Joe Scavone
Long Island Traditions
Folklorist Nancy Solomon has documented the maritime culture of Long Island through these interviews spanning the years 1987 – 2016. The collection includes baymen, fishermen, boat builders and other maritime tradition bearers.
On June 8, 2011, Nancy Solomon interviewed Joe Scavone as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Joe developed a passion for the water early on, often fishing with his father and other local fishermen. Joe recounts his early memories of fishing and clamming, starting with small-scale clamming in rowboats before working on larger boats as a teenager. He discusses his experiences working on clamming boats, handling dredges, shoveling clams, and selling to major buyers and local markets. Throughout the interview, Scavone shares stories of learning the trade, the camaraderie with fellow fishermen, and the evolving nature of clamming and fishing over the years. He also reflects on the importance of safety on the water and his early introduction to gillnetting.
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