Frank Cona, a fifth-generation fisherman from Macata, a small town in southern Sicily, Italy, was born on June 7, 1987.  Cona grew up in a fishing family.  At six, Frank began assisting his father and older brother on their family’s dragger boats, primarily cleaning fish and eventually becoming a captain.  In his hometown of Macata, shellfishing was not practiced; instead, Frank's fishing endeavors revolved around haul seining for sardines and anchovies. Employing lights to attract fish and a purse seine net, he learned the techniques from his father and later attempted to apply them in the United States for mackerel fishing. In 1949, at the age of 58, Frank immigrated to the United States, equipped with knowledge in net-making. He specialized in crafting cotton nets by hand, following the tradition passed down from his father.

Scope and Content Note
In an interview conducted by Nancy Solomon, Frank Cona, a fifth-generation fisherman hailing from the Sicilian town of Macata, recounts his rich experience in the fishing industry. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the trade, Frank's father and older brother played significant roles in his early education, teaching him the ins and outs of fishing on their dragger boats. From the age of six, Frank was actively involved in fish cleaning, gradually acquiring the skills that would eventually propel him to become a captain. Reflecting on his hometown's fishing practices, Frank recalls the absence of shellfishing and the prevalence of haul seining for sardines and anchovies. Drawing from his father's teachings, he utilized lights and purse seine nets to attract and catch fish, a technique he also attempted to employ in the United States for mackerel fishing. Recounting his immigration to the U.S. in 1949, Frank shares his expertise in net-making, a craft he learned from his father, using handmade cotton nets. The process involved women from the community skillfully weaving the net material. Frank's childhood memories are filled with a love for boats and nets. At a young age, he began constructing small boats and nets, nurturing his passion for the sea. Reflecting on his father's remarkable fishing abilities and exceptional gear, Frank acknowledges the reputation his family held in the fishing community. Departing from his mother at the age of 15, Frank embarked on a journey to South America, where he lived in Venezuela and engaged in line fishing. He successfully caught grouper using lines equipped with 300 hooks, each covering less than a mile. After spending time in Venezuela, Frank worked on a marine ship, but his arrival in the United States led him to change course. Settling near the Fulton Fish Market in New York, Frank became an esteemed member of the local fishing community.