Dr. Gordon Thayer, a renowned Fishery Biologist, has made substantial contributions to the field of fisheries research and management. He obtained a Master's degree from the University of Delaware and later pursued his Ph.D. at North Carolina State University. In 1968, Gordon joined the Beaufort Lab, where he dedicated over three decades to the study of fisheries. Gordon was instrumental in establishing the Seagrass Program at the Beaufort Laboratory in the late 1960s, contributing to the preservation and conservation of seagrass habitats. Dr.

• John grew up in Pennsylvania and received his Master’s degree in the early 1950s from Bucknell University
• He worked for about five years in the early 1950s as an oyster biologist for the State of Maryland near Annapolis
• He was hired as a fishery biologist with the Radiobiological Laboratory at the Beaufort Laboratory in 1955
• Retired from the Beaufort Laboratory in 1975
• John was 98 years old when he recorded this interview

Richard "Dick" Stone, a native of Virginia Beach, Virgina, has dedicated his life to environmental research and conservation. He completed his Bachelor's Degree at Virginia Military Institute. He pursued a Master's Degree at William and Mary, further honing his expertise. Dick joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Sandy Hook Lab, where he spent 8-1/2 years contributing to important research and conservation efforts.  In 1972, Dick embarked on a new phase of his career when he transferred to NOAA's Beaufort Lab.

• Born and raised in Raleigh, NC
• Graduated from North Carolina State University with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Biology
• Drafted by the US Army
• Employed as Fisheries Biologist at the Beaufort Lab 1961-1989

• Received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 1965
• Did post-doctoral work at the University of Miami 1966-1967
• Employed at the Beaufort Laboratory in 1967, initially with the Menhaden Program
• Established the Reef Fish Program at the Beaufort Laboratory in the early 1970s, studying life histories of the snapper-grouper complex of fishes along the U.S.

Craig McLean was born in Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1957. His father was a first-generation immigrant from Scotland who served in the US Navy during World War II. His mother was a second-generation daughter of Sicilian immigrants. He grew up along the Passaic River, was a self-described "river rat," became a certified diver, and worked for a boatyard next to his house. At Rutgers College, Craig studied marine biology and zoology and worked on research cruises with NOAA ships. During the summers, he worked in the commercial and retail dive industry.

Captain Albert “Skip” Theberge, Jr. was born in 1946 in Coquille, Oregon.  When Skip was three years old, his family moved to Santa Cruz, where he learned to surf and because fascinated with the ocean.  He graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a professional degree in geological engineering. Skip also has a master’s degree in management from the Naval Postgraduate School.  In 1969, Theberge was commissioned as an ensign in the ESSA Corps, which soon became NOAA Corps. He retired with the rank of captain in 1995, after nearly 27 years of commissioned service.

Ann Terbush Schaefer was born in San Francisco in 1947. Her family moved to New York, where Ann attended the High School of Music and Art, before moving again to Washington, DC, where she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. Ann started her college career at Wells College in Aurora, New York. She transferred to George Washington University with a fine arts degree in 1969. She eventually also earned her master’s in public administration from American University in 1983.

Eddie Bernard, born in 1946 in Houston, Texas, is a renowned tsunami expert with a significant career at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Raised in Beaumont, Texas, Bernard's family history traces back to their migration from Canada to Louisiana. His early interest in science and natural disasters, particularly tsunamis, propelled him towards a career in oceanography. Influenced by his high school teachers, Bernard pursued higher education at Lamar University, where he cultivated his passion for oceanography and met his future wife.

David Vallee is the Hydrologist-in-Charge of the National Weather Service’s Northeast River Forecast Center. The center provides detailed water resource and life-saving flood forecasting services to National Weather Service Forecast Offices and the hundreds of federal, state and local water resource entities throughout the Northeast and New York. David has worked for the National Weather Service for 30 years, serving in a variety of positions including Senior Service Hydrologist at the Taunton Weather Forecast Office from 1993-2000 and as Science and Operations Officer from 2001-2006.

