As you can see, not all fishermen on lobster boats use traps these days, but they all continue to wear “oilskin” bib pants. Today, waterproof oilskins often are made of breathable rubber or flexible PVC-coated synthetic fabric – the right stuff for fishing in foul weather and other wet activities.
In days of yore, fishermen wore real oilskins, often made of discarded sailcloth coated with linseed oil and wax, which created a waterproof and breathable garment.
The bibbed fisherman shown here in Dear Abbie: is Nolan Candage, the son of the owner of another good-looking local fishing vessel, Judith Ann. (Brooklin, Maine) Click on image to enlarge it.