Carl Sjolund
Nantucket Lighthouse Middle School Interviews
Students of the Nantucket Lighthouse Middle School, with assistance from Georgen Charnes and Gail Clark, interviewed several Nantucketers with positions related to the waters of Nantucket in the spring of 2011. Copies of these interviews are archived at Nantucket Historical Association Research Library.
National Capital Contracting
On April 6, 2011, Georgen Charnes and Nantucket Lighthouse Middle School students Katie Ponce and Evelyn Hudson interviewed Carl H. Sjolund at his home in Nantucket. Sjolund, a 15th-generation Nantucketer with Norwegian paternal roots, is a seasoned commercial and bay scalloper who has worked extensively in fisheries from Alaska to New England. In the interview, Sjolund reflects on his lifelong experiences in the fishing industry, including distinctions between bay and sea scalloping, and changes in fishing practices due to regulations and technological advances. He discusses the challenges posed by environmental factors, such as pollution and erosion, and their impact on Nantucket’s bay scallop fishery, one of the last natural sets in the region. Sjolund also recounts his family’s fishing history, particularly his father’s maritime career spanning over fifty years. Additionally, he shares insights into the evolving dynamics of Nantucket’s docks, local markets, and the broader fishing industry, highlighting issues like sustainability and the economic pressures faced by small-scale fishers.
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