You can no longer hear the rapid-fire spiel of a fast-talking auctioneer at the fish auction on the Portland waterfront.
These days, the auction at the Portland Fish Exchange is run by a computer program. Instead of raising numbered paddles in the air, seafood buyers place their bids by tapping the space bar on their computer keyboards.
After more than 20 years with an auctioneer, the Fish Exchange, where buyers bid on fresh seafood caught by New England fishermen, has entered the eBay era.