Cape Cod River Herring Warden Oral History Project

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Abigail Franklin Archer

  • This is a collection of interviews with people who serve the role of, “herring warden” in their respective towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As of July 2019 interviews are still being conducted and added to this database as they are completed.  Each audio file has been transcribed and photos are included if they were available.

    Massachusetts has more than 100 herring runs – rivers in which two species of fish known as ‘river herring’ migrate from the ocean into freshwater rivers and ponds to spawn.  Since the 1600s MA towns have appointed herring wardens to regulate the harvest of Alosa pseudoharengusand Alosa aestivalisand maintain clear passage for them to the spawning grounds.  In-river harvest of these fish has been important for a long time – they were used as food by Native Americans and early colonists. The harvest continued to be important for food, fertilizer and bait right up until 2006.  Starting in 2006 the MA Division of Marine Fisheries prohibited harvest in response to declining populations.

    The interviews were conducted by Abigail Archer, a Marine Resource Specialist and Extension Agent with the Barnstable County Cooperative Extension Marine Program and Woods Hole Sea Grant.  She coordinates a group in Massachusetts called the, “River Herring Network” that is composed of town river herring wardens from Cape Cod and Southeastern MA. 

     

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Interviewee Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Frank & Marian Borek Cape Cod River Herring Warden Oral History Project

Frank and Marian Borek are a married couple who have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to the conservation and management of natural resources in the Town of Brewster. Frank, with a background in education, spent years imparting knowledge as a teacher before taking on the role of a Herring Warden. His passion for teaching is matched by his love for cooking, a hobby that he relishes in his personal life. Marian, alongside Frank, has been an integral part of the herring management efforts in Brewster.

 Abigail Franklin Archer Brewster, MA Woods Hole Sea Grant, Barnstable County Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Doug Kalweit Cape Cod River Herring Warden Oral History Project

Since 1972, Doug Kalweit has worked for the Town of Barnstable and is now the Supervisor of the Barnstable Natural Resources Department. In these roles, he has been at the forefront of local conservation efforts, particularly in the realm of aquatic life management. His expertise encompasses a broad range of environmental disciplines, but he is especially known for his work with anadromous fish species, such as river herring.

 Abigail Franklin Archer Centerville, MA Woods Hole Sea Grant, Barnstable County Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Henry Lind Cape Cod River Herring Warden Oral History Project

Henry Lind began working for the Town of Eastham in Barnstable County in 1971 as a shellfish warden and conservation agent. Born in the mid-20th century, Lind's early life was shaped by a profound appreciation for the natural world, which led him to pursue a career in environmental management. After completing his education, with a focus on marine biology and environmental science, he joined the Town of Eastham's Natural Resources Department in 1971.

 Abigail Franklin Archer Barnstable, MA Woods Hole Sea Grant, Barnstable County Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
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