Mr. Rutkowski retired from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1985 with 33 years of federal service. He served as Deputy Diving Coordinator. He was founder and director of the NOAA Diving/Hyperbaric Training and Diver Treatment Facility from 1973 to 1985 where hundreds of divers have been treated. He also served as co-director for the NOAA/UHMS three week physicians diving and hyperbaric medical training program for the past 21 years.

Doug Whiteley is the Division Chief of the Research to Operations and Project Planning Division (ROPPD). As Chief of ROPPD, Doug oversees pre-formulation and early formulation for new satellite systems as well as the execution of studies for project alternatives, such as foreign partnerships leveraging data and/or instrument exchanges, small-sats, payload hosting, commercial alternatives, and technology maturation to identify specific potential solutions to NESDIS top-level requirements.

Dr. Edward Johnson was born in Columbus, Georgia, in 1950.  Johnson attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for his undergraduate and graduate education, earning his PhD in Civil Engineering in 1978.  He came to work for the National Weather Service Office of Hydrology, Hydrologic Research Laboratory as a research hydrologist in 1978.  In 1999, Mr. Johnson served as director of Strategic Planning and Policy for the National Weather Service and retired in 2015.  

Scope and Content Note

Martina Kekuewa Fuentevilla, a lifelong resident of Kona, Hawaii, was born on September 30, 1908, in Honaunau, South Kona, Hawaii. Raised by her kahu hanai, a system of guardianship commonly practiced in Hawaii, she lived separately from her mother, who resided with Martina's grandparent. Throughout her life, Martina held various jobs, including a coffee picker, tobacco stringer, hat weaver, and entertainer. She began her career as an entertainer at a young age, playing music with her aunt, Mrs. Kelekolio. In 1927, she married Leon Labadios Fuentevilla, with whom she had six children.

Gabriel Ka'eo, a native Hawaiian, was born on February 18, 1903, in Wai'ea, South Kana, Hawaii. His parents were Jones Emmanuel Ka'eo and Harriet Kamoku. Throughout his life, Gabriel lived in various places including Kealia, Hookena, Kana, and Honolulu. He held a variety of jobs such as a sugar plantation laborer, coffee picker, stevedore, contractor, and a stone wall builder. In 1926, he married Katherine Ka'ai and they had two children. As of the time of the interview in 1980, Gabriel was residing in Hookena.

Dan Whittle was born on October 10, 1962, in Glasgow, Kentucky. He grew up in a small farming town in western Kentucky named Ridgefield. After his parents divorced when he was in third grade, he moved to New England, New Hampshire, where he spent the school year in Manchester and the summers on their farm in Kentucky. Whittle attended Manchester public schools and later decided to go back South for college. He attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Katherine "Nina" Kalaiwa'a was born on July 28, 1910, in Ke'ei, South Kana, Hawaii to parents Victor Kukua Kalua and Veronica Keawe. She attended Napoopoo School and held a variety of jobs throughout her life, including housekeeper, babysitter, plantation worker, castor bean picker, coffee farmer, and lau hala weaver. Between 1932 and 1948, while living in Honolulu, she worked as a waitress and a pineapple cannery worker. Later in life, she became a resident of Honokohau, North Kana, and was active in various Hawaiian clubs and senior citizens' groups.

Robert "Bob" Lucas is a professional lawyer and former Chairman of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission who led efforts to pass the 1997 Fisheries Reform Act.  He has a deep-rooted passion for recreational fishing. His career in law began after a sustained interest in the legal field, which led him to pursue a formal education in law. Upon completing his studies, Lucas embarked on a legal career that saw him engage in various capacities within the legal system. His expertise and dedication to the profession earned him respect among his peers and clients.

Sandy Semans Ross is a retired newspaper editor and freelance writer who has a deep connection with the coastal communities and seafood industry. Born in a coal mining town in West Virginia, Ross moved to coastal communities due to her father's Navy service, where she developed a love for seafood. Ross's professional career includes working as a newspaper editor and doing freelance work for various publications. She is also the Executive Director of Outer Banks Catch, an organization dedicated to promoting locally caught seafood and supporting the local fishing industry.

