Hans Davidson
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.
Hans Davidson is a retired commercial fisherman from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born and raised in a fishing family, Davidson began his career in the industry in 1974 and retired in 2004. He started as a shacker, a newcomer to the industry, and worked his way up to the position of captain. Throughout his career, Davidson worked on several vessels including the Florence B, the Dolphin, the Ambassador, and the Edgartown. He also spent time as a mate on the Eagle. Davidson's career was marked by struggles against what he refers to as "draconian" regulations and the challenges of maintaining a family life while working at sea. His experiences offer valuable insights into the life and work of commercial fishermen during this period.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Hans Davidson, conducted by Markham Starr on September 30, 2012, provides a detailed account of Davidson's life and career as a commercial fisherman. Davidson discusses his early experiences in the industry, his progression from a shacker to a captain, and the various boats he worked on. He also shares his perspectives on the challenges of the fishing industry, including struggles against regulations, the impact of the job on family life, and the dangers of the work. The interview also touches on the social and cultural aspects of fishing life, the role of unions, and the changes in fishing practices and technologies over time. Davidson's reflections offer a personal and in-depth look at the life of a commercial fisherman in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
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