You're correct that I'm over-generalizing and my apologies. My impression, spending far too many hours in harbors talking with lobstermen left me with a different impression. Yes, many are educated and well-spoke; but many/most stated they weren't cut out for classrooms and barely eeked out H.S.

I'm not saying anyone needs college , I was saying that the trades you mentioned are perfectly fine; my point being that I didn't think any given area could handle that many tradesmen w/out other economic improvements just to be able to hire them and keep them in their trade.