Billy Grindle

Location of Interview
Collection Name

Ellsworth High School - Maine

Description

These interviews were conducted as part of Ellsworth High School's participation in the NOAA Fisheries Service  (NMFS) Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project 2003-2005.  All 10th graders participated in this interdisciplinary project that involved English, History, Social Studies, and Biology classes. To read about the LFK Project, go to http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/lfkproject/.

Date of Interview
04-28-2005
Transcribers

Brandon Stubbs

Principal Investigator
Transcript
Biographical Sketch

Billy Grindle, is a fisherman who used to fish for various types of fish from Eastport, Maine to California. He fished for scallops, lobsters, tilefish, butterfish, squid, mackerel, herring, porgies, giant Atlantic bluefin tuna, and oysters. Billy started fishing at the age of seventeen and continued until he was thirty. He owned a forty-foot boat but also worked on larger boats up to a hundred and ten feet. He kept his boat in various locations such as Northeast Harbor, Bass Harbor, Gloucester, Block Island, and Port Clyde. Billy got into fishing because he loved the ocean and preferred working outside.

Scope and Content Note
The interview took place on April 28, 2005, at Ellsworth High School Library, conducted by student interviewers Brittany Fellis, Eric Folmer, and Cameron Dows. Billy explains how offshore lobstering was the most enjoyable fishing for him due to its lower environmental impact compared to other types of fishing. He did not encounter any whirlpools while fishing in Eastport but mentioned the presence of riptides. The largest tuna he ever caught weighed 1,290 pounds and measured around twelve feet long. When lobstering, he had around 2,200 traps and would haul them in about forty-eight hours, sometimes catching six to eight thousand pounds of lobster. He had caught blue lobsters and the largest lobster he caught was around eighteen or nineteen pounds. The cost of fishing for lobsters varied depending on expenses such as boat maintenance, fuel, food, lobster bait, and fees for tying up at ports. The duration of fishing trips ranged from four to seven days for offshore fishing, while inshore fishing would involve day trips starting early in the morning. When fishing off the west coast, he worked on a sport fishing boat targeting swordfish and game fish for sport, not commercially. Billy fished year-round, with different seasons for different species and regulated fishing periods. He mentioned the dangers of fishing and the importance of having licenses, which were not easy to obtain as new ones were not being issued. Fishing required physical strength, and although women occasionally worked on the boat, it was primarily a male-dominated industry. During downtime on the boat, people would typically read or perform gear maintenance and repairs. Fishing depth varied depending on the target species, ranging from shallow waters near shore to deeper waters up to one hundred fathoms or more. Some areas were restricted for fishing due to marine sanctuaries or underground cables. Billy emphasized that fishing could be dangerous both offshore and near the coast. Overall, the interview provided insights into Billy Grindle's experiences as a fisherman, his love for the ocean, and the challenges and rewards of his profession.


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