The Oyster Shuckers, a group of individuals from the Bayshore area, share a rich heritage rooted in the maritime traditions of Port Norris, New Jersey. Their lives are interwoven with the rhythms of the Delaware Bay, where generations have toiled in the pursuit of harvesting and processing oysters. These men and women come from diverse backgrounds, each carrying personal histories that reflect the broader narrative of the oyster industry.

Sisters Carrie Jamison (b. 1921) and Edith Selby (b. 1927) grew up in "uptown" Port Norris, New Jersey. As children, they were not allowed to go to Shell Pile or the river (Bivalve). Their parents were from Saint Mary's County, Maryland. Their father came here to work on the boats and on farms. They attended Shiloh Baptist Church. In the early 1940s, they both worked in oyster houses as shuckers including Robbins Brothers, Carl Reed, Stowman's Brothers, Peterson Packing and George Gaskell.

Marie Beebe Cobb was the daughter of Allen Beebe, owner of the Port Norris Iron Works, who fabricated and repaired oyster and surf clam dredges “drudges”, various equipment, oyster knives, hammers and did metal work for the shucking houses.  Mr. Beebe got his start learning the trade as an apprentice to his uncle Archie Jackson in the mid-1940s at Dorchester Shipyard. Mr. Jackson then opened his own business with Bob Sutton and Mr. Blizzard in Bivalve. In 1962, Mr.

Harold Bickings Jr. is a descendant of a long line of oyster fishermen who have been in the business since the 1800s. His great-grandfather, a Danish immigrant, started the family's involvement in the oyster industry, which was carried on by subsequent generations. Bickings Jr. has a wealth of knowledge about the family's history in the oyster business, including the trials and hardships they faced, the locations of their businesses, and the names and locations of other companies in the Port Norris and Maurice River area.

James Bradford was born on July 30, 1930, in Morristown, but was raised in Port Norris where he also attended school. After leaving Port Norris, he served in the Navy and was stationed in Norfolk for three years, with a one-year duty in Hawaii. Upon his return, he worked on an oyster boat for Norman Jefferies, Sr. in Greenwich. His parents were Janet Bradford and Earl Bradford, originally from Newport. He had two brothers, Robert and Earl.

William H. Bradway, Jr. describes his work experience while employed by the Port Norris Oyster Company including the company business, employees, boats that were owned by the company and the captains who ran the boats. He discusses who they sold their oysters to, where the plant was located. He also goes into detail the genealogy of ownership since the beginning of the company. The company had a shucking house associated with the canning and shipping and he shares stories about the shuckers and where they lived.

Phillip Cisrow is a seasoned oyster shucker from the Whittington-Cisrow family, recognized for his expertise and achievements as a state champion in New Jersey. His proficiency in oyster shucking is not merely a professional endeavor but also a family tradition, indicating a deep-rooted connection to the industry. Cisrow's skills extend beyond his primary occupation, as he is also known for his interest in playing pool. His involvement in the oyster industry and his participation in related competitions highlight his dedication and passion for his craft.

Joan Riggin Harper was born on February 7, 1924, in Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Her father was John Cullen Riggin and her mother was Emily Fowler Bateman. Joan attended Port Norris Grammar School and later graduated from Port Norris High School in 1941. After high school, she attended a business school in Bridgeton, New Jersey, where she completed a one-year course. Joan's first job was typing deeds when the Army bought the airport ground in Millville. She later got married and had three children.

Jode Hillman, a professional decoy carver, has been in the profession for about seventeen years, with the last six years being professional. He specializes in making cedar decoys, which are primarily used for duck hunting. However, many people also collect these decoys as decorative items. Hillman's interest in the bay, duck hunting, and life on the marshes is deeply rooted in his family history. His father's family, the Hillmans, were avid fishermen who would often visit Fortescue for fishing trips during the weakfish boom years.

Ruth Yentsch Lobach (b. 1917) spent weekends as a child in Maurice River, New Jersey, in the 1920s and 1930s. Starting at the age of 7, she recalls traveling by car to Maurice River, NJ from Camden, NJ and then in pitch darkness, rowing across the Maurice River to her family's cabin. She describes her days, her family's cabin, her mother's garden, her father and the boys recreational fishing, various people and playing with shuckers' children. Etched in her mind forever is watching the schooners under sail leave during Bay Season. Mrs.