Fred Iona, a Hawaiian-Portuguese farmer, was born on March 19, 1899, in Pahoehoe, South Kana, Hawaii. He was the youngest of eight children, and his father was a teacher at Alae School. Iona left school after the fourth grade to work on the Magoon Ranch in Pahoehoe. He eventually acquired his own land and cultivated various crops, including 'awa, banana, macadamia nuts, and peanuts. Iona is an active member of the Macadamia Nut Growers Association and continues to farm his land.

Willy Phillips is a seasoned professional in the commercial fishing industry, with a particular focus on crabbing. He has spent a significant portion of his life in fish houses and has been deeply involved in fisheries legislation. Phillips has been an advocate for the crab fishery and has worked towards the development of a crab management plan. He has also been a vocal critic of the commercial fishing industry, proposing a complete shutdown and rebuild of the industry in North Carolina.

Margaret (Kamaka) Spinney was born on September 26, 1910, in Kalaoa, North Kana, Hawaii. She was the daughter of Jacob Palakiko Kamaka and Kalua Pimoe Makahi, who were lau hala weavers. In 1930, Margaret moved to Kailua, Kana, where she worked as a coffee bean sorter at the American Factors coffee mill. A year later, she married Arthur Spinney, a commercial fisherman. In 1937, they moved to Oahu, where Arthur began working as a parks keeper in Nanakuli. Ten years later, they returned to Kana.

Amoe Giugni, a Hawaiian-Chinese woman, was born in 1894 in Kahaluu, North Kana, Hawaii. Her father, Lee Sam, also known as Akamu by the Hawaiians, was a Chinese immigrant who owned a store and tailoring business . Her mother, Kipola, was a native Hawaiian from Kona who wove and sold lau hala products. From a young age, Amoe learned about fishing, lau hala weaving, and other Hawaiian practices. She continued to reside in Kahaluu into her late 80s.

Darrell Gale is a seasoned commercial fisherman from Darien, Georgia. He comes from a long lineage of watermen, tracing back to Sir William Gale who served for King Arthur. His family migrated from the Isle of Man to the United States, where they settled in Darien, Georgia. Gale's grandfather worked for King George, rafting logs and fishing during off times. His father also followed the same path, serving in the Navy under Halsey before returning to shrimping. Gale himself has been on the waters since he was small, becoming a shrimp boat captain at the age of fourteen.

John Tyre is a local fisherman and firefighter based in Brunswick, Georgia. He has a rich history in the fishing industry, having worked on a variety of different vessels throughout his career. Tyre owns a 50-foot fiberglass boat named The Warrior, which operates three to four days a week with a crew of three, including two of his cousins. The Warrior primarily fishes for row shrimp and operates in and out of Brunswick, leaving in the early morning and returning to dock in the afternoon.

Jerry "Bubba" Austin Jr. is a seasoned fisherman based in Brunswick, Georgia. With over forty years of experience in the fishing industry, Austin has owned and operated three fishing vessels since 1995, the most recent of which is named Captain Snapper. Austin's career has been marked by both triumphs and challenges, including the sinking of his first two boats and the impact of environmental changes on the local shrimp population. Despite these obstacles, Austin has remained committed to his craft, demonstrating a deep understanding of the industry and a passion for his work.

Jimmy Moore is a retired local fisherman from McIntosh County, Georgia. He has a rich history of working on fishing vessels and has been a part of the commercial fishing industry for many years. Moore owned a fishing vessel for twenty years before selling it to a man named Bill. He currently co-owns a boat named Brenda K with Bill. Despite being retired for twenty years, Moore's experiences and stories from his time in the industry provide valuable insights into the changes and advancements that have occurred over the years.

Jim Dickey is a seasoned shrimper based in Brunswick, Georgia. Over the course of his career, he has worked on numerous fishing vessels, including the Captain Mama, Lady Susie Two, Lisabelle, Lady Belle, Captain Dickey, Erika and Derek, and Dickey Boys. His father owned twenty-five boats in his lifetime, and Dickey himself has owned several boats, including the Erika and Derek for sixteen years. He has a wealth of experience in the shrimping industry and has seen the evolution of the industry over the years.

