Betty Higbee of Fortescue, New Jersey, is owner and operator of Higbee's Luncheonette.. She was born and raised in Cedarville, a nearby town, and attended high school with her late husband, Clarence Higbee, who was affectionately known as Bunky. The couple got married almost fifty-seven years ago and had four children together. Bunky was a lifelong resident of Fortescue, having lived there for seventy-six years. He was born and raised in the same house that Betty and he later lived in, making him a fourth-generation resident of the small house.

Owen J. Carney is a retired state worker from New Jersey who has a unique history with the Salt Hay Rope Making machine, a piece of equipment that is now in the possession of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve. Carney's family history is deeply intertwined with the machine. His father worked for a cast iron pipe company in Camden, NJ, where salt hay rope was used in the making of cast iron pipes. After leaving the company, his father obtained one of the machines and brought it to his property in Port Norris.

Jode Hillman, a professional decoy carver, has been in the profession for about seventeen years, with the last six years being professional. He specializes in making cedar decoys, which are primarily used for duck hunting. However, many people also collect these decoys as decorative items. Hillman's interest in the bay, duck hunting, and life on the marshes is deeply rooted in his family history. His father's family, the Hillmans, were avid fishermen who would often visit Fortescue for fishing trips during the weakfish boom years.

Olin McConnell is a passionate storyteller and the grandson of Charles "Chillie" McConnell, a renowned artist. Born and raised in Port Norris, New Jersey, Olin developed an appreciation for his grandfather's artistic legacy from a young age. Growing up surrounded by McConnell's artwork and hearing tales of his grandfather's artistic endeavors, Olin developed a keen eye for detail and a profound understanding of the impact of art on communities. Olin became a knowledgeable and enthusiastic advocate for preserving his grandfather's artistic contributions.

Beryl Kane was born and raised in Port Norris, New Jersey. Her mother, Stella Glover Roth, was originally from Camden and Collingswood and was born on July 16, 1896. Beryl recalls her mother as a strict disciplinarian who ensured that her children were always present for dinner when it was ready. Before getting married, Stella worked at the telephone company and later at a corporation where she handled delicate mantels in gas lights. Beryl has a son who is now retired. Alice Gerard, like Beryl, was also born and raised in Port Norris, New Jersey.

Ruth Yentsch Lobach (b. 1917) spent weekends as a child in Maurice River, New Jersey, in the 1920s and 1930s. Starting at the age of 7, she recalls traveling by car to Maurice River, NJ from Camden, NJ and then in pitch darkness, rowing across the Maurice River to her family's cabin. She describes her days, her family's cabin, her mother's garden, her father and the boys recreational fishing, various people and playing with shuckers' children. Etched in her mind forever is watching the schooners under sail leave during Bay Season. Mrs.

Don McDaniels' great-grandfather was Charles Riggin who was the patriarch of a well-known oystering family. Mr. Riggin had the schooners AMELIA RIGGIN, J&E RIGGIN and C.M. RIGGIN. The J&E RIGGIN won the Delaware Bay Schooner Race of 1929. Don started oystering in 1958 and also tonged for seed oysters. But, by 1966 switched to clamming (surf clams and Quahogs). He discussed the clamming schedule and seasons, laws, regulations & permits, and areas he worked out of including Point Pleasant Beach, Barnegat, Atlantic City, Cape May, Maryland and Virginia.

Louis Peterson is a seasoned oysterman with a rich history in the oyster industry. Born into a family with a long lineage of oystermen, Peterson represents at least the fourth generation of his family to work in the industry. He is a recognized figure in the National Register of folklore in Washington, DC, known for his extensive knowledge and history of the oyster industry. Peterson is also a skilled craftsman, having built machines for the oyster industry and having a deep understanding of the tools used in oyster harvesting, such as oyster tongs.

Clyde A Phillips tells of his life and family ownership of the oyster boat CLYDE A. PHILLIPS and Phillips Seafood Packing Company and its brand Phillips' Jersey Cape Fresh Salt Water Oysters. His memories as a child, working the boats in his father's oyster business and shucking house, his family and jobs he had. He locates many of the businesses in Port Norris and Bivalve.

Harold Bickings Jr. is a descendant of a long line of oyster fishermen who have been in the business since the 1800s. His great-grandfather, a Danish immigrant, started the family's involvement in the oyster industry, which was carried on by subsequent generations. Bickings Jr. has a wealth of knowledge about the family's history in the oyster business, including the trials and hardships they faced, the locations of their businesses, and the names and locations of other companies in the Port Norris and Maurice River area.