Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Jennifer Stone Gaines
  • This collections contains recordings of interviews with Woods Hole residents and visiting scientists, as part of the Woods Hole Historical Museum’s Oral History Collection.  For more information, visit: woodsholemuseum.org.

Interviewee Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Louis Doucette, Jr. Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Louis Doucette, Jr., was born in 1911 in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, to Louis Doucette, a respected fishing boat captain. Louis was the oldest living skipper in the New Bedford fishing fleet until his passing on November 16, 2006, at the age of 95. Raised in Edgartown, Louis Jr. was the son of Louis A. and Mary Jane Doucette (née Upton). He made his home in Fairhaven for the majority of his life. Louis Jr. was an active member of the St. Joseph's Church, where he regularly attended services. For many years, Louis Jr.

Robert Livingstone , Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Martin Rockwell Bartlett Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Subject: The Swordfishing Industry of the 1980s. Martin R. Bartlett was the owner of the vessel PENOBSCOT GULF. Marty came to Woods Hole in 1956 with the Coast Guard and went out on the CRAWFORD to learn about buoys and rescue. He left the Coast Guard and began to work with Frank Mather of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on bluefin tuna research. While they were on a cruise they also caught swordfish and Marty became enthusiastic about fishing for them. He fished in the Gulf of Mexico for a while out of Pascagoula, then in Georgia.

Robert Livingstone Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Mildred Wells Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Mildred Wells is a former bookkeeper and a significant figure in the fishing industry. Born and raised in New Bedford, she later moved to Woods Hole, Massachusetts, where she began working for Sam Cahoon, a prominent fish merchant. Mildred joined Sam's team in the late 1920s and worked for him until 1931 when she got married. Despite her departure from the fish market, Mildred retained a deep appreciation for the industry and its history.

Unknown Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Pete Fisher Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Peter Fisher is the entrepreneurial owner of Catamount Fish Market, a business that has been operational for one year. His journey into the fish industry was sparked by his experiences while employed at a restaurant, where he observed the intricate process involved in ordering fish. This insight led him to establish his own market with a vision to facilitate fish distribution, particularly aiming to ship fish to western New York. Fisher's business acumen is evident in his strategic sourcing of fish, which he acquires from small gillnetters located in Hyannis, Harwich, and Sandwich.

Robert Livingstone Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Russell Brown Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Dr. Russell Brown is a distinguished fisheries scientist with a Ph.D. in Fisheries from Michigan State University, as well as an M.S. in Fisheries and a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Cornell University. With over two decades of experience in the field, Dr. Brown has made significant contributions to fisheries research and management. Russell began his career in 1994 at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, where he worked as a stock assessment biologist specializing in haddock and Gulf of Maine winter flounder.

Unknown Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Russell Grinnell Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Captain Russell Grinnell was born in 1907 in Woods Hole. His father, Charles R. Grinnell, was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, then moved with Russell's grandfather to Naushon Island off Woods Hole. Charles Grinnell was a fisherman and he and son Russell fished together, gathering quahogs and lobsters, dragging for flounder, depending on the season. This was first done from a 26 foot catboat and later a 42 foot boat. Russell Grinnell joined the crew of the squid collecting boats (all named CAPTAIN BILL) owned by Henry Klimm and contracted to the Marine Biological Laboratory.

Unknown Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Ted Joseph Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Theodore M. 'Ted' Joseph was born in Chilmark, Massachusetts, and grew up in Quisset, Massachusetts. During World War II, Ted served in the US Army Air Corps from 1940 to 1945, participating in the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign. After the war, Ted joined the Town of Falmouth as a Police Officer, serving from 1946 to 1950. Following his tenure in law enforcement, he worked alongside his father at the Harborview Fish Market in Falmouth Harbor. He also contributed to the operations of Ed's Cleaners before becoming a caretaker at the Gifford Estate in Penzance Point, Woods Hole.

Unknown Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Warren E. Bailey Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Warren E. Bailey, born and raised in Woods Hole, has been deeply connected to the fishing industry throughout his life. He grew up on North Street and attended school in the village. At the age of 17, he started working for Sam Cahoon at his fish market. However, his plans to immediately join the service during World War II were delayed, and he continued working for Sam Cahoon throughout the summer. Bailey eventually enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II. After his military service, he returned to the fish market in Falmouth, where he continued his work.

Nancy Egloff Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum