Bob Slager
Long Island Traditions
Folklorist Nancy Solomon has documented the maritime culture of Long Island through these interviews spanning the years 1987 – 2016. The collection includes baymen, fishermen, boat builders and other maritime tradition bearers.
Robert Lowell Slager, also known as Captain Bob, was born in Bay Shore in 1945 and has lived his entire life in West Sayville, Long Island. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who was involved in shellfish management, dredging, and tonging. Slager quit high school at the age of sixteen in 1968 and started dredging clams, becoming the youngest captain on the bay. He continued this work until 1982, during which time he also participated in various projects aimed at supporting the stocks of the bay. However, his clam dredging business was forced to close when Islip Town cancelled their leases in 1982. Following this, Slager went to work for a shipyard. Despite not having a hundred-ton license, Slager prides himself on his ability to run a boat just as well as any licensed captain.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Robert Lowell Slager, conducted by Steve Warrick of Long Island Traditions on July 16, 2000, provides a detailed account of Slager's life and work as a clam dredger in West Sayville, Long Island. Slager discusses his early life, his decision to quit high school and follow in his father's footsteps, and his experiences working on the bay. He also shares his views on the changing nature of the bay, noting the shift from commercial to pleasure boats over the years. Slager's pride in his work and his ability to run a boat, despite not having a license, is evident throughout the interview. He also expresses his satisfaction with his life and work, and his admiration for the hardworking people who make their living on the bay. The interview concludes with Slager's reflections on the challenges faced by those who work on the bay and his wish to return to it.
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