Curtis Carter is a seasoned shrimper from Darien, Georgia, who has been in the shrimping industry since the age of sixteen. Despite not having completed his education, Carter was able to support his family through his work in shrimping. His first boat was the "Night Train," which he owned and operated for about four years. He later worked on several other boats, including the Pay Tot and the El Mar in Key West, Florida, and the Shrimp Chaser, a giant herring boat.

Herbert McIver, also known as "Captain Truck," is a seasoned commercial fisherman from McIntosh County, Georgia. His fishing career began at a young age, around eight or nine years old, when he started accompanying his father on fishing trips. Despite initial bouts of seasickness, McIver continued to work with his father every summer, eventually taking on more responsibilities as he grew older. His early fishing experiences were diverse, catching a variety of species including crabs, shrimp, whiting, flounder, and other smaller fish.

Johnny Bennett is a seasoned commercial fisherman from Georgia with a rich family history in the industry. His first experience on a boat was at the tender age of two weeks, marking the beginning of his lifelong involvement in fishing. Bennett's passion for the industry is evident in his preference for the solitude and independence it offers. However, he has witnessed significant changes over the years, many of which he attributes to environmental and regulatory shifts.

On April 5, 2010, Dr. Dionne Hoskins interviewed Otis Hayward as part of the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project. Otis comes from a long line of independent, nomadic commercial fishermen on both sides of his family. In his teenage years, he worked as a striker on his father’s boat and traveled far from his small hometown of Thunderbolt, Georgia—five miles southeast of Savannah, in Chatham County—to follow seasonally migrating shrimp along Florida’s Atlantic coastline.

Ola Mae Carter was born in Waynesburg, Mississippi, on a small farm with a house that had no roof and hardly a bottom. She was one of six or seven children and started working at a young age, helping a local woman with her garden and cleaning up the yard. When she was still a young girl, she traveled with the woman's daughter who was on her way to California for business. They stopped in St. Inigoes, Maryland, where Ola Mae eventually settled. During their journey, they faced racial discrimination when they were denied accommodation at a hotel because Ola Mae was Black.

In 2010, Dr. Jolvan Morris interviewed Charles Murray for the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project. One of 10 children, Charles grew up in Savannah, Georgia surrounded by a fishing community his entire life. He learned the trade, which he found easy, from his father who was a commercial shrimper and was the first African American in Thunderbolt to own his own boat. Coastal Georgia was the epicenter for shrimping and was where he, his father, and two brothers made their living.

On November 24, 2014, Dr.  Jolvan Morris interviewed Commissioner Lotson Griffin as part of the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project.  Commissioner Lotson, a Gullah Geechee cultural leader and federal commissioner, discusses his involvement in shrimp heading and the broader shrimping industry, tracing his family’s connections and the socio-economic roles of Gullah Geechee men and women in the community.

On August 14, 2014, Dr. Jolvan Morris interviewed Kenneth Dunham as part of the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project.  Kenneth Dunham describes his early life in the rural coastal Georgia community of Harris Neck.  Kenneth recalls his father's role in the community as a boat builder, and how lessons in woodwork, carpentry, and boat building have been passed for generations.  Kenneth talks about (and demonstrates) how nets and "trap lines" are made, as well as recounts how the different fishes, crabs, and terrapins were caught in this homemade gear.  He

Dr.

On March 10, 2016, Dr. Jolvan Morris interviewed Ernest McIntosh Sr. as part of the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project. Ernest and his four brothers were born into a crabbing family, surrounded by 2,700 acres of coastal saltwater wildlife refuge in Harris Neck, Georgia—30 miles south of Savannah, in McIntosh County. Although his brothers immediately pursued crabbing with their father, Ernest worked as a construction laborer until he was laid off in 1978.

On August 12, 2014, Dr. Jolvan Morris interviewed Olive Smith as part of the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project. Olive is one of the original members of the Harris Neck community in McIntosh County Georgia. She recalls how her mother provided food for the family by picking oysters at low tide during the winters and catching crabs. Olive's account is a brief glimpse of what life was like for the women of this fishing community.

