West Sayville, NY

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Carl Chichester Baymen’s Oral History

Carl Chichester, a seasoned mariner and fisherman, spent his entire life in and around the bay, developing a connection with its waters and its rich maritime heritage. He began his career as a commercial fisherman, casting his nets and traps to secure a variety of catches from the bay's abundant waters. Chichester also worked as a guide for market hunters, guiding them to prime hunting spots and sharing his knowledge of the bay's natural rhythms.

John Kochiss West Sayville, NY Long Island Maritime Museum
Antje Nieuwenhuizen Baymen’s Oral History

Antje Nieuwenhuizen is a Dutch immigrant who settled in West Sayville, United States, in 1980. She came to the United States from Ijmuiden, Holland, in 1926. Antje's husband, Adrian, had already established himself in West Sayville before she made the decision to join him. They had three children before moving to West Sayville and later had a fourth child.

John Kochiss West Sayville, NY Long Island Maritime Museum
Ed Ockers Baymen’s Oral History

Edward (Ed) Ockers, known as 'Melon Belly' among his community, was born and raised in the picturesque town of West Sayville. Throughout his entire life, he remained deeply connected to his hometown. Ed earned his living as a commercial fisherman, embracing the traditions of his Dutch heritage, just like many other residents in the area. The Ockers family had a long history in West Sayville, and he had an appreciation for the local fishing industry, which had been the lifeblood of the community for generations. Ed established the South Bay Fish Company.

John Kochiss West Sayville, NY Long Island Maritime Museum
John Tucker Baymen’s Oral History

The Tucker family, like so many of the West Sayville residents of Dutch heritage, earned their living on the Great South Bay or in the associated industries. John Tucker is a resident of West Table, New York, born on August 5, 1898. He grew up in a household with his six sisters, including his sister Mildred Tucker. With the exception of an older sister, born in 1896, none of the children married. All the boys in the family went on to become baymen. They all lived together in their family home.

John Kochiss , , West Sayville, NY Long Island Maritime Museum
Walter Budd Baymen’s Oral History

Walter Budd was a prominent figure among the men who worked the Great South Bay during the early-to-mid 20th century. Born in 1909, Budd started his career in West Sayville, Long Island, at the age of fifteen. Initially engaged in farming oysters, he, like his counterparts, had to adapt to the declining fertility of the bay's oyster beds by exploring alternative livelihoods or supplemental jobs.

John Kochiss West Sayville, NY Long Island Maritime Museum
Jerry Collins Long Island Traditions

Jerry Collins, a lifelong resident of the Sayville area in Bay Shore, was born there and spent most of his life in the region, except for his military service. His father worked as a fisherman, clammer, and oysterman, instilling in Jerry a deep connection to the maritime activities of the area. Growing up, Jerry often accompanied his father into the bay, although he admits that he probably got in his way more often than not. In 1946, Jerry began his full-time involvement in clamming, primarily as a tonger. He has primarily worked in Islip town but has also worked in surrounding towns.

Steve Warrick West Sayville, NY Long Island Traditions
Lowell Ockers Long Island Traditions

Edward (Lowell) Ockers is a lifelong resident of West Sayville. Lowell was born and raised in the area and started working on the bay after returning from the Navy in 1957. He began his career by catching eels using traps purchased from his father, a bayman. In addition to his fishing endeavors, Lowell engaged in other activities to support himself. During the winter, he found work bulkheading, cutting ice, and digging clams to earn some grocery money. He also participated in scalloping, crabbing, and even sailing on the ice when the bay froze over.

Steve Warrick, Nancy Solomon , West Sayville, NY Long Island Traditions
Bob Slager Long Island Traditions

Robert Lowell Slager, also known as Captain Bob, was born in Bay Shore in 1945 and has lived his entire life in West Sayville, Long Island. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who was involved in shellfish management, dredging, and tonging. Slager quit high school at the age of sixteen in 1968 and started dredging clams, becoming the youngest captain on the bay. He continued this work until 1982, during which time he also participated in various projects aimed at supporting the stocks of the bay.

Steve Warrick West Sayville, NY Long Island Traditions