On May 8, 1987, Nancy Solomon interviewed Tony Sougstad as part of the Long Island Traditions Oral History Project. Sougstad is a seasoned ocean fisherman and captain of the boat E.T. His first discussion with Solomon covers his entry into the fishing industry, the species of fish he harvests, the gear he uses, and the seasonal nature of his profession. After working as an engineer for a time, Sougstad decided to make a living out on the water, specializing in trawl or bottom fishing.

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.

On May 10, 1987, Nancy Solomon interviewed Don Kearsley as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Don did not come from a family of fisherman, but was interested in learning because he lived close to the water near Atlantic City. He developed his fishing under the mentorship an experienced fisherman. The interview covers the traditional methods of clamming and offshore fishing, the evolution of fishing equipment, and the transition from using cotton and linen nets to nylon and poly nets.

On June 20, 2011, Nancy Solomon interviewed Tom Jefferies as part of the Long Island Traditions Oral History collection. Born in 1955, Jefferies is an experienced bayman who has operated out of Freeport, New York for decades. Jefferies was exposed to life on the bay from an early age; his family owned two fishing stations and a bay house that he visited during summers as a child. In this session, he provides a brief sketch of haul seining for spearing, chumming, and harvesting horseshoe crabs.

On April 5, 1988, Nancy Solomon interviewed Brad Keene as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Brad is a seasoned boatman with a deep-rooted connection to his family's maritime legacy. The Keene family has a rich history in Freeport, as Brad's grandfather, Henry Uktch, founded the Freeport Boatman's Association. Brad traces his family lineage back to his great-grandfather, Van Schaaner, who had a fish market in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Bill Marinaccio, born and raised in Freeport, New York, is the son of Captain Carmine Marinaccio, a well-known charter boat captain. Growing up in a maritime environment, Bill was introduced to the fishing industry at a young age. He began helping his father with boat maintenance as a child and progressed to more significant roles, including first mate on his father's charter boat. Bill pursued higher education, attending college in 1962, before enlisting in the Army and serving as a military intelligence special agent during the Vietnam War.

We lost everything in a matter of hours.

It was a living nightmare.  Something I never want to experience again because besides the waters being closed for clamming, you couldn’t even drive through town.  There were boats in the roads everywhere.  It took a couple of weeks for bulldozers to get rid of boats.  There were boats blocking people’s front doors.  Boats that knocked down fences.  it was devastation.  The more you think about it, the more you remember.

Thomas Jefferies, born in 1955, is a commercial fisherman from Freeport, Long Island. Raised on the bay, Jefferies was influenced by his grandparents, who owned a fishing station. After attempting various career paths, including teaching and other jobs, Jefferies found his way back to the bay in his late twenties, deciding to pursue fishing full-time. He has been dedicated to this profession for over three decades. Jefferies specializes in catching and supplying bait to local fishing stations and charter boats, focusing on species like mussels, spearing, sand eels, and squid.