Randall Hillier
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project is an ongoing oral history project documenting the history and culture of the commercial fishing industry and other port trades. The project was begun in 2004 in conjunction with the Working Waterfront Festival, an annual, education celebration of commercial fishing culture which takes place in New Bedford, MA. Interviewees have included a wide range of individuals connected to the commercial fishing industry and/or other aspects of the port through work or familial ties. While the majority of interviewees are from the port of New Bedford, the project has also documented numerous individuals from other ports around the country. Folklorist and Festival Director Laura Orleans and Community Scholar/Associate Director Kirsten Bendiksen are Project Leaders. The original recordings reside at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Maryland with listening copies housed at the Festival's New Bedford office.
Azure Dee Westwood
Randall Hillier, born in 1927 in Lamaline, Newfoundland, is a retired fisherman with a rich history in the industry. He grew up in a fishing family where his father owned a 36-foot boat and used a cod trap to catch fish. At the age of eighteen, Hillier left home and worked in St. John’s for a couple of years before moving to Ontario, Canada. In 1950, he moved to Fairhaven, Massachusetts to join his brother and sister. After working on the shore for a year, he began his fishing career in 1951, initially focusing on scalloping. In 1956, Hillier and his brother bought a small dragger, the Barbara M, and later purchased another boat, the Invader, in 1959. Hillier's brother was an expert in nets and even taught in schools. Hillier's career spanned several decades, during which he witnessed significant changes in technology and regulations in the fishing industry.
Scope and Content Note:
This interview with Randall Hillier, conducted on November 28, 2006, provides a detailed account of his life and career as a fisherman. Hillier discusses his early life in Newfoundland, his move to Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and his subsequent career in the fishing industry. He shares stories about his experiences, including the changes in technology and boats, the impact of regulations, and the future of fishing. He also talks about his brother's expertise in nets and their joint ownership of two fishing boats. The interview also touches on Hillier's experiences in St. John's during the war and the presence of foreign fishing fleets off the coast. Towards the end of the interview, Hillier reflects on the changes in the fishing community and his attendance at the Festival. The interview provides valuable insights into the life and experiences of a retired fisherman in the mid-20th century.
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