant about prohibiting this guy from fishing. Vance was defending his son-in-law and Chris began cutting traps and tampering with his lobstering venture. (Much like what happened to you Gordon...very similar, funny you should side with the people who were messing with this guys traps and not with the innocent guy who was trying to start a living by lobstering - again, much like you had tried to do). So please get your position straight. Are you against the rules of Matinicus or just against certain people? This earlier part of this blog totally contradicts what you are now saying. So which is it? Do you agree with allowing people to fish the waters of the island when they have fulfilled all the criteria as set forth by the island folks themselves or do you agree with bullying new fishermen out of buisness? Chris was apparently part of the "plot" to disallow this guy from fishing. I'm not condoning what Vance did, that was a stupid thing to do and Vance will certainly pay the price for it, and now the entire island has to pay the price for Vance's dumb decision. BUT, had Chris (or whoever it was who screwed with this guy's traps) realized that rules had been followed and this guy had every right to fish the waters and had left the guy alone none of this would have happened. So which is it Gordon? Oh, why even ask...what's the point? You'll just spew the same old shit you usually spew, you just change a few of the words. Feel how you must, but be consistent. Pick one side or the other. By your words you should have sided with Vance and not Chris. Lastly, NONE OF YOU WERE THERE so you don't know the whole story. You didn't even know what I just wrote. I have spoken with many people who live there and witnessed what happened. So Gordon, which pirates are you pissed at? I forget...and remember way back in this blog when you blasted RK and Weston? You practically accused them of being crazy marauders, now you're on their side and they're great guys? I don't get it, nor do I get you. You're sick and need help. Go seek help from your god. You seem to like bringing your god's name up when it comes to your personal needs. Is god your cash machine as well? Good day all.
Vance's son-in-law is Alan Miller of Spruce Head. Traditionally, being part of a Wheeler's Bay fishing family, he has stuck to fishing his family's waters, ie. Wheeler's Bay. There is some talk that he was trying to fish both territories, which usually does not settle well with anyone. Local fishing law, for islanders and flatlanders alike is pick one territory, have a right to it, and don't stir the pot.
To the comment made to Gordon regard what side he is on!
Vance Bunker was one of the big shit stirers that wanted Gordon gone from the Island, when Gordon was there, Vance started before Gordon even showed up to fish, wouldn't buy his lobsters etc.
Now Gordon was rasied there , owned property there, and Gordon's family lived there and the proeprty had been in the family for over 150 years, and Gordon is related to MR. Hall the founding white man of the Island, and Vance still wanted Gordon gone from the Island and eventually drove him away!
I would say for Vance, what goes around comes around!
Vance is squealing like a pig!
If Vance is going to dish it out he better be able to take it.
Hope he has fun in prison, good place for him he is a total Asshole, jerk, that hurt Gilbert and Norma Ames badly and he was laughing then, now who is laughing??
Just got on!
Let me make a couple things clear:
1. Chris Young and Western Ames and Dreamy Ames, Victor Ames, and Raymond Ames had nothing to do with smashing up my boat or anything to to do with me leaving the Island, period!
2. Vonnie Ames (Dead), Austin Ames (Dead),Max Ames (Dead),Dicky Ames (Dead), Vance Bunker (jail), Ronnie Ames (biker) Gary Vandyne (Ring Movie),Clayton Philbrook,Peter Ames, Robert Young, Mark Ames, David Austin Ames, Lavon Biscuit Ames,Ellen Bunker,Eddy Spencer (biker), these people were very involved in the destruction of my property and the smashing up of my boat.
I know this and so don't they, as time goes on I'm living to see them all pay for there deeds by the hand of God.
Sooner or later what goes around comes around, like the other person said, just a matter of time, I'm a big believer in Karma!
Sincerly,
Gordon Ames
You know in Gordon's case it wasn't just his boat that got smash up he had homes on Matinicus that got destroyed and auto's and things that were stolen so the list goes on of all the dirty tricks, interesting now Vance and his family having the same thing done to them, Gordon had traps cut he went out one day and lost over 150 traps do to Vonnie and Austin cutting them off, so now Vance and his family feeling the pain of having that happen to them, I'm sure now they are getting the idea of what Gordon went through 28 years ago, IT DOESN"T FEEL SO GOOD DOES IT VANCE? VICTOR YOU CAN ALSO SAY IT DOESN"T FEEL SO GOOD WHEN YOUR ON THE RECIEVING end of terrorest, does it?
Maybe now both these men will have more respect for Gordon and what he went through at the hands of evil men!
They should have had a Fish cop on Matinicus year round!
They should have built a Fish Warden Base on Matinicus and put two or three fish cops out there with boats and planes to patrol in that area 24-7, and it would have been good for others because Matinicus is at the mouth of Penobscott Bay good for the State and good for Matinicus.
The State should have done this 50 years ago and then people like Wilma Ames and Gordon Ames and Mike Strong and others like Victor and now Chris Young wouldn't be in these positions.
It is not a good idea to let people police themselves in places like this because you have a few bulls then running the place,instead of the law of the land.
Law and order needs to come to Matinicus, the State needs to build a base there and maybe the Coast Guard will go in with the State and share the location! Be a good spot to have Law enforcement for now and the future!
Then they need to condo the lobster license and make it like Real Estate, so if someone wants to retire they can sell their license or if they want out of the business they could sell their lic this allows the community to control their own licenses instead of the State!
The State issues so many licenses, say the ones that are issued now and that will be all that is available they condo them and let the people sell them to whoever can pay the price, makes more money for the State and would also keep the ri raft out of the business!
Every time a license sells the State gets the sales tax just like in Real Estate!
The State cannot afford to not have a base on Matinicus, it makes since and is in good location to respond to other areas! Why not?
Well Ronnie Ames will have to put on his Motorcycle colors again and call up all his NSKK buddies, the gang will ride again, looking for bunkers and millers, NSKK will have one last ride, revenge of the nerds coming up!
Had they had this condo law Victor Ames could have just leased his Lobster lic.
So if someone is sick or a husband dies a wife could lease the lic instead of selling and have income coming in just like property.
Sounds interestiing..
hey lobsterboys.....how about some nice wind turbines out there? just a thought...
Seems to me from all I read Vance Bunker got caught in his own web!
He been playing the same game for years on others and then got caught in his own tricks and laws and rules, and lies, when he found himself in over his head he started shooting.
Live by that game die by that game!
