Phil Ashworth
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.
Laura Orleans
Phil Ashworth is a seasoned fisherman with a career spanning over seventeen years. He began his career in the late '70s after completing school through CETA. His first job was on a scalloping boat, the Ellen Louise, under the captaincy of Jimmy Tinker from Maine. Despite having no prior experience in scalloping, Ashworth's hard work and determination earned him the respect of his crewmates and a full share on the boat. Over the years, Ashworth worked on various boats, including Portuguese draggers, and held master's papers for several vessels. His career was not without danger, as he recalls a near-death experience on the Linda and Hilda, a Portuguese dragger, during a storm. Despite the risks, Ashworth remained dedicated to his profession until his last trip in 1995].
Scope and Content Note:
This interview with Phil Ashworth, conducted by Markham Starr on September 24, 2011, provides a detailed account of Ashworth's experiences as a commercial fisherman. Ashworth discusses his entry into the fishing industry, his first job on a scalloping boat, and the physical and mental challenges he faced in his early career. He also shares a harrowing story of being injured and evacuated from a Portuguese dragger during a storm. The interview provides insights into the social and cultural characteristics of fishing life, including the camaraderie and respect among crew members, the hard work and determination required, and the risks and dangers faced at sea. Ashworth's experiences also shed light on the ethnic diversity within the fishing industry, as he recalls being the only American on a Portuguese boat.
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