Freeport, NY

Interviewee Collection Sort ascending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Carmine Marinnacio Long Island Traditions

Carmine Marinaccio was born on May 7, 1987, in the Bronx. His parents hailed from Basilaca and Okadi, near Mount Vesuvius, and arrived in the Bronx when his father was 11 years old. Carmine's grandfather worked as a laborer, crafting furniture and harboring resentment toward tax collectors, which eventually led him to leave. Growing up near the water, Carmine developed a fondness for the beach and found ways to earn money, such as catching bait and reselling boats.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
John Remsen, Sr. Long Island Traditions

John Remsen, Sr. is a skilled boat builder who has dedicated his life to constructing garveys and other types of boats. During his lifetime, John has built approximately 100 garveys at an average rate of 5 per year. Throughout his career, John Remsen Sr. built boats for various individuals, including fishers such as Fred and Dott Verity, Elwood Verity, Jacki, the Millers, and clammers like Billy in Oceanside, among others.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
John Remsen, Sr. Long Island Traditions

John Remsen Sr. is a seasoned bayman and fisherman who was born in Freeport in 1933. Coming from a lineage of fishermen, with both his father and grandfather being involved in the trade, John developed a deep connection to the ocean from an early age. He assisted his great grandfather, Alanson Ellison, in haul-seining on the ocean before it was outlawed in 1942. At the age of 12, John began selling clams to local families, starting with a rowboat and eventually upgrading to a motorboat.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
John Remsen, Sr. Long Island Traditions

Retired bayman and boat builder John Remsen shares his memories of storms and hurricanes including Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
Frank Rizzo Long Island Traditions

Frank Rizzo is an experienced fisherman and captain who has spent many years navigating the waters off Long Island. His experience includes encounters with American submarines and fighter ships, navigating through heavy fog, and dealing with the challenges of changing fish populations due to pollution. Rizzo has also worked with notable figures in the fishing industry, such as Captain Al, and has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience from these interactions.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
Joe Scavone Long Island Traditions

In this interview Joey Scavone of Freeport, New York talks about his livelihood in working on the bay and ocean of Freeport.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
George Streit Long Island Traditions

George Streit, born on May 19, 1987, is a lifelong enthusiast of fishing, whose love for the sport has shaped his life and experiences. Originally from Queens, George moved to Freeport in 1940, where he discovered his passion for fishing at an early age. He acquired his first sport fishing boat, Tiger, and ventured into the world of big game fishing, which became a significant part of his life. Growing up with a father who was a cabinet maker, George learned the ropes of fishing while working on the shore.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
Cory Weyant Long Island Traditions

Cory Weyant is a full time commercial fisher from Freeport, New York. He traps eels, killies, crabs and other finfish using traps he has built himself. He also works on trawler fishing boats. Cory grew up in Freeport and learned his skills through the community. His father was also born in Oceanside and worked in the boating industry, running transport boats and working at bait stations. Cory started fishing and swimming at a very young age

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
Cory Weyant Long Island Traditions

Cory Weyant is a seasoned bayman and dragger fisherman with over forty-five years of experience in the industry. He has witnessed significant changes in his line of work, particularly in the Freeport area where he has lived since he was two years old. Weyant's career has spanned several decades, during which he has seen a decline in the number of small trawlers in his area and a dramatic decrease in the abundance of fish. He attributes these changes to overfishing and the advancement of fishing technology. Despite the challenges, Weyant has managed to adapt to the changing circumstances.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions
Frank Cona Long Island Traditions

Frank Cona, a fifth-generation fisherman from Macata, a small town in southern Sicily, Italy, was born on June 7, 1987.  Cona grew up in a fishing family.  At six, Frank began assisting his father and older brother on their family’s dragger boats, primarily cleaning fish and eventually becoming a captain.  In his hometown of Macata, shellfishing was not practiced; instead, Frank's fishing endeavors revolved around haul seining for sardines and anchovies.

Nancy Solomon Freeport, NY Long Island Traditions