Interesting how Vance Bunker wanted his daughter's husband to be able to fish Matinicus waters!
29 years ago he drove Gilbert Ames's son from Matinicus and Gilbert would have liked to have had his son fishing and to be near when he got older but no, before Gilbert's son even arrived Vance was protesting and made a big stink and wouldn't buy his lobsters and waged a campaign against Gilbert's boy, got all the locals against Gilbert's boy and if you want someone that had some roots look at Gilbert, he lived in the house that had been in his family for over 300 years and the property had been handed over for generations! Gilbert was Matinicus long time residents.
Look at Vance his father arrived around the second world war, and ever since they arrived they created nothing but trouble and they bullied there way in and became the the big shots, they drove away good people, Vance and his following decided they didn't want a store, no ferry and made things bad for the the locals that depend on that kind of convinces, not everyone has there own plane.
Vance was always neg towards Norris when he ran the boat to Matinicus, So now Mr. Vance Bunker fell into his own trap wanted things his way and this time he got brought up short, it is about time someone had the balls to say enough, to bad Chris had to get hurt, but hopefully it will change things on Matinicus for the good!
I hope law enforcement keeps Vance away from there for good!
Matinicus and its zone
In this article the fishermen of Matinicus want to have a protected zone and the easy way for the state to do this is to condo the lobster license and make each license for a certain zone.
So if you are from Matinicus and you have a current license, that license would become condo like real estate and would be owned by the fisherman that currently owns it.
Now say the fisherman from the Matinicus zone wants to sell his license; he can or he can gift it to his child or sell it to someone from Boston, Mass. Then that person from Boston owns the license and he or she can now fish Matinicus waters. Now the person that sold his license could buy another license say down in the Bar Harbor zone and he now can fish those waters.
This means no more licenses would be issued from the state and those that have licenses now would be condo like real estate; now the state makes money every time a license is bought or sold. If the state wants to make the number of fishermen smaller it can buy back some of the licenses from the fishermen at a fair market value. If they want to increase fishing licenses in a certain zone they can do so by issuing more licenses for that area and selling them at a fair market value.
This keeps the zones organized and ends the fighting over who lives there or not because if you own a license it means you have the right to fish there.
Now some people could own several licenses and fish several zones and could lease out their license just like leasing out a house or commercial property.
This is a way for the state to have less police work and let the people control by making the lobster industry like real estate.
Gordon Ames
Bellingham, Wash.
http://knox.villagesoup.com/opinion/story.cfm?storyID=169753
This is good and would end the fighting, if you can not fish you could lease your lic out to someone else, so with this in effect Victor could have leased his lic, and been legal.
A wife could lease or sell a lic if her husband was hurt or killed and make money off it to live on.
You could divide zones to east and west so you may own a lic for east part of zone C.
If you lived in waterville and owned a lic for zone C you could fish the area even if you did not live on Matinicus or another Island. That would end the fight of OH he has to live here to fish.
NO if you own a lic you have the right, you will pay taxes on that lic and the State and the towns will devide up the money.
If you sell the lic sales tax is paid to the State and devided up just like any other Real Estate sale.
Fight over, :)
There sure are a lot of Ames on the Island, can someone explain their family tree? Also, I read that Chris Young and Weston Ames are half brothers, who is their mother?
The mother is Leeann Ames she had Chris with Brad young and Western with Ronald Ames
Thanks for the above information. It sure sounds like Vance Bunker does not have a lot of support on this site. I read years ago in Readers Digest that he saved some men who went overboard. He can't be all bad, can he? Who were the other two guys who helped Vance, and are they still around?
If you read on this blog a year ago Gordon was talking about how Vance Bunker didn't want him on the Island and how he refused to buy his lobsters even before he got to the Island!
Gordon and his family had been on the Island for nearly 300 years he was a local, born and rasied and Vance wanted him gone!
So Vance has a turf thing where he wanted to be King of the hill and didn't want anyone that might threaten his position around!
Gordon was smart and a fast learner so Vance new he would be threatened for his king of the hill spot, he want to get Gordon gone before he got there, but it took 5 years and finally Vance drummed up enough support to get Gordon out of fishing!
Now comes Chris Young another local and from a long history on the Island, Vance tries to control Chris and when Vance over step his own rules of who fishes there and who doesn't then Chris calls him on it and Vance is not use to being put on the spot! It is Vance's way or your gone >> Well Chris was not taking anymore shit from Vance and the battle began and Vance was losing so he shoots Chris and tries to shoot Weston, Vance went to the dock with every intention of killing both Chris and Weston, why else would he have his daughter with a shotgun and he was carrying a pistol, He had just met his match in Chris earlier that day and knew that his day as king were over and that younger blodd was taking over, so he goes to the dock confronts unarmed men with guns and fired on them he knew what he was doing and he wanted to kill both of them, he was running afriad he was out of power, losing his position and aims for Chris's head and hits him in the neck.
I'm suprised his daughter didn't open fire with the shotgun, they both should be in jail for attempted murder!
Vance use to be just like Chris years before and bullied a lot of good men off of Matinicus, Vance was just getting what he use to give and he didn't like it!
Vance is a spoiled brat, and as for good deeds a lot of killers can be good once in awhile!
It was pure luck he found those guys that were on the tug boat, many a fishermen have saved others from drowning that is just the business Vance is no better then the next fishermen they are all good on the water!
I use to know a "Buzzy" Ames (I think he was an Ames). Does anyone know his real name, and if he is still around?
Interesting that LeeAnn had almost as many different baby fathers as babies.
I knew a "Spider" Ames, who was he?
Leeann liked men and men liked her she was very good looking!
She had great legs! :)
Interesting how the Matinicus crowd can change their story in just a few short years, I noticed when Clayton Philbrook and his lawyer were being interviewed after the court appearance for a reduction of shut down time on the fishing shut down ordered by Lapointe the Marine patrol CEO.
Here they are now saying they are just honest people trying to make a living and wouldn't hurt a butterfly and that they welcome the law to the Island.
http://www.wabi.tv/news/6790/state-shortens-matinicus-island-fishing-ban
Now here they are saying just the opposite!
