It was a living nightmare.  Something I never want to experience again because besides the waters being closed for clamming, you couldn’t even drive through town.  There were boats in the roads everywhere.  It took a couple of weeks for bulldozers to get rid of boats.  There were boats blocking people’s front doors.  Boats that knocked down fences.  it was devastation.  The more you think about it, the more you remember.

On October 1, 1988, Nancy Solomon interviewed John Remsen, Sr. as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. John is a skilled boat builder who has dedicated his life to constructing garveys. John's passion for boat building began when he observed other individuals constructing garveys, a type of boat commonly used in shallow waters. In the early days, John primarily used cedar wood for his boats. He would visit mills in New Jersey, particularly New Gretna, to purchase oak.

On November 17, 2003, Nancy Solomon interviewed John Remsen Sr. for an oral history project. John Remsen Sr., born on February 5, 1933, in Freeport, New York, provides a detailed account of his life and work as a bayman, sharing his family's multi-generational involvement in fishing and clamming in the Freeport area. The interview covers Remsen's early introduction to the bay at the age of five, his first experiences with clamming alongside his father, and the evolution of his work on the water.

Retired bayman and boat builder John Remsen shares his memories of storms and hurricanes including Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Bayman Jon Semlear is a pound trap fisherman and bass fisherman in Sag Harbor. In this short interview he shares his knowledge of the bay, ecological changes, and close calls he's had on the water.

Jon Semlear, born in 1960, is a traditional fisherman and bayman based in Sag Harbor, Long Island. Despite being a first-generation waterman, his family has been part of the Sag Harbor community for approximately seventy years, with his father serving as a local physician. Jon developed an interest in marine activities during his youth, engaging in recreational clamming and scalloping. He pursued formal education in marine affairs at the University of Rhode Island and later transferred to Southampton College, where he studied environmental studies and marine science.

Ken Mades, born and raised in Hampton Bays, New York, comes from a long line of baymen, with his family residing in Southampton town since 1657 and in Hampton Bays since 1740. His grandfather and father both worked on the bay, instilling in him the skills and knowledge necessary for a life tied to the water. Mades briefly pursued a career on Wall Street after high school, attending the New York Institute of Finance. However, he returned to Hampton Bays to raise his family, continuing the family tradition of bay work.

On May 6, 1987, Nancy Solomon interviewed brothers Lenny and Danny Koch as part of the Long Island Traditions Oral History Collection. Lenny and Danny grew up in Baldwin, New York, where their family developed deep ties to the boating and fishing industries. Their grandfather was a captain and their father, along with many other relatives, worked as a fisherman in the region. Lenny’s career along the eastern seaboard has included diverse activities, from shrimping in Florida to dragging off the Connecticut shoreline.

Michael Combs was born on July 3, 1968, and grew up in Freeport and Baldwin, Long Island. He has spent his entire life connected to the bay house tradition, which was central to his family's way of life. From a young age, Combs was introduced to various maritime activities by his father and grandfather, including crabbing, clamming, fishing, and boating. His grandfather, George Carmen, played a significant role in teaching him these skills. As Combs matured, he transitioned these activities into a commercial venture, making a living through crabbing and clamming.

On February 4 & 5, 2004, Nancy Solomon interviewed Mike and Helen Van Essendelft as part of the Long Island Traditions Oral History Collection. Mike and Helen are long-time members of the West Sayville community, and both participated in the local clamming and oystering industry. Mike discusses the history of the Dutch community in West Sayville, including stories of prominent figures and the creation of Bluepoints Oyster Company, where he worked for 12 years.