Fred Hersom is a lobster fisherman who first went out fishing with his father when he was six years old. He discusses the weather, bait, number of traps, sale of lobsters, rules, and regulations, and a typical day in the life of a fisherman. He fishes out of Stonington, Maine, and usually sets out four to five hundred traps.

Scope and Content Note
Fred discusses his life and career as a lobsterman in Maine.  He explains the number of fishing days per year depends on the weather, but he typically goes out for about 150 days. There are no limits on lobster fishing days. The hardest part about fishing is dealing with the weather and the winters. Fred uses herring and red fish as bait, and he gets his bait from where he sells his lobsters at the Greenhead Lobster Company in Stonington. Fred's work day can range from six to fourteen hours, depending on the location and circumstances. He goes out to fish regardless of the weather, as long as the wind doesn't exceed twenty miles per hour. Fred mentioned that dangerous situations could arise if there are malfunctions in the boat, but he has safety measures in place, such as survival suits, life rafts, and a satellite signal to the coast guard. Regarding regulations, there is an eight hundred trap limit for lobster fishing. Fred currently sets out four to five hundred traps but plans to reach the limit in the next few years. He hires a stern man to assist him, and they usually work together. Fred highlighted how the lobster industry has changed over the years, with the implementation of rules and regulations, particularly for the conservation of right whales. These regulations include using breakaway traps and potentially eliminating floating ropes. Fred expressed concern that covering the bottom with traps might be more harmful to the environment than entangling whales, although he had never seen a whale himself. A typical fishing day starts early in the morning, around three o'clock, with bait and fuel preparations. Fred heads out around five o'clock and starts hauling traps, which can take several hours. The most plentiful season for lobsters is summer and fall, from August to December, when fishermen typically make the most money. Fred enjoys being outside, being on the water, and being his own boss. Fred works almost every day, but he tries to take Sundays off. Safety equipment on his boat is based on the size of the boat, and he has a federal license for offshore waters. Lobster fishing depths can range from fifty to sixty fathoms. Fred also mentioned having a multi-species permit for ground fishing, although he doesn't currently engage in it. Finally, Fred discussed various aspects of lobster fishing, including the challenges, regulations, equipment, and his experiences in the industry.