"I personally have been out there numerous times," said Knox County Sheriff Dan Davey. "There is a group out there [on Matinicus] that definitely does not want the presence of law enforcement." Some years ago a part-time law enforcement officer was assigned to Matinicus, but he left the island after a short stay. Some islanders say he just left; others that he really didn't have much choice about his departure.
http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Matinicus-nearly-crime-free-definitely-cop-free/9411/
Here is another comment by Clayton Philbrook:
this place long mythologized as a pirates' island, no one is losing much sleep. "If nothing else, it adds to the mystique," Philbrook says. "We don't like to see our name in the paper, but ... it might help." Outsiders may "think twice before they cross the line."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0725/p20s01-lign.html
Seems to me Clayton Philbrook of matinicus and a few others change their story like the wind, they go whatever way the wind is blowing.
Seems they learned some politics and are using it to try to keep the legal heat off of them and the Island, give them a few more weeks or months and they will be right back to there outlaw ways!
The State of Maine cannot afford to wait any longer they need to build a Marine Base on Matinicus and put some law enforcement out there.
Maine needs to ask the Federal Government to help and build a Coast Guard Station there as well put at least to patrol boats on the Island along with Marine Patrol from Maine and the place would quite down in a hurry, also the Sheriff Dept could put 2 officers out there. This place is way out of control and will only get worse if Maine does nothing, this problem on Matinicus is not going away!
Sincerely,
Gordon Ames
Vance Bunker seemed to think he was the one God had given the torch to to decide who came and went fishing on Matinicus!
In my opinion the guy was full of narcissism thinking he was the only one that was right, no matter what.
In my blog I tell of how when I arrived home to Matinicus in 1975 Vance informed me he would not buy my lobsters,(he was the only lobster buyer). Now why I don't know to this day, I asked Vance he wouldn't give me a straight answer.
Vance after that formed a campaign against me and drove me from the Island the same way that he is now facing. I would say what comes around goes around.
Now here is my Blog written in 2008 up until now but you will read where Vance was a butt back then and drove many a good people from the Island.
"Gordon: Well I got out of the Coast Guard and went back home to lobster fish, I got a loan from the bank because I was a Veteran and bought a small boat and built some gear and went fishing moved my then wife from England to the Island and started fishing it was great at first but soon as I got there was told by the local lobster buyer, Vance Bunker that he would not buy my lobsters? Never did find out why, because I never had done a thing to the guy and just thought the world of him and his wife, Judy,she later died of cancer."
So I built my own lobster float and packed my lobsters to the mainland.
Notice this was written a whole year before Vance goes crazy with a gun.
Sincerely,
Gordon Ames
None of the Ames' have ever been without trouble. I believe I heard that Weston is a registered SEX OFFENDER. What's that all about? And his brother Spider was always in trouble too. Who knows anything about these two raggamuffins?
What I don't understand is why Vance start shooting at that parti ular time? Didn't he know that the Patrol Officer was with his Son-In-Law in his boat?
Weston is on Matinicus fishing got a girlfriend minding his own business and Spider is dead.
Vance lost control and was losing power on Matinicus, He wanted to be the King until he died, there were younger men threating his position.
Vance wanted his son in law on Matinicus and wanted to rewrite the laws of the Island to get him there, Chris Young called him on it and Vance got pissed and shot him and he would have shot more but the Warden was there!
Can someone give an update on Chris' condition? Also, does anyone remember a "Buzzy" and know his real name?
McMahan's weren't they married to Vance Bunker's daughter's?
Interesting that their boats were sunk this morning in Owls Head!
Vance wants to go back to Matinicus!
Best punishment they can give him is keep him off the Island.
Vance wants to have a drink he is quite the drinker, they took his booze away!
Best thing they can do is make sure he doesn't get another drink!
Vance Bunker I understand parted Weston Ames's hair with the first bullet, means he was aiming for his head, on the second bullet he gets Chris in the neck the guy was trying to kill both , he just missed on the first round.
I say an attempted murder charge should be on the guy and his ass should be in jail, for his safty and the safty of all.
Vance only wants to go to Matinicus to finish the job on Weston Ames!
KEEP VANCE BUNKER OFF MATINICUS things are starting to quite down without the asshole here!
To the last post
Were you close to Vance?
Has he told you he wants a drink?
Were you there at the time of the shooting (on the wharf)?
Has he stated he only wants to come back to finish up with Weston?
I am pretty sure Vance wasn't the only problem on Matinicus. Vance did not run the island nobody would have ever allowed it. Nobody runs the island, even though some people would like to think so.
Weston doesn't even live his own life.....all decsions are always made by his wife Jasmine or his dad RK.
His wife Jasmine? A few posts earlier said he had a girlfriend. Hmmmm....is he carrying on the family tradition of having a wife AND a girlfriend?
There are witnesses on the shooting so Vance can back and fill all he wants this is a case with witnesses and two people with guns >> Vance and his daughter, everyone else unarmed except for the warden!
So I would say this should be an easy court case!
I think it is all very sad
I can Not get over the way Vance Bunker has gotten around this mess he is in.
He is now claiming he was in defence of his daughter, what bull shit Vance and his daughter are the only ones with guns!
State Wardens should be on trail here for letting them have the guns, this is crazy!
Why isn't Vance and his daughter in jail?
Vance Bunker new full well what he was doing!
Protecting his daughter by letting her take a loaded gun to the dock and he carrying a loaded gun.
I would say they both intened to kill someone, only reason to carry a gun!
Vance is so full of himself he can not see he and his daughter were wrong! Maybe sometime in jail would work on both of them.
also see to it that they are not aloud to the Island for the rest of their lives along with there families! He needs to go he has been a big trouble maker on Matinicus for years!
Does Vance really expect anyone to believe he went to the dock with a loaded gun and his daughter had a loaded gun and he shot one person and tried to shot two but it was in defence of his daughter??
Give me a break >> no one else had guns, just him and his daughter!
I call BS in this!
Bunker had any smarts he would made his daughter stay up by his truck and he would have gone down unarmed like a man!
Instead he let's his daughter go down with a gun and so he carries one to and don't be fooled by the fact he had a 22 that will kill just like any other gun it tumbles when it hits and tears things up why do you think they were used in veitnam.
Vance is guilty as hell and so is his daughter they both should do some jail time over it.
Austin Ames and his rag tag bunch use to poly the same game with guns >> Vance thought that was funny, what goes around comes around >> got old Vance this time he got caught in his old tricks!
With the fish wardens there Vance didn't need a gun unless he had already decided to kill Chris Young and Weston ahead of time.
He had got his feelings hurt in the morning, young blood giving him some of the same shit he handed out to many when he was younger, he just didn't like get his own medicine back!
