Gloria and Samuel Cottle
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project is an ongoing oral history project documenting the history and culture of the commercial fishing industry and other port trades. The project was begun in 2004 in conjunction with the Working Waterfront Festival, an annual, education celebration of commercial fishing culture which takes place in New Bedford, MA. Interviewees have included a wide range of individuals connected to the commercial fishing industry and/or other aspects of the port through work or familial ties. While the majority of interviewees are from the port of New Bedford, the project has also documented numerous individuals from other ports around the country. Folklorist and Festival Director Laura Orleans and Community Scholar/Associate Director Kirsten Bendiksen are Project Leaders. The original recordings reside at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Maryland with listening copies housed at the Festival's New Bedford office.
Janice Gadaire Fleuriel
Captain Samuel Cottle and Gloria Cottle are a married couple with a long history in the fishing industry. Captain Samuel Cottle is a fisherman who has used the ports of Point Judith, Rhode Island for his fishing activities. Gloria Cottle was born and brought up in Wakefield, Rhode Island, which is just several miles from Point Judith, a large fishing port. The couple resides in Albion, Maine. Captain Samuel Cottle's earliest memory of fishing dates back to when he was five years old. His great grandfather, who had fought in the Civil War, was a significant influence in his life. He first went to sea when he was six weeks old and has been involved in the fishing industry for most of his life. He started working as a paid fisherman at the age of eight under his grandfather, earning thirty-five dollars a week. Gloria Cottle met Samuel in high school during their senior year. They started dating and got married after graduation. They have been married for fifty-nine years.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Captain Samuel Cottle and Gloria Cottle, conducted by Janice Gadaire Fleuriel, took place at the New Bedford Harbormaster House during the Working Waterfront Festival on September 27, 2008. The interview covers a wide range of topics related to the couple's personal background, family ethnic background, and involvement in fishing. Captain Samuel Cottle shares his experiences in the fishing industry, starting from his childhood memories with his great grandfather to his current activities. He talks about his first trip to sea when he was six weeks old, his work as a paid fisherman at the age of eight, and his experiences with his grandfather. Gloria Cottle shares her experiences growing up in Wakefield, Rhode Island, meeting Samuel in high school, and their life together after marriage. The interview also covers topics such as superstitions in the fishing industry, the couple's views on women on boats, unexpected catches, and stories of colorful characters they knew growing up.
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