On October 26, 2023, Asy Xaytouthor and Jessica Bonilla interviewed Morna Briggs in Corea, Maine. Morna Briggs, born in Bar Harbor and a long-time resident of Corea, is 100 years old at the time of the interview. She worked for decades in the local fishing and canning industries and played a central role in her family’s fishing activities, particularly in lobstering, clamming, and herring weir operations. She also raised children and cared for aging parents and relatives, all while actively participating in her coastal community.

In the interview, Briggs discusses her early experiences fishing with her father and later lobstering with her sons. She reflects on changes in fishing regulations, gear, and access to fishing grounds, and she shares insights into her years of work at the Stinson sardine factory. She recalls the rhythms of seasonal labor, including clamming and mackerel fishing, and how her family adapted to economic shifts in the fisheries. Briggs provides detailed recollections of caregiving responsibilities, especially for her mother, as well as reflections on property, home improvement, and local development. She also describes environmental changes, including storms, changes in snowfall, and shoreline development.