Vance should be band from the Island not allowed back period!
He can take his slut daughters and get out move to some other part of Maine like Owls head and stay there! :):)
It will be interesting when the entire story comes out. Stay tuned.
No matter how the story goes you pull a gun on someone your going to jail, Vance fired twice and tried to kill someone he is going to jail,his daughter will get some time as well for aiding and abetting her Dad!
I'm sure everyone is sorry doesn't change the fact you have one injured and another person that was shot at and wittnesses all around, including a keystone cop that was on the dock at the time.
Interesting how Bunker's Story keeps changing.
He is now in a fight for his freedom, good luck, after shooting an unarmed man he will go to jail.
If he doesn't I'm sure RK will get him, so he is better off in jail!
Sounds like this last person that wrote has some mental problems! She or he sure are upset at someone named Gordon, after reading kinda wondering who needs of help!
I would say they are not very Godly either with the comments about Jesus! Oh well another day at Matinicus!
Who said I want or need to be Godly??? In my experience the "Godly" ones are the first to throw aside all their religious beliefs when it comes to their personal gain. I prefer to be Godless...it's an unnecessary ill that has done nothing but destroy the beauty of human connections.
Now Vance Bunker knows how Gilbert Ames felt when they messed with his Son, Gordon!
It took all Gilbert and Norma Ames had to maintain control.
Gordon is lucky he took his mothers advice and left it in the hands of God and moved on or he would have been in the same spot Vance is now.
I see where Clayton Philbrook is trying to play politics on Matinicus, he is a two faced prick and will say whatever is good for him at the time. The State and the people on Matinicus where I live had better be aware of Clayton Philbrook he is an evil wolf dressed as Lamb. Be warned!
I live in Belfast Maine been following this blog.
I find it interesting that in a resent post someone said they went to Matinicus talked to young and old and they all said "Gordon was dumb and full of shit"
That made me laugh, Gordon is dressed in shirt and tie and has a white collar job, these people on Matinicus are blue collar and busting their ass in the cold and weather for a living!
Now who are the dumb ones?
Matinicus Journal - On Matinicus Island in Maine, Tensions Over Ailing Lobster Industry - NYTimes.com
Notice in this article Clayton Philbrook is already making threaten remarks, This system will never work because they will be at it again over who lives there.
The best system is the one I presented to you regarding condo the Lic and then it does not matter if you live there or not if you own a lic you have the right to fish the bottom that you own the lic for. This would end any future fight over you don't live here long enough etc.
If you go with Clayton Philbrooks way they will be in another fight in months because someone lived on the mainland 4 months in the winter etc.
If you condo the lic then it does not matter how long you live there you own the lic that is paying taxes to the Community and if you want you can sell your lic, lease it out, or gift it to someone else.
In the future the strong ones will buy out much of the competition anyway and that is how the whole thing will even out.
This ends the fighting and in the future you have again a situation like Vance Bunker's and he wanting his son in law there, they would just have to get enough money together to buy a lic, then no fighting!
The way Clayton Philbrook wants it is for everyone to be like him and live there 24-7, well some people have a life other than Matinicus and may want to travel or do something else then return only for the summer to fish, by condo the lic you give everyone a fair chance.
In the beginning everyone that has a lic would now be condo and paying taxes on the lic to the community & State.
But you know the old saying if you gave everyone a $100000 it would be in the hands of the rich within a year and the poor would still be poor.
The State will win if you condo the lic, taxes to the State and the rich lobster fishermen will buy out the poor ones and the whole mess will settle down and there will be less fishermen in the end, and the price to get in the industry, in the future will be adjusted just like Real Estate supply and demand!
Sincerely,
Gordon Ames
August 23, 2009
Maine's "Resident Only" Lobstering Proposal: Constitutional?
The remote islands off the Maine coast are tough places to make a living. Indeed, Maine is a tough place to make a living. As a part-time resident of Maine I am sympathetic to the pressures afflicting hard-working Mainers. As a constitutional law teacher I am sympathetic to preservation of constitutional values. So here's the rub: The New York Times has a story about the conflict between island lobstermen and lobstermen from the mainland who set their traps in island waters. That conflict led to one lobsterman shooting another earlier this summer on the island of Matinicus. Under Maine law anyone with a commercial lobster license is allowed to set his traps wherever he pleases, but local customs are not so tolerant. Unless a lobsterman is an accepted member of a local fishery, lines to traps are often cut (with the loss of the expensive trap and lines), and other illegal but effective suasions are applied. To stem this discord, Maine has permitted Monhegan lobsterman to close their waters to off-islanders, but at the price of reducing their traps to 300 apiece (instead of the otherwise permissible 800 traps). Now Matinicus lobsterman wish to close their waters to off-islanders. Let's suppose Maine does so. This effectively closes Matinicus waters to out-of-staters who may possess a Maine lobster license. (Given the local nature of lobstering, there may well not be any such people, but you must remember I am a Con Law teacher, so I claim the right to deal in hypothetical facts.) This would appear to trigger strict scrutiny under existing dormant commerce clause doctrine, requiring Maine to justify the closure by proof that no less discriminatory means are available to achieve its objective. If that objective is to secure peace in the lobster waters, perhaps better law enforcement (albeit expensive and uncertain) might be an alternative. Or, if line cutting is impossible to detect (it happens in the fog at 5am out at sea) perhaps a total closure of the fishery for some period is a less discriminatory alternative. At any rate, I am skeptical that this islanders-only proposal can pass constitutional muster.
As to a plaintiff (we're now back to the real world of litigation) a Maine off-islander may be able to bring suit. The Court is clear that discrimination against some segments of a state population is effective discrimination against out-of-staters as well. The Maine off-islander has the requisite personal injury in fact that is caused by the ban, and the ban is redressable by the courts. The fact that the plaintiff is not an out-of-stater should not matter, given that the measure affects interstate commerce and banned in-staters equally. But this is the ivory tower; in the harsh real world of lobstering litigation is unlikely to produce results. It's a Hobbesian world out there in the fog in the Gulf of Maine.
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I agree with you they should condo the Lobster lic making it like Real Estate and that way if you own a lic for a certain area, wouldn't matter where you live you would have the right to fish the waters.
It would be good for the towns they collect taxes on the condo lic and the State also would win from taxes and everytime someone sold a lic they would pay the sales tax, ends the fighting and the ones that can afford to buy a lic gets to fish!