Jim Mercer is a 47 year old diver on the New Bedford/Fairhaven waterfront.  In this interview, he enthusiastically describes his job, how he became a commercial fishing boat diver, and why he enjoys his job and the waterfront community so much.  He speaks about the importance of having a diver’s assessment on the bottom of a commercial fishing boat and the process of doing an assessment.  He describes the dangerous nature of the job and the satisfaction he receives from working in the New Bedford/Fairhaven fishing community.

Jay Hall spent 25 years working in the medical gas industry and now works for New Bedford Welding Supply, which supplies compressed gas to fishing vessels in the New Bedford - Fairhaven shipping industry.  He discusses his professional background, the different types of welding supplies and gas mixtures that New Bedford Welding Supply provides to the fishing industry, the process of filling a tank, the training provided to employees, specialty equipment, and potential dangers in the work environment.

James Lopes, fifty-six years old, has been involved in the fishing industry since he was a teenager. He began his career as a ‘Night Rider,’ then had his own business, Ocean Obsession, Ltd, and currently works for Norpel as a production manager. He discusses the rewards and challenges of working on the waterfront, a typical day at Norpel,  the “cast of characters” he has worked with throughout the years, and the changes he has seen in the industry and the New Bedford area over the years.

Jeff Cook is one of the owners of New Bedford Welding Supply in New Bedford, MA. He studied welding in high school and college and has worked for his family run business from a young age, starting with painting the gas cylinders and working his way up to customer sales.  He discusses the role of New Bedford Welding Supply in the fishing industry, the changes in welding equipment over the years, the role of his family members in the family business, and the positive and negative aspects of his job.

Jaqueline Rua has worked at Norpel for four years and has ambitions to be in management. She describes working conditions, learning English on the job and changes that have occurred in the four years on the job. She has a vast knowledge of types of fish and the packing process. She also trains Spanish speakers who are hired as temps during peak seasons.

Jaime Rivera was born in Puerto Rico in 1989. He came to New Bedford in 2006 and found a job at Norpel in 2007. He describes working his way up from packer to nightshift supervisor. He speaks about learning to work on new equipment, temporary and permanent workers, and that his work is not easy but he likes all of it.

This oral history was produced in 2017 as part of the Workers on the Waterfront Oral History Project conducted by New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center with funding from an Archie Green Fellowship provided by the Library of Congress.

Hector Grave came to New Bedford from Guatemala at age 14 and went to work on the waterfront. He worked for several years at gillnet companies until starting his own business, Lionel’s Nets, which makes and repairs gillnets. He discusses the challenges and sacrifice of self-employment as well as the passion for making a quality product.

Interview with John Farrington. 

Interview with Susan Peterson.

Interview with John Farrington. 

Interview with John Farrington. 

Interview with Susan Peterson.

Interview with Judith McDowell.

Interview with Judith McDowell.

Interview with Susan Peterson.

Interview with Judith McDowell.

Akira Otani, born in Honolulu, Hawai'i in 1921, grew up in a predominantly Japanese neighborhood with a strong fishing industry presence. His father ran a fish stall and wholesale business, while his mother worked in the fish and pineapple canneries. Otani's father had little involvement at home due to his work schedule, and Otani and his siblings had to take care of themselves. He attended Pohukaina School, a Japanese-language school with strict discipline, and later pursued a college preparatory program at Washington Intermediate School and McKinley High School.

Pam Davis Morris was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1962. Her father was an engineer and her mother was a medical technician. The family moved to Beaufort, North Carolina when she was five years old, and later, Smyrna, North Carolina. Morris began her career in the seafood industry at a young age, working at a fish house and heading shrimp when she was just fifteen. She attended college at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she earned degrees in Art and Art Education.

Dan Keyser is a distinguished meteorologist who began his career at an early age through an unpaid internship as a meteorological technician at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia between 1964 and 1971. His interest in weather was sparked in fifth grade when his teacher introduced a weather unit to the class. Keyser attended Penn State from 1971 through 1981, earning a B.S. in 1975, M.S. in 1977, and Ph.D. in 1981. During his time at Penn State, Rick Anthes was his adviser for all three degrees and had a profound influence on his career.

