“Rise of the Lobstering” is a piece in Conkling’s book, “Islands in Time” which brings, chronologically, information and sentiments dating back to when lobster wasn’t a commercial species to lobstering becoming a culture staple and a conservation issue. 1870’s was when lobstering rose to popularity as a resource for economic prosperity. With this financial spotlight came the first wave of lobstering laws in 1872. Conkling includes in his documentation more than just dates and facts but also the many social aspects of lobstering. He writes about “lobster gangs” and their territoriality. He discusses the flaws of fisheries management system and lobstering as commercial exploitation. However, he makes an emphasis to connect lobstering with Maine’s identity and how it connects to a patriotic view of “Americanism”. All through out the piece he brings many stories, not just his own but direct quotations from various others. He ends the piece with solutions to to flaws but also warnings of the consequences should they not be met.