Hugh L. Dwelley's "A History of Little Cranberry Island, Maine," p. 184, describes the lobster business on Little Cranberry in recent years:

After 1996, Maine fishermen were limited by law to fishing gangs of no more than 1200 traps. At Islesford, this was not a hardship. A usual gang, fished by captain and sternman in a 36-40 foot diesel-powered boat, ran more like 700 wire-box traps. There were about fifteen boats out of Islesford and three out of Great Cranberry. Catches were good with the fisherman being paid from $3 to $5 per pound. In 1998, the co-op purchased 565,393 pounds of lobsters which it subsequently sold to individuals and mainland dealers at a good profit. In 1996 and 1997 the co-op invested a significant amount to substantially rebuild and strengthen its dock.