Chet Ropelewski is a meteorologist who began his career in an unconventional way. Unlike many of his peers who developed an interest in meteorology from a young age, Ropelewski's initial interest was in geology and geophysics. He pursued a bachelor's degree in physics, which he completed in June 1964. However, he soon realized that he did not enjoy modern physics, particularly quantum mechanics. Ropelewski's career path took a turn when he received a draft letter from his draft board shortly after his graduation.

Arlene Laing is a distinguished meteorologist who currently serves as the coordinating director designate for the Caribbean Meteorological Organization, a coordinating agency for sixteen English-speaking Caribbean territories with meteorological services. She began her role in this position in June 2018. Laing's educational background includes a degree in meteorology from the University of the West Indies, and a Master’s and PhD in meteorology from Penn State University.

Becky DePodwin is a meteorologist who is focused on emergency management, risk communication and hazard preparedness.  She has worked for companies such as Accuweather and Guidehouse and is active in mentoring meteorologists in the private sector. 

Clifford Mass is a renowned meteorologist who has had a significant impact on the field of atmospheric sciences. He has had a long and illustrious career, during which he has worked with some of the most influential figures in the field, including Carl Sagan, Steve Schneider, and Dick Reed. Mass began his career at Cornell, where he worked with Carl Sagan on a numerical model of the Martian atmosphere. This work resulted in his first publication, which was published in the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences.

Oral history interview with elder fisherman in American Samoa.

Oral history interview with elder fisherman in American Samoa.

Oral history interview with elder fisherman in American Samoa.

Jim Barstow, born on September 21, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri, during the Second World War, has spent most of his life in St. George, Maine. He moved to Maine in 1972 and has been living there ever since, drawn by the community and his childhood friends. Jim's entrepreneurial spirit led him to purchase and renovate the Ocean House Hotel, followed by the Seaside Inn, and eventually the Monhegan Boat Line in 1976. His family, particularly on his mother's side, hails from Pennsylvania and New York State, where they are primarily farmers.

Dan W. Miller, born in 1949, in Waterville, Maine, is a seasoned commercial fisherman with a rich history in the industry. He began his fishing career at a young age, obtaining his own lobstering license and boat at around seven years old. His commercial fishing journey started in the early 1970s. Despite not coming from a fishing family, Miller grew up in Cape Porpoise, a small harbor fishing community in Southern Maine, which is part of the town of Kennebunkport. He is a first-generation Mainer, with his father hailing from New Jersey and his mother from Massachusetts.

Allison Wilson Jr. was born in 1931, in Rockland. He has lived in Port Clyde, Maine, for almost eighty-one years, with twenty-four of those years spent in his current residence at 98 Horse Point Road. Wilson comes from a family with roots in Nova Scotia, with his ancestors having migrated to Port Clyde, where they built a log cabin before returning to Nova Scotia, and then coming back the following year. He estimates that he is the sixth or seventh generation of his family in the area.

Dana Rice, born in 1948, is a former groundfisherman from Birch Harbor, Maine. He began his fishing career in 1957, tub trawling with his family. Rice describes the fishing community of his time as subsistence living, with most families making enough to live comfortably but not able to accumulate much in savings. Groundfishing was only a small part of Rice's income, making up less than ten percent before he left the fishery in 1982.

Clifford D. West, born on December 23, 1942, in Steuben, is a seasoned commercial fisherman who began his career at the tender age of ten in 1954. He comes from a lineage of fishermen, with both his father and grandfather involved in the industry. Clifford's family, including his wife, who hails from a fishing family in Milbridge, has been instrumental in his fishing business. He has three children, none of whom are involved in fishing.

Oral history interview with elder fisherman in American Samoa.

Oral history interview with elder fisherman in American Samoa.

Oral history interview with elder fisherman in American Samoa.

