Charles Thompson

Location of Interview
Collection Name

Florida's Forgotten Coast

Description

Florida's Forgotten Coast oral history collection includes twenty-one interviews documenting the seafood industry in Franklin County, FL, with an emphasis on Apalachicola, plus two interviews relating to tupelo honey. Original Collection Housed at Archives & Special Collections at the University of Mississippi and online at www.southernfoodways.com.

Interviewer
Date of Interview
01-11-2006
Transcribers

Shelley Chance

Principal Investigator
Audio
Biographical Sketch

Born in 1942, Charles Thompson spent thirty-plus years of his life as a shrimper. In the 1980s, he began making his own nets. Soon, though, Charles could see that the shrimp business was changing. In 1998 he decided to sell his last boat. Not wanting to sit idle, he began repairing nets and making new nets for the shrimpers in the area. At that time, other net shops in Franklin County were closing. A local net maker by the name of James Copeland passed his skills and his patterns on to Charles. Soon, Charles had a new demand for his handiwork. Today, Thompson's Net Shop is one of the last of its kind. Some shrimpers make and repair their own nets, and some might order theirs from a manufacturer. But the shrimp nets that Charles and his friend James Beckton make are different. They are each custom-made and hand-finished for their friends and neighbors who still work the bay.

Scope and Content Note
In the interview, Charles Thompson, a shrimp net maker from Apalachicola, Florida, discusses his background, experiences, and insights into the net-making business and the challenges faced by the seafood industry. Thompson reflects on his transition from being a shrimper to focusing on net repair and making, describing the process of making nets and the materials used, as well as the purpose of components like shrimp doors and turtle excluder devices (TEDs). He also discusses the cost of nets, the expenses involved in shrimp fishing, and the impact of regulations on the industry. Thompson shares his concerns about the future of the seafood industry, citing factors such as imports, increasing fuel costs, and environmental regulations. He highlights the decline of the shrimp industry and its impact on his decision to leave the business. Additionally, Thompson mentions the issue of turtle conservation and the role of shrimpers in turtle mortality. The interview delves into Thompson's personal background, growing up in Apalachicola, and his family's involvement in the oyster and shrimp industry. He mentions his marriage, children, and their pursuit of careers outside of the seafood industry. Thompson also discusses his plans for retirement and the potential sale of his property. Furthermore, Thompson talks about his net business, which is managed by his wife. He explains their role in making and selling shrimp nets to local shrimpers, with his wife handling the bookkeeping and shop management. Thompson expresses his desire to continue helping shrimpers and mentions the possibility of downsizing and moving to a smaller property in the future. He also showcases the net shop, demonstrates the net-making process, and discusses the inventory of equipment they sell. The interview concludes with Thompson's appreciation for the opportunity to share his knowledge and insights about the net making business and the challenges faced by the shrimp industry.


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