Kevin Dawson is a settlement house owner and has a background in the fishing industry. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and his parents emigrated from Newfoundland. His father used to run trawlers out of the Fulton Fish Market in New York but moved to Fairhaven, Massachusetts, when Dawson was ten due to the convenience of the freezer trucks coming from New Bedford. Dawson started working on boats at a young age, painting and performing various tasks. He had a net business in high school, making nets out of sisal twine until nylon nets were introduced by a local businessman in New Bedford.

Scope and Content Note
The interview is with Kevin Dawson, conducted on September 24, 2005 and  provides insights into Dawson's personal experiences in the fishing industry, the changes he has witnessed over time, and his views on the impact of regulations and industry dynamics. Dawson talks about his experiences in the fishing industry, including the diversity of the crew members, the qualities of a good skipper, and the cyclical nature of fishing. He mentions the role of regulations and licenses in the industry, noting the changes over time and the increasing costs of licenses. Dawson expresses concerns about the impact of regulations on free enterprise and the limited opportunities for young people to advance in the fishing industry. He also discusses the role of settlement houses in the industry and how technology has affected their operations. Dawson discusses the transition from sisal to nylon nets and the impact it had on the fishing industry. Dawson discusses the custom-built nature of the fishing vessels. Each boat was tailored to the preferences of the owner who commissioned its construction. Although there were variations, the boats generally had similar features such as living quarters in the forward area and the engine room located in the stern. Dawson considered these vessels to be seaworthy. He mentions several boat names, including Elva Beal, Annie Jackson, Four Brothers, North Sea, Major Casey, Kilkenney, Shamrock, Terranova, and Helen B. The names were often chosen by the owner or someone closely related to the boat. Dawson explains that the boats were christened during a ceremony in Thomaston usually involving a buffet-type gathering. Typically, a bottle would be broken, and the boats were christened by selected individuals, often women. Despite the superstition surrounding women on board, it was considered good luck to have them participate in the christening. Regarding the crews, they were a mix of different ethnic backgrounds. Dawson mentioned a Swedish cook named Curt Petersen, a Portuguese engineer named Ezekiel Almeida, and several Newfoundlander crew members. The crews were typically assembled based on the skippers' reputation and their ability to attract skilled and reliable individuals. Dawson discussed the qualities of a good skipper, highlighting three essential factors. First, a "fishy" sense or intuition about where to find fish and make successful catches. Second, mechanical skills to maintain and repair the vessel's equipment, as there was no outside help available at sea. Third, a business sense to determine the optimal timing for fishing trips and selling the catch at auction to maximize profits. Dawson talks bout the importance of understanding the cyclical nature of the fishing industry and the need to adapt to different fishing methods depending on the availability of fish species. Dawson emphasized that fishermen didn't control the fisheries but instead adapted to the fish's behavior and reproductive patterns. He discusses the challenges of fisheries regulation and the impact it has on the fishing industry. He mentions that fisheries regulation is a relatively new science and that the regulatory boards often lack representatives with European experience in conservation. He believes that over time, the regulations will become more refined, but currently, they are still struggling with various issues. Dawson also talks about the concept of limited entry in the fishing industry, which means that there are only a certain number of licenses available. He compares it to medallions needed to operate a cab in New York City or liquor licenses for running a bar. The limited entry has resulted in a decrease in the number of people fishing for scallops, which has contributed to the success of the scallop industry. He expresses concern about the increasing costs of licenses, noting that scallop licenses that were once free are now being sold for millions of dollars. This high cost prevents new entrants from starting their own businesses in the industry, and he predicts that the fishing industry will eventually be dominated by large fleet operators, similar to agro-business in agriculture. Dawson also briefly discusses his involvement in the settlement business. He explains that he started the settlement business as a way to supplement his income from fishing. The settlement business involves dividing the catch's proceeds between the owner of the fishing vessel and the crew based on a predetermined split. The settlement house handles the calculations and distributes the payments to the crew members. He mentions that the split between the owner and the crew varies and is typically determined by the owner of the boat. The interview concludes with Dawson mentioning that his business is now called Jardin and Dawson, as he took in Ann Jardin as a partner. He also notes that there are five people working in the settlement business and mentions having a significant number of boats, possibly around eighty.