Jack Kelly is a lifelong resident of Southold, Long Island, and has witnessed significant changes in the local environment and fishing industry over the years. Born in the late 1940s, he grew up near Gardiners' Island, where he recalls a fort on the North side and the erosion that caused the road to wash away.

Scope and Content Note
He mentions that Hay Beach got its name from the British occupation when horses were brought there to eat salt hay.  During the 1970s, waterfront development began to take place, and Jack notes that there were no developments on his street prior to 1971. He witnessed the detrimental effects of erosion due to the construction of jetties and observed trees falling down. Jack also discusses the significance of grass shrimp, which attracted weakfish to the Peconics, and the transformation of the Port of Egypt marina from a vast tidal wetland to a fishing station and marina. The opening of the Riverhead sewage treatment plant in the late 1950s had a profound impact on the local fishing industry. Jack mentions a significant drop in fish catch within a few years, especially oysters, which were once abundant. He describes how the decline in fish populations coincided with increased development in the area. Jack reminisces about the abundance of porpoises in the bay until the 1960s but noticed gradual declines over the years, attributing it to factors such as the use of CCA treated lumber and fertilizers. Jack's observations of environmental changes continued throughout the years. He talks about eel grass appearing on the beach near his house and the brown tide phenomenon that occurred in 1985. He mentions the beginnings of the Peconic Estuary Program, where marine scientists blamed the brown tide for various difficulties, but Jack disagrees with this assessment. Despite the changes, Jack remains concerned about the impact of sewage treatment plants, chlorine, and other factors affecting the bays.