Raymond Minard
The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection
The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection consists of interviews with commercial fishermen conducted in the early 1980s and early 1990s. Locations discussed range from New York City to Albany and time periods from the 1920s to the 1990s. The focus of these interviews is primarily on the decline of the commercial fishing industry, including changes in fishing techniques and gear, changes in water quality and pollution, economic and market changes, and changes in fishing populations, including government regulation.
Content note: Some of the terminology used in these interviews reflects the time period and personalities of the people being interviewed and not that of the Hudson River Maritime Museum or New York Heritage.
You can explore this collection and others at: https://nyheritage.org/collections/oral-histories-hudson-river-commercial-fishermen
On May 19, 1991, Marguerite Holloway interviewed Raymond Minard in Poughkeepsie, New York. Minard, a retired shad fisherman with decades of experience, discusses his career in the Hudson River fisheries, including the challenges of changing fish populations, economic shifts, and environmental factors like PCB contamination. He reflects on the decline of the shad fishery and the rise of striped bass populations, which impacted the viability of commercial fishing. Minard elaborates on the cost and logistics of fishing equipment, such as nets, and recounts the decline in reliable labor and profitability. He details his shift from active fishing to specializing in boning shad, describing the intricate techniques he developed and the tools he crafted for the process. Minard also shares anecdotes about his efforts to learn boning methods from a Fulton Market operation and how he adapted these skills to create a niche market for boneless shad. The interview highlights the socio-economic aspects of commercial fishing, including the community dynamics and financial pressures faced by fishermen. Minard also touches on scientific studies of shad behavior and biology, providing insights into their migration and spawning habits.
Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc. The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry.
The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.