Malvin Kvilhaug, a Norwegian fisherman and boat owner, was born on October 21, 1938, in Karmoy, an island in Norway. He came from a fishing family, with his father and grandfather also engaged in fishing. Kvilhaug started fishing for lobsters on his own at the age of 10 or 11, using rowboats and dories. After enlisting in the Merchant Marines at the age of 16, he later joined the Navy in Norway at 18. In January 1961, at the age of 22, Kvilhaug arrived in the United States and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He got married in Brooklyn that same year. Kvilhaug began his fishing career in New Bedford as a scalloper on a boat called Midnight Sun, which tragically sank after six months with the loss of all crew members. He then switched to dragging and worked on a dragger called Navigator.

Scope and Content Note
The oral history interview with Malvin Kvilhaug was conducted on September 24, 2005, by Janice Fleuriel in the New Bedford Harbormaster House. Kvilhaug's interview provides insights into his personal background, migration from Norway to the United States, and his experiences as a fisherman and boat owner in New Bedford. The interview covers various topics, including family involvement in fishing, early fishing experiences in Norway, enlistment in the Merchant Marines and Navy, immigration process, settling in New Bedford, first fishing job, boat accidents, language acquisition, the fishing community in New Bedford, and the transition from wooden to steel boats. Kvilhaug also discusses the differences between scalloping and dragging, the process of boat building, superstitions held by fishermen, technological changes in the fishing industry (such as the introduction of GPS), maintaining good fishing spots, boat maintenance, and the challenges and rewards of being a fisherman. In 1968, Kvilhaug purchased his own scalloper, a Western rig steel vessel known as a Boston Bean trawler. This decision was influenced by the relative stability of the scalloping industry compared to dragging, which was considered more of a gamble at the time. Despite initial skepticism from the old-timers, Kvilhaug proved that scalloping with a steel vessel was feasible. He overcame challenges such as the steel wires rubbing against the hull during hauling. Over the years, he witnessed significant technological changes in the fishing industry, including the transition from Loran to GPS navigation systems. Kvilhaug served various roles on boats and had experience with both scalloping and dragging techniques. Kvilhaug emphasized the importance of good fishing spots and the practice of rotating boats and crews to maximize efficiency. He shared his experiences with storms at sea but didn't dwell on them. In terms of personal life, Kvilhaug faced financial challenges during the lean years after buying his boat, with his house serving as collateral. He expressed the belief that visitors to fishing festivals should appreciate the hard work and expertise of fishermen, which is acquired through experience rather than formal education. He reflects on the significance of the fishing industry to the local economy and emphasizes the importance of practical knowledge and experience in the fishing profession. The transcript includes an index of keywords and timestamps, which provides a convenient reference for locating specific topics within the interview.