Fishtales

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Laura Orleans, Patricia Pinto da Silva
  • Fishtales was a collaborative effort between the Working Waterfront Festival and the Social Services Branch of the Northeast Fisheries Science of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Fishermen and others connected to the working waterfront who attended the 2012 and 2013 Working Waterfront Festival in New Bedford were invited to share short stories on a variety of topics such as storms, close calls, unusual catches, workplace pranks, tales from the home front, and more. Project leaders were Laura Orleans and Patricia Pinto da Silva.

Interviewee Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Galon "Skip" Barlow Fishtales

Mr. Barlow describes a day shellfishing which did not go as he planned.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
George Edwards Fishtales

Mr. Edwards tells the story of a time his father was thought lost at sea.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
Isa Najjar Fishtales

Mr. Najjar grew up in Nantucket and New Bedford. He tells stories of fishing off Sconset Beach in Nantucket and of his Cape Verdean family heritage.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
James Dwyer, Jr. Fishtales

Jimmy Dwyer has been a lumper in New Bedford since 1960. He talks about his work as a lumper, his connection with a vessel lost at sea, his very short fishing career, and the nicknames of those on the New Bedford waterfront.

Ace Elijah-Burgess New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
James Tomasia Fishtales

James Tomasia was born in the Azores and immigrated to the United States when he was a boy. He talks about his life growing up, how he became a lumper, what a lumper does, and about the changes he has seen.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
John Isaksen Fishtales

John Isaksen has been a fisherman since the 1940's. He began fishing as a boy when he lived in Norway. He is the son of a fisherman. He talks about vessels lost at sea, unusual catches, and the men he learned from and the vessels he fished on.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
Jon Campbell Fishtales

Jon Campbell discusses life growing up in a fishing community.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
Kathleen Reed Fishtales

Ms. Reed operated a bed and breakfast in Fairhaven, MA for many years. She tells the story about visiting the New Bedford fish auction which used to take place in the Wharfinger Building on Pier 3.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
Len Tchorz Fishtales

Len Tchorz was a fisherman for thirty-five years, worked for the Steamship Authority, and worked on a tug boat. He tells how he began in the industry and nicknames of those men who worked on the waterfront. He tells about his second trip which ended when his fishing vessel ran into an ocean liner in the fog.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
Melvin Shorey Fishtales

Melvin Shorey has fished for over thirty-four years. He has worked as a scalloper, as swordfisherman, and a draggerman.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival