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.

Scope and Content Note
July 6, 2000: Lowell Ockers, a bayman in the Bayshore to Patchogue area, shares his experiences and insights in an interview with Steve Warrick. He discusses his family's fishing background, challenges in the industry, and changes over the years. Lowell worked alone, managing multiple traps, and talks about various fishing activities like pound nets, trapping eels, and catching flounder. He reflects on the decline of the eel market and being the last bayman to use fish traps in the Great South Bay. Lowell also discusses the impact of government regulations, the need for diversification, and the satisfaction he found in the independent bayman lifestyle.

February 3, 2004: In an interview with Nancy Solomon, Lowell shares his extensive knowledge and experiences in the local maritime industry. He comes from a family deeply connected to the water, with his father and uncles being pound trap fishermen. The conversation covers boatyards, boat builders, and the oyster and clam industry. Lowell mentions Bishop Boat Yard, boat builders like Jim Lamden and Walter Lightner, and the presence of a propeller workshop during World War II. He discusses Bluepoints, the float room, refrigeration with block ice, and other local companies like Kingston's and Long Island Fish Company. Lowell provides insights into clamming practices and the evolution of dredges. The interview also touches on the socioeconomic aspects of the community, including the working conditions of Dutch immigrants and the modest lifestyles of families like Bebbe and Ockers. Lowell talks about his own family's involvement in pound trap fishing and the transition to nylon traps. The interview concludes with discussions about the local community and notable figures, as well as the decline of full-time baymen and the changing dynamics of the region. Lowell Ockers offers valuable insights into the history and changes in the maritime industry and the coastal community of West Sayville.