Mr. Rankin explains how he got his start in the fishing business. Unlike many who end up in the fishing business he learned the trade later in life. Rankin mentions he fished once or twice when he was young but trapping was a much bigger deal. He got into the fishing business after he got out of the military and settled down with his wife. He became friends with a man who was much older than him (about 20 years older) who taught and introduced the trade.

Mrs. Bienkovitz shares memories of her childhood growing up in Bivalve, NJ. She was the daughter of Daniel Henderson, a waterman from Bivalve. She gives detail what kind of man and worker her father was and describes the oyster industry during the time frame 1930's to 1950's.  She discusses the lifestyle during her childhood, the homes and who lived in them along with identifying building where businesses were located and who were the proprietors.

Jean Reed Norona talks about her childhood growing up in Port Norris, New Jersey and her family's oyster business Reed & Reed Oystering, Co. including the oyster boats they owned. She describes the rechristening of the Schooner CASHIER in 1949 and her history as the longest, continuously operating commercial fishing boat in the US.

James Bradford was born on July 30, 1930, in Morristown, but was raised in Port Norris where he also attended school. After leaving Port Norris, he served in the Navy and was stationed in Norfolk for three years, with a one-year duty in Hawaii. Upon his return, he worked on an oyster boat for Norman Jefferies, Sr. in Greenwich. His parents were Janet Bradford and Earl Bradford, originally from Newport. He had two brothers, Robert and Earl.

George "Babe" Wallace and Freddie Smith are seasoned veterans of the oyster industry, having dedicated over half a century to shucking oysters. Their lives have been deeply intertwined with the local area, their work, and their families. Wallace and Smith's family backgrounds are rich with stories of work on oyster boats and the tradition of singing gospel songs while shucking oysters. Smith, in particular, has experienced the highs and lows of life, having been married multiple times and tragically losing his daughter in a car accident.

William H. Bradway, Jr. describes his work experience while employed by the Port Norris Oyster Company including the company business, employees, boats that were owned by the company and the captains who ran the boats. He discusses who they sold their oysters to, where the plant was located. He also goes into detail the genealogy of ownership since the beginning of the company. The company had a shucking house associated with the canning and shipping and he shares stories about the shuckers and where they lived.

Bill Biggs (1926-2001), John Dubois (1912-2001), Charlie Elmer (1912-2006), Arthur Hinson (1917-2012), Jack King (1928-2001), Joe Lore (1910-2000), and Mort Hughes (1920-2012) are retired oystermen whose recollections spanned from post World War I (1918) through the 1990s.  These men represent the fading legacy of traditional oystermen who navigated the waters during the era of sail-powered dredging. Their lives on the water are characterized by the intimate knowledge of oystering, a craft honed through seasons of planting and harvesting the bivalves.