Brande Bennett is a seasoned fisherwoman from Brunswick, Georgia, who has been involved in the fishing industry since her childhood. Her involvement in the industry is generational, with her father owning the Dora F, a boat she has been fishing on since she was four years old. Bennett also owned her own boat, the Brande Ray, which she sold a few years back. She has always preferred the role of a striker over that of a captain, despite being capable of driving the boats and performing all necessary tasks.

Ron McConaughey is a native of San Diego, born in 1941, and spent his entire life in the beach area, specifically Mission Beach. His first experience with underwater exploration began around 1949 when he wore a mask in the ocean for the first time. This sparked a lifelong interest in diving and underwater exploration. Around 1954, he took an introductory scuba course at the YMCA, which further fueled his passion. McConaughey's interest in scuba diving led him to read extensively on the subject, including works by Jacques Cousteau and the U.S. Navy diving manual.

Jim Fallon is a long-time resident of San Diego, having moved there at the age of 10 in 1951. He began diving in junior high school, around the age of 12 or 13, initially focusing on free diving for abalone at Birdrock. Fallon attended PB junior high school and later Mission Bay high school, identifying himself as a local beach boy. His diving companions during his early years included Bill Curtis, Chuck Grabowski, Ted Patchen, and Randy Chapman. Fallon and his friends would wear navy sweaters purchased from the Navy surplus store as they didn't have wetsuits.

Eleanor Small interview with Tales of Cape Cod, November 17, 1977. Born in 1909, Ms. Small describes her ancestors from Harwich. Her grandmother was related to Jonathon Walker, of "the branded hand" who married an Indian woman and went down south to help the slaves. He was captured and branded for helping slaves escape. She lived on the Cape with her grandmother and recalls several stories of local residents. She recalls the great Dennisport fire and Dr. Ginns block burned. Also remembers Ernie Cole, the blacksmith in Harwich Port and the Catholic church in Harwich Center burning.

Andrew Ross is a seasoned commercial fisherman based in Brunswick, Georgia. He has been involved in the shrimping industry since he was 20 years old, initially working as a deckhand on his father's boat, the Burn East 2. As his father aged, Ross took over the role of Captain and has been operating the boat ever since. The Burn East 2, a wooden boat built in 1944, is one of the oldest boats in the area. Ross's family has a long history in the marine business, with his father involved in bridge construction and his great grandfather building jetties in the area.

Bill Harris is a seasoned fisherman and co-owner of Sapelo Shrimp Company based in Darien, Georgia. He has been involved in the fishing industry for several decades, having bought his first boat in 1989. Over the years, Harris has owned and operated several fishing vessels, with his most recent being the Brenda K, formerly known as the Lang's Pride. Harris serves as the captain of his boats, but he also manages operations on the dock, including unloading shrimp from other fishermen, selling shrimp, ice, and fuel.

Bobbie Smith is a co-owner of Sapelo Shrimp Company, a fishing industry business located in McIntosh County, Georgia. Despite not having a background in the fishing industry, Smith has become an integral part of the company, relying heavily on her business partner, Bill Harris, for his wealth of knowledge about the industry. Smith's role involves managing the comings and goings of boats at Sapelo Shrimp Company, with the busiest times being from May to early July.

Calvin Lang is a third-generation shrimper and fisher based in Brunswick, Georgia. He has been involved in the fishing industry for several years, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Lang currently owns two fishing vessels, the Miss Peggy and the Fifth Day, both of which he operates with his wife, Lisa. He previously owned the Lang's Pride, a 75-foot St. Augustine trawler freezer boat, which he sold due to difficulties in finding a crew.

Charlie Phillips is a seasoned fisherman and business owner based in McIntosh County, Georgia. He has been involved in the fishing industry since his high school years, when he began working on shrimp boats during the summer. By the time he was a senior in high school, he was running shrimp boats on the weekends for his father. His commitment to the fishing industry led him to leave college when a professor insisted he attend a final exam on June 1, a crucial day for shrimp fishing. From that point on, Phillips became a full-time shrimp boat captain.

