Bob Peacock on the Downeast Sardine Industry

The lower floor of the Eastport Arts Center was properly packed on Sunday, September 14, as Captain Bob Peacock provided a compelling history of the sardine industry from a firsthand perspective. Peacock’s family started the R.J. Peacock Canning Company in Lubec in 1917 and as a result he grew up embedded in the tight-knit community.

“Generally if you grew up here, you were in the sardine industry,” said Peacock, noting that between 1900-1920, approximately 10% of the workforce in the state was involved in it. “It was huge.” The sardine boom led to Eastport’s population growing to 5,000 at the turn of the century, 520 of whom were directly employed by the industry. “What that created was a shopping center here.”

In 1950, there were 52 factories in Maine and 21 in New Brunswick, including nine factories in Eastport and six in Lubec, along with others scattered around Robbinston, Pembroke, Machiasport and elsewhere.

Growing up on the factory floor, “I had about 200 parents,” Peacock said, recounting how closely connected the workers were. While about 90% were friends and family members, “10% hated each other,” and that could be difficult to manage at times.

The workers were generally women between 16-90, Peacock said, and most of them were making more than minimum wage – a factor he said helped them retain their workforce, along with providing housing when possible. At a time when minimum wage was $5 an hour, there were several women making $17 or more. “I would have paid them $100 an hour. If you could pack that fast, come on down,” Peacock said.

Among the biggest characters Peacock remembers is Edith Comstock, who spent most of her life working in the factory. When she got old enough to live in a nursing home, she insisted that Peacock bring a bus for her and her sister to continue working on the floor for two hours every day. “That continued for some time,” he said with a laugh.

The fish were caught in weirs, a technology developed by Native Americans, Peacock said, noting that one petrified weir appearing to date back 10,000 years was recently found in a Maine lake. Fish caught in modern weirs were held until their stomachs were emptied to make them suitable for canning, while fish caught by sardine carriers were used for lobster bait.

The 1940s saw the biggest herring catches ever in the community, with 700,000 cases being packed and sent out each year. That coincided with the wartime effort, fortunately – as the canned fish were deployed as much-needed rations for civilians located in liberated zones.

The canned sardines sent overseas had the logos and towns of origin on them, which led to more than one instance of a person coming up to Peacock and sharing that while they were starving “‘somebody gave me a can of your sardines’,” he said. “It really made for an interesting time later.”

The Canadian government’s subsidy of the sardine factories outcompeted private investors in the U.S., contributing to the downfall of the U.S. industry, Peacock said. The decline of the fish population was another factor, he shared, recalling that when he was younger he and his brother used to go down and spear flounder at low tide and sell them for $0.25 each. Schools of sardines that reached 35 miles in length weren’t uncommon to see by pilots spotting them by air.

“It was hard work. It was long hours. But generally we all got along,” Peacock summarized.

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