Ends the kid stuff about he doesn't live here etc!
Posted by: Gordon Ames | August 24, 2009 at 02:19 PM
Sounds like the ACLU is going to get invovled in this Lobster Lic thing in Maine after the New York Times paper article.
Good for them!
Probably a pretty good argument for discrimination against interstate commerce.
evil
In my 56 years never seen in all my travels more evil then on Matinicus a very small Island in the gulf of Maine that could have been a training ground for Bin laden and his Al Qaeda terrorist.
These people lie in bed at night trying to figure out how to set someone up or how to to destroy someone that is a little weaker then the rest.
They use the old terrorist tack of cutting there boat a drift or smashing up something like there house or car or skiff, just plain cowardly stuff to try and discourage the target into leaving, and with no law it becomes a game of who can out do the other in destroying the others stuff.
The devil couldn't have written it down for them better. They are just a Hatfield and McCoys bunch and worse.
Drugs, booze, and evil just a bunch of out casts from the world at large.
Posted by Gordon Ames in 2007 at another blog.
I think the MCLU is taking a look at it!
That would be good for everybody if they take the case and force the State to set up a fair system for the lobstering industry.
I think that condo idea is a good one it gives more control to the owner of the lic and the area if your a holder of a lobster condo, there should be no question anymore where you live how many years your family has been there or not if you buy a lic your in period!
Sounds good to me.
Spruce Head fisherman
Matinicus Fire Chief Issued Summons For Criminal Threat
MATINICUS ISLAND, Maine -- A state trooper has issued a summons against Matinicus Island's fire chief on the charge of criminal threatening in connection with an August 10 confrontation on the island between the fire chief and a fellow lobsterman.
Trooper James Leonard said that 51-year-old Fire Chief Robert Young blocked both lanes of Harbor Point Road with his vehicle, got out of it with nunchucks and confronted James Makie, who was in another vehicle. Nunchucks consist of linked wooden sticks and may be used as a weapon.
Leonard said Young confronted Makie about rumors Makie was reportedly spreading about Young's lobstering practices. Makie had worked for Young.
The rumors did not involve a turf battle for lobstering, Leonard said.
In July, a lobsterman shot another lobsterman on the island during a confrontation related to turf. Edwin Vance Bunker Bunker, 77, was arrested on the charge of elevated aggravated assault in connection with the incident.
The shooting victim, Christopher Young, was wounded in the neck after being shot. He has filed a lawsuit against Bunker
Leonard interviewed a number of witnesses on the telephone about the incident between Makie and Young. The Maine Marine Patrol received the summons for Young and were to deliver it to him.
I find it interesting that Clayton Philbrook keeps telling everyone how his family has been on the Island since 1820 < I say that is all bullshit!
Clayton is trying to protray himself as a good local family when in fact people like Gordon Ames has family roots that go back on Matinicus to Mr. Hall the founding white man that settled the Island, also the property Gordon just sold was in his family longer then Clayton Philbrooks family have been on the Island, yet Clayton Philbrook was one of the people that drove Gordon Ames and his family off the Island and destroied his boat and put him out of the lobster business!
All so Clayton Philbrook burned down Jim Tripps house after he bought a nice home on the Island and they got into a knife fight over it, after Clayton admitted burning down his house, now that is just some of the things Clayton Philbrook has done soit does not matter if you were born and rasied at Matinicus or are a new comer and bought property!
If Clayton Philbrook and his cronies don't want you there they will not stop short of killing you and your family to get you gone!
So with that said seems interesting now to hear Clayton Philbrook talking about how he is protecting the Island and the fisheries when in fact it is all about him and what he wants!
I say the best way to go is open the lobster fisheries up to condoing the lobster lic and let free enterprise take it's course like what Gordon ames has suggested, it will weed out the weak ones and get the bums out of the business and the bullies with there mafia tactics!
Wheeler Bay Fisherman!
My, oh my. Gordon obviously doesn't have much of a life out west, since he's re-living (or trying to) his life 30 years ago on the island. WHEN is it time to move onward and upward, Gordon???!!!
Gordon Ames here:
You are absolutely right. It IS time for me to move on. Thanks!
Maine's "Resident Only" Lobstering Proposal: Constitutional?
The remote islands off the Maine coast are tough places to make a living. Indeed, Maine is a tough place to make a living. As a part-time resident of Maine I am sympathetic to the pressures afflicting hard-working Mainers. As a constitutional law teacher I am sympathetic to preservation of constitutional values. So here's the rub: The New York Times has a story about the conflict between island lobstermen and lobstermen from the mainland who set their traps in island waters. That conflict led to one lobsterman shooting another earlier this summer on the island of Matinicus. Under Maine law anyone with a commercial lobster license is allowed to set his traps wherever he pleases, but local customs are not so tolerant. Unless a lobsterman is an accepted member of a local fishery, lines to traps are often cut (with the loss of the expensive trap and lines), and other illegal but effective suasions are applied. To stem this discord, Maine has permitted Monhegan lobsterman to close their waters to off-islanders, but at the price of reducing their traps to 300 apiece (instead of the otherwise permissible 800 traps). Now Matinicus lobsterman wish to close their waters to off-islanders. Let's suppose Maine does so. This effectively closes Matinicus waters to out-of-staters who may possess a Maine lobster license. (Given the local nature of lobstering, there may well not be any such people, but you must remember I am a Con Law teacher, so I claim the right to deal in hypothetical facts.) This would appear to trigger strict scrutiny under existing dormant commerce clause doctrine, requiring Maine to justify the closure by proof that no less discriminatory means are available to achieve its objective. If that objective is to secure peace in the lobster waters, perhaps better law enforcement (albeit expensive and uncertain) might be an alternative. Or, if line cutting is impossible to detect (it happens in the fog at 5am out at sea) perhaps a total closure of the fishery for some period is a less discriminatory alternative. At any rate, I am skeptical that this islanders-only proposal can pass constitutional muster.
As to a plaintiff (we're now back to the real world of litigation) a Maine off-islander may be able to bring suit. The Court is clear that discrimination against some segments of a state population is effective discrimination against out-of-staters as well. The Maine off-islander has the requisite personal injury in fact that is caused by the ban, and the ban is redressable by the courts. The fact that the plaintiff is not an out-of-stater should not matter, given that the measure affects interstate commerce and banned in-staters equally. But this is the ivory tower; in the harsh real world of lobstering litigation is unlikely to produce results. It's a Hobbesian world out there in the fog in the Gulf of Maine.
