Robert Britto, a male boat owner and former fisherman, had a deep connection to the fishing industry, having spent 21 years at sea in various roles, including deckhand, cook, engineer, mate, captain, and owner. He initially got involved in fishing through his father-in-law, who was a fisherman. Britto started his scalloping career on his father-in-law's boat and went on to work on larger vessels before becoming the captain of the fishing vessel Rianda. Later, he purchased the Poseidon with John Isaacson and eventually built and owned the fishing vessel Hustler. However, he decided to leave the sea at the age of 39 and transitioned to working onshore.

Scope and Content Note
According to Britto, drive and hard work are essential qualities for a successful fisherman. He mentioned that his son, who followed in his footsteps, was a skilled fisherman who made a substantial amount of money. The sea scallop industry was doing well at the time of the interview, with an abundance of scallops and favorable regulations. Britto recounted some of his experiences at sea, including a harrowing encounter with severe weather where his boat suffered significant damage but managed to survive. He also shared a humorous incident involving accidentally hooking a Russian trawler during one of his early trips. Regarding changes in the fishing industry, Britto highlighted the advancements in technology, which have greatly improved navigation and fishing equipment. He mentioned that the composition of fishing crews had changed, with younger individuals now joining the industry due to the demanding work involved. The current crews consisted of seven men compared to the previous eleven. Britto believed that the fishing industry gets in a person's blood, but he didn't personally adhere to many superstitions often associated with the seafaring life. When asked about the best years for the fishing industry, Britto mentioned a major bonanza when a large scallop bed was discovered off Cape May, resulting in abundant scallops. At the time of the interview, there were hundreds of scallop boats, but Britto cautioned that the industry might not last, advising newcomers to save their money. He expressed support for regulations as long as they were managed properly, expressing concern about closed areas where scallops were left unharvested and died. Britto concluded the interview by stating his love for scallops, mentioning that his wife had various recipes for preparing them. He expressed no interest in returning to fishing at his age and emphasized the importance of staying onshore to manage the operations there.