Kaare Ness, a Norwegian immigrant, was born in Norway and moved to the United States in 1955. He initially settled in New Bedford/Fairhaven area and lived there for thirteen years. In 1968, Ness relocated to Alaska and then moved to Seattle in 1969. He owned a seafood processing and distributing company in Seattle, focusing on scallops and later transitioning to the king crab fishery. Ness had a family history in fishing, with his father and uncle having connections to the industry. He built boats for king crab fishing and continued in that line of work until his retirement.

Scope and Content Note:
The oral history interview with Kaare Ness, conducted on September 23, 2005, provides insights into his immigration journey, fishing experiences in Norway and the United States, and the changing dynamics of the fishing industry. Ness discusses his decision to move to New Bedford, influenced by the presence of family members who had already settled there. He recounts the transition from wooden boats to steel boats in the fishing industry and highlights the improvements in comfort and functionality. The interview also covers Ness's involvement in the scallop fishery in Alaska and the subsequent shift to the king crab fishery. He shares stories of close calls at sea and reflects on the differences between West Coast and East Coast fisheries. Additionally, Ness emphasizes the need for a fishermen's memorial in New Bedford, drawing inspiration from the existing memorial in Seattle. He suggests using the local festival as an opportunity to raise funds for a memorial and mentions the success of a scholarship foundation associated with the Seattle memorial.