Charles Brower is a seasoned fisherman and bayman, hailing from a long line of individuals who have made their living off the waters. Born and raised in Baldwin Harbor, he began his fishing journey at the young age of 15 under the tutelage of his father, who taught him the art of cod fishing. Brower Avenue itself is named after his great-grandfather, showcasing the family's deep connection to the fishing industry. Throughout his career, Charles Brower primarily engaged in net fishing, specifically using a gillnet. This unique net had a square shape with a 5-inch mesh and was a quarter of a mile long. Brower acquired his gillnet from a hardware store in Baldwin, which no longer exists.

Scope and Content Note
Charles Brower’s interview touches upon historical anecdotes, including his father's involvement in rum running during Prohibition, as well as the changes in street names and the evolution of the bay's landscape. He expresses concern over the increasing pollution and the impact it has had on clamming and water quality, emphasizing the need for improved sewage systems. During the winter months, Brower focuses on cod fishing, meticulously preparing hooks and lines, which involved placing 3,000 to 4,000 hooks along a 2-mile long line. Selling their catch was a crucial aspect of their routine, as the fish would naturally migrate toward the ocean in the morning. Over the years, there were notable changes in the materials used for fishing lines, transitioning from cotton to nylon, which allowed for their reuse. Previously, lines had to be replaced entirely each year, and Brower vividly recalls the arduous task of making one line, which took an entire day to complete. He typically had five lines in rotation for his fishing endeavors.When it came to bait, Brower relied on skimmer clams, which were obtained by tonging on sandbars in the ocean. Clamming in the bay did not yield skimmer clams. After returning from fishing, Brower and his crew would wash the clams and use them to bait the lines for the following day. Throughout his fishing career, Charles Brower had the opportunity to work with various individuals in the industry. Notable names include Old Lenny Koch, who utilized cloth lines, and his fellow fishermen who lived on the water. While some individuals owned bay houses for recreational purposes, most fishermen relied on the water for their livelihood. Beyond fishing, Brower dabbled in other harvesting activities such as clamming, employing techniques like treading, raking, and tonging. He had also explored eel trapping, using specific traps made of wire and wood. To attract eels, horseshoe crabs were used as bait, and Brower shares intriguing details about their mating season and the process of aging the eel traps. In his later years, Brower acquired his own boat and served in the army before returning to Baldwin after his father's passing. He appreciates the independence and self-reliance that being a fisherman brings, although he acknowledges the challenges of learning the trade without formal instruction. Navigational skills and a keen sense of direction are essential, as getting lost in the water can be a real danger. Throughout the interview, Brower’s deep connection to the bay and his love for the water become evident. He finds solace and a sense of belonging in the bay, despite the changes and challenges brought about by modernization.