Newport, RI

Interviewee Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Christopher Lutyens The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

Christopher Lutyens began his work in the lobster industry in Southwest Harbor, Maine at age sixteen. He came to Newport one year later after reading an article about Newport's offshore lobster industry in the magazine, National Fisherman. Mr. Lutyens has worked in both the inshore and offshore lobster industries in Newport. He offers valuable information about the work of lobstering, lobster boats and equipment, lobster grounds, catch size, and the condition of the lobster stocks. He expresses concerns about the future of the fishing industry in Newport, R.I.

Jennifer Murray Newport, RI Newport Historical Society
Ellen Kaplan The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

While she was in her early twenties, Ellen Kaplan worked in the fishing industry for approximately two years. This included work on offshore lobster boats, an offshore scallop boat, and an offshore dragger. Her manuscript contains valuable information about life and work at sea, the life style of working in the fishing industry, changes in the offshore lobster industry, and conflict between tourism, development and the fishing industry in Newport, Rhode Island.

Jennifer Murray Newport, RI Newport Historical Society
Hedy Bennett The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

Hedy Bennett is the wife of offshore lobsterman, Paul Bennett, who was also interviewed as part of this oral history of the fishing industry in Newport, R.I. Mrs. Bennett is the land-based partner in the work and way of life she and her husband share. She conveys what it means to be the wife of a commercial lobsterman and describes what makes the family life of a young fishing family both special and demanding. Mrs. Bennett delves into the many changes that have taken place in the offshore lobster industry since she's been involved in it.

Jennifer Murray Newport, RI Newport Historical Society
James Violet The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

James Violet worked as an inshore lobsterman in Newport for much of his working like. Of Greek lineage, he learned his trade from Greek lobstermen who came to Newport from Skiathos, Greece. Mr. Violet reminisces about those Greeks who were an important and colorful part of Newport's waterfront. In addition, Mr. Violet describes the Newport fishing industry during the 1930's, the 1938 Hurricane, overfishing, the 200 mile limit, and the impact of tourism and development on the fishing industry in Newport. On page 6 his transcript (page 12 of the pdf), he references making a list of names.

Jennifer Murray Newport, RI Newport Historical Society
Manuel Silvia The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

Manuel Silvia served as president and spokesman for Fishermen in Newport (F.I.N.) and played an important role in the establishment of the State Fish Pier in Newport by the state of Rhode Island in 1985. Mr. Silvia's manuscript contains valuable information concerning changes in Newport harbor, and the impact of tourism, yachting and development on the fishing industry. In addition to his work as president of F.I.N., Mr. Silvia worked extensively on offshore draggers and lobster boats during the 1960's and 1970's. He now works as an inshore lobsterman in Newport.

Jennifer Murray Newport, RI Newport Historical Society
Paul Bennett The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

Paul Bennett is the husband of Hedy Bennett, who was also interviewed as part of this oral history of the fishing industry in Newport, R.I. Mr. Bennett has worked in the offshore lobster industry in Newport since the early 1970's and owns his own boat, Hedy-Brenna. He provides a detailed account of his work in the offshore lobster industry, comparing the industry of the 1970's with that of the 1980's. Mr.

Jennifer Murray Newport, RI Newport Historical Society
Richard Allen The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

Richard Allen is Vice President of Atlantic Offshore Fisherman's Association which acts on behalf of offshore fishermen and lobstermen in fisheries management deliberations. Major issues of concern to A.O.F.A are conservation, establishment of a countervailing duty on Canadian codfish, offshore oil exploration, and gear conflicts. Mr. Allen's manuscript contains important information pertaining to the fishing industry on a local, national, and international level.

Jennifer Murray Newport, RI Newport Historical Society
Stephen Fougere, Part 1 The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

"My grandfather was a fisherman. His father was a whaler." Stephen Fougere learned to become a fisherman from his father, a day dragger in Newport, R.I. Mr. Fougere left school at age sixteen to go fishing and became a captain of a fishing boat by age eighteen. He provides detailed information about the fishing industry in Newport R.I. from the 1930's to the present -- the various fisheries which have comprised the industry, the people involved in it, boats and equipment used, grounds fished, and changes that have taken place which continue to affect the industry in important ways. Mr.

Jennifer Murray Newport, RI Newport Historical Society
Stephen Fougere, Part 2 The Fishing Industry in Newport, RI 1930-1987

"My grandfather was a fisherman. His father was a whaler." Stephen Fougere learned to become a fisherman from his father, a day dragger in Newport, R.I. Mr. Fougere left school at age sixteen to go fishing and became a captain of a fishing boat by age eighteen. He provides detailed information about the fishing industry in Newport R.I. from the 1930's to the present -- the various fisheries which have comprised the industry, the people involved in it, boats and equipment used, grounds fished, and changes that have taken place which continue to affect the industry in important ways. Mr.

Jennifer Murray Newport, RI Newport Historical Society
Steven Wilkes Sector Management in New England

Steven Wilkes, 65, is a retired commercial fisherman out of Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. Wilkes fished with his grandfather as a boy and began fishing commercially at age 18, buying his first boat at age 29 after working as a teacher and deckhand for a few years. Though he in no longer an active fisherman, he still lives on his boat and maintains a permit in the common pool. Mr. Wilkes did mostly day trips as a fisherman, but worked patrolling telecommunications cables prior to retiring from fisheries. He does not have a positive impression of sectors or government involvement in business.

Azure Cygler Newport, RI NOAA