Doug Rogers Sr. and Jean Rogers are a couple residing in Brooklyn, New York. Doug was born in Brooklyn, but his father and grandfather hailed from East Marion. During the Great Depression, Doug's family moved to Brooklyn but returned to East Marion when he was born. Doug's father worked as a house painter, and his grandfather was a gentleman farmer. Doug spent 35 years working on the bay, learning the trade from a seasoned fisherman named Raymond Rackett, who was a third-generation fisherman.

Scope and Content Note
July 17, 1997: Doug and Jean Rogers shared their experiences and knowledge about various aspects of bay fishing, including clamming, oystering, and scalloping. Clamming was an important activity, with the Rogers discussing the harvesting of both hard and soft clams. In the 1930s, skimmer clams were abundant in Mattituck, Greenport, and Southold, covering an area of 5 square miles. They were harvested using a clam rake, and baymen used them as bait, which could be purchased in bait shops. Skimmer clams were replaced by hard clams for chowders, bought by Campbell's Soup Company from a local bayman. The Rogers mentioned various individuals and companies involved in the scallop trade, such as Brauns, Terrells, and Ellsworth Oyster Company. Doug shared more about the challenges faced during bay fishing. He described how ice in the channel, up to 3-4 feet wide during winter, posed difficulties for harvesting scallops. They could spend only one hour harvesting scallops while half an hour was dedicated to sawing through the ice. Doug recalled a dangerous incident when he got stranded due to ice blocking his return, and he had to find an alternative way back to shore. The couple also discussed oystering, mentioning Greenport as the major center. They described the large piles of shells, up to three stories high, located where Mitchell's restaurant used to be. These shells were used to create favorable environments for oyster growth. The shells were planted and oysters would naturally spawn, with some shells being transported to Connecticut and vice versa.

July 24, 1997: The Rogers mentioned various oystering spots in Peconic Bay, Gardiners Bay, Orient Harbor, and Upper Peconic Bay. Doug Rogers Sr. expressed concerns about the impact of outboard motors on the bay, noting the pollution caused by oil on the water's surface. He also mentioned the presence of natural predators such as starfish and horseshoe crabs. The interview touched on other topics like the dredging process, the collection of Indian artifacts, and the history of various baymen in the area. The interview concluded with discussions about Doug's experiences working on Orient State Park, his family history, waterfront development, and other jobs he pursued besides bay fishing.