James Carey
The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection
The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection consists of interviews with commercial fishermen conducted in the early 1980s and early 1990s. Locations discussed range from New York City to Albany and time periods from the 1920s to the 1990s. The focus of these interviews is primarily on the decline of the commercial fishing industry, including changes in fishing techniques and gear, changes in water quality and pollution, economic and market changes, and changes in fishing populations, including government regulation.
Content note: Some of the terminology used in these interviews reflects the time period and personalities of the people being interviewed and not that of the Hudson River Maritime Museum or New York Heritage.
You can explore this collection and others at: https://nyheritage.org/collections/oral-histories-hudson-river-commercial-fishermen
On January 12, 1992, Marguerite Holloway interviewed James Carey in Verplanck, New York, for the Hudson River Maritime Museum. Carey reflects on his experiences with shad fishing on the Hudson River, recounting his early years learning the trade during the Great Depression and his later career balancing fishing with a full-time job in railroading. He discusses the cultural and economic importance of the river, the impact of environmental regulations on fishing practices, and the decline of traditional fishing methods such as drift netting and seining. Carey also highlights his collaborations with fellow fishermen like Charlie White and Henry Gourdine, the innovations they employed to catch sturgeon, and the challenges posed by regulatory changes, including the bass fishing ban. The interview offers insight into the evolving practices of Hudson River fishermen, the community’s dependence on the river during difficult economic times, and the enduring camaraderie among local fishermen.
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The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.