Lou Legace
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project is an ongoing oral history project documenting the history and culture of the commercial fishing industry and other port trades. The project was begun in 2004 in conjunction with the Working Waterfront Festival, an annual, education celebration of commercial fishing culture which takes place in New Bedford, MA. Interviewees have included a wide range of individuals connected to the commercial fishing industry and/or other aspects of the port through work or familial ties. While the majority of interviewees are from the port of New Bedford, the project has also documented numerous individuals from other ports around the country. Folklorist and Festival Director Laura Orleans and Community Scholar/Associate Director Kirsten Bendiksen are Project Leaders. The original recordings reside at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Maryland with listening copies housed at the Festival's New Bedford office.
Azure Dee Westwood
Lou Legace is a 54-year-old male of French heritage who was born and raised in Fall River, Massachusetts. He attended Durfee High School and briefly studied Civil Engineering at the University of Massachuestts in Amherst before deciding to pursue a career in fishing. Lou started his fishing career as a deckhand on a small clam boat owned by friends. He developed a passion for clamming and eventually became a captain himself. Currently, Lou owns his own boat and primarily focuses on paperwork and managing the business side of clamming, while occasionally going out to sea.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Lou Legace took place on September 25, 2005, at the Harbor Development Commission Office during the Working Waterfront Festival. Lou Legace, a clammer from Fall River, Massachusetts, shares his experiences and insights into the clamming industry. He discusses his background, including his education, transition into fishing, and the progression from deckhand to captain.Lou describes the process of clamming, particularly focusing on offshore surf clamming. He explains the use of hydraulic dredges and the technique of dragging them along the ocean floor to harvest clams. He also highlighted the role of market demand in determining the timing and duration of clamming trips. The interview touches upon the regulation of the clamming industry, specifically the Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system. Lou discusses how allocation and quota shares are determined based on historical catch data, allowing individuals to own rights to a portion of the resource. He explains the stability this system brings to the fishery and its contrast to the limited effort system that was previously in place. Lou shares his perspective on what makes a good fisherman or clammer, emphasizing qualities such as drive, knowledge of the boat's systems, and the ability to navigate mechanical and safety challenges. Overall, Lou Legace's interview provides valuable insights into the life and work of a clammer, shedding light on the fishing industry and its management practices.
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