Wild Caught: The Life and Struggles of an American Fishing Town

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  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Matthew Barr
  • For 300 years, the fishermen of Sneads Ferry, N.C., have practiced sustainable, small- scale commercial fishing, passing on the traditional lore of the sea from generation to generation. In the early 21st century, imported farm-raised shrimp, skyrocketing coastal development, and complex regulations threatened to push many fishermen to the brink of disaster. Wild Caught captures the wisdom and resilience of an extraordinary community.

Interviewee Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Terry Huie Wild Caught: The Life and Struggles of an American Fishing Town

Matthew Barr interviewed Terry Huie for the Wild Caught project. Terry Huie is a resident of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, and married to Paul Huie, a lifelong commercial fisherman. Originally from New York, Terry moved to North Carolina after meeting Paul, who was connected to her sister's family through the Marine Corps. In this interview, Terry shares her experiences and perspectives on being part of a fishing family. She discusses the challenges and changes in the fishing industry over the years, particularly noting the increasing regulations and financial burdens placed on fishermen.

Matthew Barr Sneads Ferry, NC Unheard Voices Project
Tom Bergess Wild Caught: The Life and Struggles of an American Fishing Town

Tom Bergess, a Long Island native, grew up in an area where clamming was a popular occupation, and relocated to Sneads Ferry, North Carolina.  He was inspired to become a clammer by neighbors who were involved in the trade. Bergess has been clamming for approximately thirty years and enjoys the physical labor and the freedom of being his own boss, working on the water, and being outside. He has also been involved in discussions about creating a scholarship fund for high school students and a memorial for fishermen who have lost their lives at sea.

Matthew Barr Sneads Ferry, NC Unheard Voices Project
Tommy Everett Wild Caught: The Life and Struggles of an American Fishing Town

Matthew Barr interviewed Tommy Everett on July 19, 2000, for the Wild Caught project. Tommy Everett is a lifelong resident of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, and works for LT Everett & Sons Seafood. Everett's father initiated the business around 1940, constructing a small building to provide local fishermen a place to market their catch. Over the decades, the business faced challenges such as hurricanes and a fire in 1980, each time rebuilding and modernizing. Everett took over the family business in 1971, partnering with his brother.

Matthew Barr Sneads Ferry, NC Unheard Voices Project
Vickie Davis Wild Caught: The Life and Struggles of an American Fishing Town

Vickie Davis is a resident of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, where she has lived her entire life. Vickie is married to Billy Davis, whose father started a family tradition of shrimping, which his three sons and one daughter, married to another fisherman, continue to this day. Vickie contributes to the family business part-time while also working as a dental hygienist. She assists her husband in managing their fish house, where they process and sell shrimp and fish. Vickie’s role in the business includes packing seafood brought to the dock and engaging in retail and wholesale transactions.

Matthew Barr Sneads Ferry, NC Unheard Voices Project
William Everett Wild Caught: The Life and Struggles of an American Fishing Town

Matthew Barr interviewed William Everett for the Wild Caught project. Born in 1928, William Everett is a lifelong resident of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina. Everett describes his family's deep roots in the community, with a continuous presence since just after the Civil War. After serving in the Air Force, Everett chose to return to Sneads Ferry due to the improvements that had taken place during his absence, particularly valuing the community's quietness and slow pace of life. In the interview, Everett discusses the local fishing and farming practices that defined his upbringing.

Matthew Barr Sneads Ferry, NC Unheard Voices Project