Personally I can not see where one writer has a problem with Gordon?
The problem Gordon had 30 years ago is now a problem for Vance Bunker thirty years later, Gordon was smarter then Vance he left.
Vance shot someone, I'm sure you readers will realize this problem on Matinicus is not going away until the State acts and does something about it!
Until that happens there will be another Gordon or Vance or who ever > sooner or later it will happen again!
Have a good day!
To bad about Mrs. Ross so sorry to hear of her death, feel so bad for her family!
Great people!
Victoria was quite a lady!
Always liked Debra Ross she was a cutie, to bad so sorry to hear!
How sad to hear about Mrs. Ross. Knew her daughter Sara (ak ~ Raspberry) Thoughts & prayers to all of Victoria's family
Guess Vance Banker has his big in court on Thursday....we'll see how the wind blows!
I'm sure the Grand Jury will rule attempted murder and take him to trial, Vance Bunker so much against him !
Drum roll Drum roll
Notice how quite it is on Matinicus without Vance around!
Vance Bunker was indicted Today on two counts of elevated aggravated assault for allegedly shooting Young. He also was indicted for criminal threatening and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon for allegedly shooting at Weston D. Ames during the same altercation. Ames was not injured. All four charges are felonies with the two assault charges being Class A crimes and the other two Class C crimes. Class A crimes are punishable by up to 40 years in prison and a $50,000 fine, and Class C crimes are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
"A COLD WIND BLOWS ON THE BUNKER'S TODAY"! Sad for all families involved.
Bunker had it coming, when you play by mafia rules, sooner or later your going to get knocked out of the leaders position.
Vance has played that game for years and a lot of people have been hurt in the past.
Well Vance is now getting his turn and he couldn't take rejection so he shoots one of the guys knocking him out of position.
To bad for him he should have left like Gordon, Mike, and many others that have been rejected by the regeme that rules Matinicus!
Now he will pay the price that the mainland courts will give him, it won't be pretty.
Seems he should have kept some that he knocked out of the way in the past closer to him he would have had some alies in his time of trouble, but when his day came he was alone on the dock with his daughter, and why isn't she in court for having a loaded gun on the dock?
I'm sure this brings back memories to Gordon of when he had to leave Matinicus from that same dock, and Vance and Albert Bunker, Austin Ames were on the dock that day laughing up a storm!
Funny on that same dock two are dead and one stood alone, laughing no more, scared and with a gun and a cop on the dock he pulls the trigger on an unarmed man, Vance should have put the gun to his own head and pulled the trigger, he is a sad man!
He brought it on himself !
Gilbert Ames was a good man to Vance, how did Vance pay Gilbert back he railroaded his son from the Island, Well now Vance stands alone and soon he will be in a cell in prison thinking about a lot of things for a long time to come! ALONE
He brought it on himself!
Clayton Philbrook is the next one,he is playing politics but he has been up to no good for a long time, notice how Clayton is sucking up to Nat Hueesy knowing he will need a lawyer soon!
I live on Matinicus and I can already feel the cold wind coming on Philbrook and the others that have sided with him and Vance, here we go!Giddy up!
1.Vance Bunker
2. Clayton Philbrook
3. David A Ames
4. Mark Ames
5. Dennis Young
6. Robert Young
7. Chris Young
8. Weston Ames
9. Biscuit Ames
10. Charles Rogers
11. Jeremy VanDyne
12. Gary Vandyne
Here are 12 names, not one of these served in the Armed forces of the USA, and I'm sure if you look further at those fishing on Matinicus you will find that very small percentage ever served our country, yet they are the biggest bunch of cry babies and wanting something for nothing bunch around, Let these bunch of losers face the music and make them accountable for their stupid actions!
You know I grew up on Matinicus and my parents and grandparents all grew up on Matinicus we go back to the founding white settlers.
I was friends with Vance Bunker and his wife Judy and spent times at their home and dancing the night away with them in Rockland when I was younger.
Now when I can back home from the Military, Judy had cancer and was dying, I went to visit her and pay my respects.
Vance informed me that he would not buy my lobsters if I came back to the Island to fish and at the time he was the only buyer.
Vance later after Judy died married Kate Owen I had been friends with Kate before she married Vance and once she got with Vance she started attacking my name and calling me names and acted totally out of character for her, I also noticed that Vance's daughters Ellen and Janan were acting different towards me and did some little tricks and called me names, now keep in mind I never had a bad word with any of these people including Vance, but since they were close to Vance and Judy had died all of a sudden they didn't like me!
Like Vance was poisoning there minds towards me, next thing I knew more and more people were coming against me and they were ones associated or close to Vance before long Vance had many against me and I had not had a cross word with any of them.
Wayne Philbrook was one of them I went to school with Wayne when I asked him what was up he said not sure you will have to take it up with Vance but he is running a campaign against you.
Vance was paranoid then that someone might step in and take his position on the Island away from him and he wanted to make sure I was gone. This was in 1975
His paranoia & dictatorship, got the best of him on July 20th 2009.
By the way I'm Gordon Ames
Clayton Philbrook sucking up to Nat Hussey not (Hueesy) :)
Other than that I think the writer is right on on this comment.
If Philbrook wife wasn't postmaster he would starve!
Where does RK Ames fit into this picture?
Had I left Matinicus because I went broke or because I was lazy and didn't work would have been one thing!
But to be driven out of the business by a bunch of bullies that had nothing better to do then to go miles out there way to destroy my boat and my gear, that is another thing.
I'm not going away until every last one of them are either in prison or are dead, I'm going to keep exposing them for who they are and what they did to me and my family, they could have cared less and went home smoked some dope & drank some booze and said it was just business!
I know who each and every one of these people are and I intend to expose them over the next few blogs stay tuned.
By the way I'm Gordon Ames
Gordon I understand that you were greatly mistreated by these guys, but by holding on to this resentment and anger after all these years you are STILL allowing them to get the better of you. It is not healthy for you physically or spiritually. The best revenge would be for you to go about your life and be happy and successful!
IT'S HEATING UP AGAIN! WHICH WAY WILL THE WIND BLOW NOW ~ SHOULD BE INTERESTING!
ROCKLAND (Sep 21): A 45-year-old Spruce Head woman, whose father has already been charged with shooting another fisherman, has been indicted for threatening a group of people with a gun.
