James Dwyer and Paul Swain
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project is an ongoing oral history project documenting the history and culture of the commercial fishing industry and other port trades. The project was begun in 2004 in conjunction with the Working Waterfront Festival, an annual, education celebration of commercial fishing culture which takes place in New Bedford, MA. Interviewees have included a wide range of individuals connected to the commercial fishing industry and/or other aspects of the port through work or familial ties. While the majority of interviewees are from the port of New Bedford, the project has also documented numerous individuals from other ports around the country. Folklorist and Festival Director Laura Orleans and Community Scholar/Associate Director Kirsten Bendiksen are Project Leaders. The original recordings reside at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Maryland with listening copies housed at the Festival's New Bedford office.
Azure Dee Westwood
Jim Dwyer and Paul Swain are seasoned veterans of the fishing industry, residing in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Their extensive experience and deep knowledge of the industry, its history, and its community make them valuable sources of information.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Jim Dwyer and Paul Swain, conducted by Millie Rahn and transcribed by Azure Dee Westwood, took place at the HDC oral history station on September 25, 2004. The interview covers a wide range of topics related to the fishing industry in New Bedford, including the use of nicknames, superstitions, and the presence of dogs on fishing vessels. Dwyer and Swain discuss the close-knit nature of the fishing community, the impact of accidents and tragedies at sea, and the ethnic diversity within the industry. They also touch on the evolution of the industry, the need for incentives to attract new workers, and the progression of different ethnic groups within the industry. The interview concludes with a discussion of the dangers at sea, the loss of men at sea, and their love for their job despite the risks. The interview provides a rich and detailed account of life in the fishing industry in New Bedford, offering valuable insights into the community, its history, and its evolution.
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