Buck's first experiences with commercial fishing began in 1942 with a trip on Kenneth Shepherd's boat BETSY C. They landed fish at Sam Cahoon's fish market. He mentions a violent winter storm on the 42 foot boat. After that he worked for Henry Klimm on one of the first of the series of boats named CAPTAIN BILL. He recalls crew members, fishing grounds and catches. There were some spectacular catches of herring, haddock, yellowtail flounder. All fish were landed at Sam Cahoon's, and the fish were then taken to the Fulton Fish Market in New York as well as Boston. He mentions prices. Sometime prior to the 1950's Buck had his own fish traps in Woods Hole waters and then returned to working for Henry Klimm. On Klimm's boat there were some more large catches of haddock and scup. He talks about Henry Klimm as a superior fisherman and skipper. Some of the boats fishing for Sam Cahoon had home ports on both the Vineyard and Nantucket as well as Woods Hole. He discusses packing fish at Sam Cahoon's while he was in high school - a strenuous job loading fish and ice into barrels and lifting them onto a truck.

This second interview with Buck Handy begins with a discussion of herring fishing and herring runs. Many herring were used as lobster bait. Children peddled herring roe in season. The local herring run, Trunk River, is discussed along with its changes over the years. He recalls the 1944 Hurricane and its effect on local fishing boats.

Note: His recollection of the demolishment of the U.S. Fish Commission buildings following the 1944 Hurricane is not correct. The buildings were demolished in 1957-58.