On September 10, 1981, Robert Livingstone interviewed Martin Rockwell Bartlett in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, as part of a series documenting the history of the local fishing industry. Bartlett, born in 1933 in Mount Kisco, New York, served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1952 to 1956 before beginning his career in fisheries research and commercial fishing. He worked with biologist Frank Mather on tuna migration studies and later transitioned into commercial fishing, focusing on swordfish and longline operations.

In the interview, Bartlett discusses his early experiences in the Coast Guard and his entry into the fishing industry, initially through scientific research before becoming a commercial fisherman. He describes his work on the research vessel Crawford, the shift from scientific study to practical application, and the development of longline fishing techniques for swordfish. He details his experiences fishing along the U.S. East Coast, from Woods Hole to Pascagoula, and his eventual acquisition of the Penobscot Gulf, a vessel he used for commercial swordfish fishing. Bartlett explains gear innovations, fishing strategies, and environmental factors affecting the industry, including the impact of mercury contamination regulations. He also reflects on the challenges of commercial fishing, the role of women on fishing crews, and changes in fisheries management over the years. The interview provides insight into the intersection of fisheries science and commercial operations, highlighting Bartlett’s career trajectory and his observations on the evolving fishing industry.