Albert Cutler
The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection
The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection consists of interviews with commercial fishermen conducted in the early 1980s and early 1990s. Locations discussed range from New York City to Albany and time periods from the 1920s to the 1990s. The focus of these interviews is primarily on the decline of the commercial fishing industry, including changes in fishing techniques and gear, changes in water quality and pollution, economic and market changes, and changes in fishing populations, including government regulation.
Content note: Some of the terminology used in these interviews reflects the time period and personalities of the people being interviewed and not that of the Hudson River Maritime Museum or New York Heritage.
You can explore this collection and others at: https://nyheritage.org/collections/oral-histories-hudson-river-commercial-fishermen
On August 1, 1992, Marguerite Holloway interviewed Albert Cutler at his home in Saugerties, New York. Cutler recounts his experiences as a fisherman on the Hudson River, detailing his sturgeon and shad fishing practices from the 1930s to the 1950s. He describes the fishing techniques, equipment, and challenges, including environmental changes and the impact of industrial pollution, such as PCB contamination. Cutler reflects on the economic and cultural significance of fishing, his role in the community, and the decline of the fishing industry in the region. The interview covers Cutler's personal background, including his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II and his post-war career as a mail carrier. He discusses his observations of the river's transformation over decades, including changes in the ecosystem, fishing regulations, and the local community. Cutler also shares anecdotes about fellow fishermen, family life, and his enduring love for the river despite no longer actively fishing.
Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc. The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry.
The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.