On April 5, 2011, Mason Gilbey interviewed Jack Dooley in Nantucket, Massachusetts, for the Voices of the Fisheries project. Dooley, a retired fisherman and scalloper, was born and raised in Nantucket and spent much of his life working in commercial fishing and yacht delivery. He has extensive experience fishing in Nantucket Harbor and beyond, including work as a charter boat captain and long-distance yacht transporter.

In this interview, Dooley recounts his career as a scalloper and commercial fisherman, discussing changes in the industry over the decades. He describes working on draggers in Georges Bank and Nantucket Shoals, fishing for cod, haddock, and flounder, and his experiences with scalloping in Nantucket Harbor. He reflects on fluctuating scallop prices, historical buyers in the local market, and the impact of regulations and environmental concerns on the fishery. Dooley also shares memories of swordfishing, harpooning, and his travels delivering yachts across the Atlantic and to Florida and Tahiti. He touches on his role in founding the Nantucket Anglers Club in 1969 and observes shifts in the accessibility of fishing docks and the decline of commercial fishing due to overfishing and regulatory changes. The interview provides insight into the maritime traditions of Nantucket and the evolving challenges faced by the fishing community.