Reidar Bendiksen is a Norwegian immigrant who moved to the United States at the age of sixteen. Born into a fishing family, he began his fishing career in Norway at the age of fourteen. His father, who was also a fisherman, immigrated to the U.S. in 1951 and owned several fishing vessels in New Bedford. Reidar followed in his father's footsteps, spending his first five to six years in the U.S. fishing on a sub chaser that saw action in Normandy during the invasion. After thirty years of commercial fishing, Reidar transitioned into gear construction, a business he has been running for the past twenty to twenty-five years. He is currently the owner of Reidars Trawl & Gear in Fairhaven, MA.

Scope and Content Note:
This interview with Reidar Bendiksen, conducted by Madeline Hall-Arber [MHA] on September 25, 2011, provides a detailed account of Reidar's life and career in the fishing industry. The interview begins with Reidar's early life in Norway, where he started fishing at the age of fourteen. He discusses his father's transition from farming to fishing and how he learned the trade. Reidar also shares his experiences of fishing in the fjords of Norway, including a unique method of attracting fish using light. The interview then shifts to Reidar's immigration to the U.S. and his early years of fishing on a sub chaser. He also discusses his transition from commercial fishing to gear construction, and how his early experiences in fishing have influenced his work in gear construction. The interview provides valuable insights into the social and cultural characteristics of fishing, the training process to become a fisherman, and the business and economics of fishing.