Janan K. Miller was indicted last week by the Knox County Grand Jury for reckless conduct with a firearm. The indictment was sealed until she was arrested Friday by the Knox County Sheriff's Office and taken to the Knox County Jail.
Miller has been released on bail
Two Gangs on Matinicus in 1975
One gang was controlled by Vance Bunker, the other controlled by Vonnie Ames.
Fisherman that lived on the Island were in one or the other of these gangs, those that were not in a gang were in danger of being pushed out of fishing by one or both of these gangs.
I belonged to neither gang because of the things they were up to, from drug smuggling to evil things they were doing to other people for no reason, just plan was not into there life style of drugs and booze and destroying. They had no rules just shot from the hit on who came and who went, based on their drunken parties.
So I was not welcomed by Vance's gang to begin with and was soon the target of Vonnie's gang after several meetings Vonnie had with Vance. Interesting to that Vance offered up his daughter (Ellen) to Max Ames( Vonnie's son) to keep peace between the two gangs. Max died so left Vance back at sq. one!
Now in 2009:
Interesting that over the last 30 years Vonnie died and now Ronnie Ames is in charge of the Vonnie gang.
Now the Ronnie gang said no to Vance's gang about bringing in outsider Alan Miller to fish, so Vance goes crazy over the refusal and suddenly finds himself alone without his gang with him on this one and has to stand his ground alone.Vance is now not allowed on the Island, and probably off to jail for his stupid actions on the end of the dock, in the old days it was taken care of on the water by these hoods of the ocean with no witnesses. Seems he broke his own rules for his gang!
Now seems that Clayton Philbrook has now taken over the Vance gang, so will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
Philbrook gang against the Ronnie Ames gang...........
By the way I'm Gordon Ames
THE WIND IS BLOWING COLD ON THE BUNKER FAMILY! NOT ONLY VANCE BUT HIS DAUGHTER IS FEELING HOW IT CAN BITE
can only think of a couple of other industry(both illegal) that conducts themselves in this territorial manner. Both condone illegal acts to ensure that their territories are maintained. Those would be the mafia and gangs. As a former Mainer living in Atlanta, I see gang violence on the news on a nightly basis. These thugs shoot, stab, and kill others that dare to set up shop in their culled out territories. Why would members of what should be an upstanding legal profession want to conduct themselves like common thugs?
It's time for a new business model for this industry. When is the last time you read about a farmer, mechanic, or physician destroying his peer’s property or shooting him/her because they set up shop in the same area. It may happen in rare instances, but not systematically like happens in the lobster industry. This is just sheer caveman foolishness in this day and age. I’m sure many of you have heard of the Darwin Awards. Well the people involved in this debacle are definite candidates for an award. The sad thing is that they are not alone in this industry. Be scared, these people walk among us!!!
Now there are two real gangs and two real gang leaders, both with experence,
Clayton Philbrook from his days of running drugs in Mexaco and matinicus.
Ronald K Ames from his days as head of the NSKK motorcycle gang in Rockland and running drugs from Matinicus to the gang to get them in the streets.
With Lobster prices dropping the gangs of Matinicus will have to go back to the drug running business,
Should be interesting.......
Cold wind blowing on Matinicus .. Know place to hide!
YOU'RE RIGHT THERE IS "NO" PLACE TO HIDE. IT'S COMING AND SOME IT WILL PASS OVER, THE REST IT'S GOING TO BITE YOU! THE BITE WILL BE HARD AND COLD, SO BE READY!
Hey, when the drugs start getting sold......send some down my way! I love you Ronnie K!
That last comment must have been Eddy Spencer!
I believe the Monhegan law to be unconstutional and should be reviewed.
MCLU needs to look into all such laws regarding Lobstering in Maine!
balkanization is the way of life now, it has to change, or more will get hurt.
Matinicus could have had tourism years ago they had an open door for State ferry and building a hotel but they refused, the Gangs of Matinicus didn't want it , they were afraid it would expose them to what they really were doing.
So now they are crying the blues because all they have is fishing, I say to bad you made your bed sleep in it now!
I believe lobstering will come to an end for Matinicus, prices are to high for people to afford lobster and the economy isn't going to change for some time to come!
You could have had it all but you went the way of your corrupt mafia gang leaders and world is moving on with out you! Good bye!
Canada will take your place!
Interesting that Vance Bunker and his family want to put all the blame over onto Chris Young and his crowd.
30 years ago I lost about 1200 traps and they smashed up my boat and put me out of business the law was not there to help me get anything back.
I had two kids and one on the way, I had the nicest fishing boat around at the time 40' diesel loaded with equipment.
Guess who was part of the gang smashing up my stuff and putting me out of the business?
You guessed it Vance Bunker!
30 years later he finds himself in the same spot, only he tries to kill two people, I just left to start a new life, but will never forget those that did me wrong on Matinicus!
Vance can cry all he wants he was laughing 30 years ago at me!
Who said, that what goes around comes around?
Vance could have welcomed me home but the greed gland was to big on him he wanted me gone!
Well all the money he had will be in the hands of lawyers and Chris Young's family before long.
Vance brought this on himself, he could have lived different he made the life he lived and he may have helped some but he hurt many more!
Vance Bunker is no angel!
Sooner later when your a big bad guy your going to run into someone badder then you and guess what happened he ran into the younger guy that was just like he was 30 years ago!
Good bye and good luck, Vance!
by the way I'm Gordon Ames
One single act of stupidity and this man, Vance Bunker will probably spend the rest of his short life behind bars without the comfort of his family and grandchildren. The man he shot will sue him for every cent he has, including the boat. Once this man recovers from his wounds he will probably retire off of his court settlement or continue fishing Bunker's fishing grounds,which now become his fishing grounds. YOU DID NOT GAIN ANYTHING. In fact you probably lost everything you had in a mater of seconds and you probably ruined your daughters life too. Did you learn anything?
It is crazy for Vance to think the courts are going side with him he took the law into his own hands, but from sounds of things he has been doing that for years!
So, the Wind Blows Cold on the "Bumker's, the "Young's", the "Ame's"......anyone left on Matinicus that this has not effected. Sad, that all these families have so much to lose. The Wind is biting and it will only bite harder!!!!!
Opp's......."Bunker" but it could be "Bum"
Matinicus "Resident Only" Lobstering Proposal: Constitutional?
