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 ascending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Thomas Quintin, Jr. Fishtales

Captain Quintin is a third generation fisherman. He tells of a few stories from his career including a prank he pulled on a crew member, the Perfect Storm, and an deck accident which happened to one of his crew.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
Thomas O'Shaughnessy Fishtales

Thomas O'Shaughnessy recounts the time he drift dived off Molokini in Hawaii.

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

Tammy Frye is a former fisherman as well as the daughter, wife and mother of fishermen. She tells about the loss of her two grandfathers at sea, her time fishing with her husband, how she found out she was pregnant, and the decisions her sons have made about their careers at sea.

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

Sarah Schumann is a commercial shell fisherwoman in Rhode Island. She currently targets underutilized shellfish species such as razor clams and periwinkles. She tells how she began her commercial fishing career.

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

Rodney Avila is a retired commercial fisherman who fished for over 60 years. He is a fourth generation fisherman, his son is the fifth generation. He tells a few stories from his career about storms at sea, pranks and jokes, unusual catches, and his worse trip.

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

Bob Richardson is the son of a fisherman and was a fisherman before becoming a minister. He talks about life on his father's boat, his one fall overboard, and how the sea gets into your blood.

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

Mr. Violino tells the story of a radio transmission he overheard on the Cape Cod Canal.

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

Mr. Lowell talks about his experience as a recreational shellfisherman and diver.

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

Mr. Dubowik is a third generation fisherman from New Bedford. He tells a bit about his time as a fisherman, how he came to be a fisherman, and a close call at sea.

Markham Starr New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival
Renee Ruscoe, Part 2 Fishtales

Renee Ruscoe is originally from Mississippi but now fishes in the Pacific Northwest. In the first interview, she tells how she came to be a fisherman. She explains about life on a salmon purse seiner, how the seine works, and the day to day life on board. In the second interview, she tells the story about being buried in the net on the deck and how the captain left her there while finishing hauling in the fish. He wrote a poem about the experience which she shares in this interview.

Patricia Pinto da Silva New Bedford, MA Northeast Fisheries Science Center - NOAA, Working Waterfront Festival