Don Kearsley was born in 1940 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and grew up in the nearby town of Linwood on Skull Bay. Kearsley learned fishing skills from the father of a friend, a professional fisherman who operated a seventy-five-foot boat. Kearsley did not come from a family with a fishing background; his interest in fishing developed due to his proximity to the water. His grandfather was from England, and his grandmother was from Ohio. Kearsley started clamming and fishing in his youth and decided to pursue fishing as a profession after high school, influenced by the scarcity of jobs and his familiarity with the water. He worked on various fishing boats, including scallop and clam boats, and gained experience in different fishing techniques and equipment maintenance. Kearsley moved to Freeport, New York, in 1967, drawn by the fishing opportunities and the community of fishermen he met. He has since operated several boats, both his own and others', and has continued to fish in the Atlantic and surrounding waters​​.

Scope and Content Note
The interview with Don Kearsley, conducted on May 10, 1987, covers his personal background, early influences, and professional experiences as a fisherman. Kearsley discusses his upbringing near Atlantic City and the development of his fishing skills under the mentorship of an experienced fisherman. The interview delves into the traditional methods of clamming and offshore fishing, the evolution of fishing equipment, and the transition from using cotton and linen nets to nylon and poly nets. Kearsley describes the challenges of fishing, including dealing with nature's unpredictability, learning various technical skills such as net making and engine maintenance, and the importance of understanding weather patterns and marine electronics. He also recounts his experiences working on different types of boats, including scallop and clam boats, and the camaraderie and mutual support among fishermen in the Freeport community.