The remote islands off the Maine coast are tough places to make a living. Indeed, Maine is a tough place to make a living. As a part-time resident of Maine I am sympathetic to the pressures afflicting hard-working Mainers. As a constitutional law teacher I am sympathetic to preservation of constitutional values. So here's the rub: The New York Times has a story about the conflict between island lobstermen and lobstermen from the mainland who set their traps in island waters. That conflict led to one lobsterman shooting another earlier this summer on the island of Matinicus. Under Maine law anyone with a commercial lobster license is allowed to set his traps wherever he pleases, but local customs are not so tolerant. Unless a lobsterman is an accepted member of a local fishery, lines to traps are often cut (with the loss of the expensive trap and lines), and other illegal but effective suasions are applied. To stem this discord, Maine has permitted Monhegan lobsterman to close their waters to off-islanders, but at the price of reducing their traps to 300 apiece (instead of the otherwise permissible 800 traps). Now Matinicus lobsterman wish to close their waters to off-islanders. Let's suppose Maine does so. This effectively closes Matinicus waters to out-of-staters who may possess a Maine lobster license. (Given the local nature of lobstering, there may well not be any such people, but you must remember I am a Con Law teacher, so I claim the right to deal in hypothetical facts.) This would appear to trigger strict scrutiny under existing dormant commerce clause doctrine, requiring Maine to justify the closure by proof that no less discriminatory means are available to achieve its objective. If that objective is to secure peace in the lobster waters, perhaps better law enforcement (albeit expensive and uncertain) might be an alternative. Or, if line cutting is impossible to detect (it happens in the fog at 5am out at sea) perhaps a total closure of the fishery for some period is a less discriminatory alternative. At any rate, I am skeptical that this islanders-only proposal can pass constitutional muster.
As to a plaintiff (we're now back to the real world of litigation) a Maine off-islander may be able to bring suit. The Court is clear that discrimination against some segments of a state population is effective discrimination against out-of-staters as well. The Maine off-islander has the requisite personal injury in fact that is caused by the ban, and the ban is redressable by the courts. The fact that the plaintiff is not an out-of-stater should not matter, given that the measure affects interstate commerce and banned in-staters equally. But this is the ivory tower; in the harsh real world of lobstering litigation is unlikely to produce results. It's a Hobbesian world out there in the fog in the Gulf of Maine.
I have to say this seems like we Mainers are going to have to change the existing fishing laws for Maine, Matinicus and others should be no different then the rest of Maine!
Bunker will need the cops with him to return to Matinicus!
Bunker has been banned from Matinicus since the shooting, but a judge on Wednesday said he can return — but only to retrieve lobster gear and only if accompanied by a law enforcement official
They should have kept him away period.
Since these men and woman want to run their businesses like thugs/gangbangers, then they shall be treated appropriately by the law. If you terrorize and use violence to protect your business interests then you will be arrested and jailed. Mr. Bunker is most likely going to have a new home for several years and may in fact die there. I hope he enjoys his new home in Maines penal system.
The comments on this blog are unreal. You people do not know the people on matinicus and only want to listen to lies. There are no gangs only in someones mind. There was a problem it was not handled well when tempers flared but it happens in every town and city in very state. Why is it such a big deal because it happened on Matinicus? The people there are nice, caring and they do take care of their own the way it should be. Matinicus is a wonderful place. You can walk anywhere at anytime there without worry. You can let your kids roam and not worry. Try that in town you would end up mugged or worse. A couple of people have a falling out and y'all make it sound like it is everyone out there and all the time well it is not. It was not right of Mr. Miller to try and set his gear in two locations it is not done. I will say if someone just moved in on his other lobster location (outsider) Mr. Miller would have cleaned him. It is the same anywhere you go quit making such a big deal about Matinicus they are normal hard working everyday people with feelings.
I would like an explanation from one of these lobstermen as to why they feel entitlement over an area of water that does not belong to them. I'm not picking sides, I truly would like to hear the rationale other than that the area has been fished for years by one family.
I have to agree with the comment just above. Most of the people are hard working and care for one another. Sure, there are some bad apples, but you have that in every town and city you go too. Matinicus is a wonderful place and I would never stop living there. How about all the good that they've done. Stop with all the bad and give some good!
Concersme, It seems that these fishermen think that they own pieces of the ocean floor and that is the whole problem. It seems to me that the state should start rejecting some of these Lobster lisences, that would free up a little more area out there. Maybe tentions wouldn't run so high. If you are caught messing with someone elses trap your lisences is gone. Maybe some of these lobstermen would think twice. Wow reading this article I never relized that Bunker and his daughter were the victims here. They both must of been so scared,"even though they were the only ones with guns threatening and shooting people". Man I can see how scared Bunker must have been for his daughter,"even though she had a loaded 12 gage shoot gun pointed at an unarmed man". Those poor souls, will they ever recover...... from shooting some one else in the neck?
The State should Condo the Lobster Lic like one guy said, and get away from this he didn't live here forever BS, these guys if they would just grow up!
The idiocy continues in the BDN journalistic accounts: "Island fishermen are protective of THEIR (sic) waters and have historically chased OUTSIDERS away." Why does the BDN keep insisting on getting it wrong? Putting it this way really lessens the BDN's journalistic credibility. They do not own the waters. Hello, anyone home? What is an "outsider"? Is it anyone whose family does not go back to the apes out there? Many of the guys who claim to be islanders are from away, live away much of the year, or have a parent from away. I guess the so-called rules are bent to meet the occasion or person.
hmmm...No speeding tickets? maybe due to the fact that there are no Laws on the island.
How come he isn't charged with attempted murder? What's the difference between that and elevated aggravated assault?
Listening to Bunker talk he still doesn't get the fact he did wrong,maybe because he still thinks he is the law on Matinicus!
You can come you have to go!
This time someone pointed a finger at him and said time for you to go!
Kinda like the mafia down in Boston, same sort of logic !
Sorry Bunker it's just business, just business!
I think if you don't fish around Matinicus people probably leave you alone, for the most part.
The problem comes in when you fish, that is when the trouble starts, the bullies think this is mine and you aren't getting in for any of the pie.
I think the condo the lobster idea is good make them pay condo dues every month to the State and taxes on the lic at the end of the year.
Taxes everytime they sell the lic, this would get rid of the riff raft and only keep the strong and finanically strong ones in there fishing and would cut down on the numbers fishing as well.
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