Long Island Traditions

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Nancy Solomon
  • Folklorist Nancy Solomon has documented the maritime culture of Long Island through these interviews spanning the years 1987 – 2016. The collection includes baymen, fishermen, boat builders and other maritime tradition bearers.   

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Frank Cona Long Island Traditions

Frank Cona, a fifth-generation fisherman from Macata, a small town in southern Sicily, Italy, was born on June 7, 1987.  Cona grew up in a fishing family.  At six, Frank began assisting his father and older brother on their family’s dragger boats, primarily cleaning fish and eventually becoming a captain.  In his hometown of Macata, shellfishing was not practiced; instead, Frank's fishing endeavors revolved around haul seining for sardines and anchovies.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
John Remsen, Sr. Long Island Traditions

Retired bayman and boat builder John Remsen shares his memories of storms and hurricanes including Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
Bob Doxsee, Jr. Long Island Traditions

Bob's family has a long history in the fishing industry. His great-grandfather, J.H. Doxsee, started a clam canning business in Islip, known as "J.H. Doxsee & Son."

Nancy Solomon Point Lookout, NY Long Island Traditions
Frank Rizzo Long Island Traditions

Frank Rizzo is an experienced fisherman and captain who has spent many years navigating the waters off Long Island. His experience includes encounters with American submarines and fighter ships, navigating through heavy fog, and dealing with the challenges of changing fish populations due to pollution. Rizzo has also worked with notable figures in the fishing industry, such as Captain Al, and has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience from these interactions.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
Bob Doxsee, Jr. Long Island Traditions

Retired commercial fisherman Bob Doxsee discusses how Point Lookout and Meadow Island, New York has changed as a result of storms and hurricanes.

Nancy Solomon Point Lookout, NY Long Island Traditions
Jim Rose Long Island Traditions

Jim Rose, born James Malan Rose on March 17, 1954, in Southampton, is a seasoned clammer and gill netter from Long Island, New York. He moved to the Patchogue area of Long Island in 1960 and has lived there for most of his life. Rose began his career in clamming at the age of twelve, following in the footsteps of his older brother. He started clamming part-time after school and during the summers, using an old boat he fixed up himself. Despite not coming from a bay family, Rose continued clamming throughout his junior high and high school years.

Steve Warrick East Patchogue, NY Long Island Traditions
Bill Hamilton Long Island Traditions

Bill Hamilton is a long-time member and representative of the Brookhaven Baymens' Association (BBA) based in Patchogue, New York. He has been involved in the organization since his time in Islip Town, where he initially participated in the barmen's alliance and collaborated with Brookhaven Town due to their shared work in Brookhaven waters. Hamilton joined BBA in the 1970s when the association primarily focused on clamming issues, particularly related to the use of town lands and underwater areas for clamming and oystering.

Nancy Solomon Patchogue, NY Long Island Traditions
Joe Scavone Long Island Traditions

In this interview Joey Scavone of Freeport, New York talks about his livelihood in working on the bay and ocean of Freeport.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
Bob Kaler Long Island Traditions

Bob Kaler, a lifelong resident of Patchogue, New York, has spent most of his life in the area and on the same street. He transitioned into crabbing after the decline of clamming in the 1970s. During his clamming days, he engaged in raking for hard clams. When he is not crabbing, Bob works as a bait musseler on the North Shore of Long Island in the spring. He has been involved in crabbing for twenty years and describes the area and his boat as beautiful, dubbing his boat "Paradise" to reflect the surroundings.

Steve Warrick Patchogue, NY Long Island Traditions
Flo Sharkey Long Island Traditions

Flo Sharkey, a dedicated baywoman from Long Island, comes from a family deeply rooted in the fishing and shellfishing industry. She proudly represents the fourth generation of her family working the bay. Flo's journey in the industry began at a young age, treading alongside her father. As she has grown older, she has developed a preference for scratch raking. She attributes her extensive knowledge and skills to the guidance of her father and brother.

Steve Warrick Patchogue, NY Long Island Traditions