Hinton and Traci Arnsdorff are a married couple who own and operate a home shrimping business. Hinton Arnsdorff has a long history with boats, having owned and operated many throughout his life. His first boat, the Bunny B, was a forty-foot vessel that he ran when he was about fifteen years old. After two years, he sold it and got the West Wind. He has also run the Grey Ghost, which he has had for over twenty years. Other boats he has run include the Notre Dame, which sunk off of Saint Katherines, and Ms. Kim, which sank off of Key West.

Thurmond and Marie Kern are a married couple residing in Brunswick, Georgia. Thurmond has had a long history with shrimping and has owned several boats over the course of his life. His passion for fishing is evident in his inability to retire, leading him to purchase another boat, the Lady Raven, named after his granddaughter. Marie, while not directly involved in the fishing, has been a supportive partner throughout their journey. The couple has witnessed significant changes in the fishing industry and has concerns about its future in their area.

Adrian Coulby was born in 1933, and spent most of his life in Newburg. His father, Edgar Coulby, owned and operated the Potomac Fishing Oyster Company, an oyster house at Rock Point. As a young boy, Adrian spent a significant amount of time at the oyster house, where he developed a fondness for the bustling environment filled with crab pickers, oyster shuckers, and fishermen. Although his memories of this time are somewhat vague, he recalls helping with tasks such as cleaning the oyster house and interacting with the workers.

On October 17, 2009, Dionne Hoskins interviewed Charles Hall as part of the Georgia Black Fisherman oral history project. Charles was born in 1934 on Sapelo Island, Georgia—a small Gullah Geechee community founded on the fourth largest barrier island in the 1700s, 60 miles south of Savannah, in McIntosh County. Charles earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Morehouse College in Georgia and Physical Therapy certification from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

George Robert Bailey was born in November 16, 1925, in Mount Victoria, Maryland.  George spent his formative years in Charles County, Maryland. Having received his education in the public schools of Charles County, George embarked on a career as a waterman. His expertise extended beyond the sea as he showcased his culinary mastery by serving as a chef for several establishments in the region, including White House, Robertson's, and Fin & Claw. In his later years, George transitioned to a role at Camp St. Charles in Rock Point, Maryland.

Wynn Gale is a lifelong resident of Darien, Georgia, and a fourth-generation fisherman. He began his career in commercial fishing at the age of twelve. Despite a brief attempt at a career in law enforcement, Gale returned to the fishing industry, following in the footsteps of his family who have only ever worked in fishing. Over the years, Gale has observed a significant decrease in the number of boats fishing in the area. He has also experienced the financial challenges of the industry, having had to sell his shrimp boat due to high dock rent and the lack of a crew.

Kevin Hart is a former lobsterman who now runs the only water boat delivering water to fishing boats in New Bedford and Fairhaven. He grew up in Westport, where his father was part-owner of a lobster boat; he now lives in Dartmouth. He talks about being the only water boat provider, the decline of the industry and its current status in New Bedford, even with current prosperity of scalloping, as well as voicing future ideas for New Bedford with and without the industry.

Michael Smith is the 58-year-old owner of North Eastern Trawl in New Bedford, MA.  His company specializes in wire rope splicing.  In this interview, he describes his job, how he became a wire rope splicer, and experiences he’s had over the past thirty-eight years as a wire rope splicer.  He speaks about his company notably as a family business and how he enjoys his work. 

Natalie Ameral, a female of Portuguese descent, was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in 1994. She worked as a government contractor and port sampler, collecting lengths and biological samples such as otoliths based on a list provided by NOAA Fisheries. Ameral was the only female among seven port samplers in her company. She started working as a port sampler the year after graduating from college.

Luckas Smith, a 24-year-old male, has grown up around the fishing industry. He grew up in New Bedford, went to New Bedford Vocational School and recently graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He has worked as a wire splicer for his family’s business, Northeast Trawl, since he was about fifteen years old.  He explains the technique of splicing, the various tools, equipment, and the winch truck used for splicing.  Lastly, he discusses his view of the waterfront community and his pride in his role in the seafood industry.

Kirsten Bendiksen talks about her work in her family’s business, Reidar’s Manufacturing, a gear manufactory/support industry in New Bedford, formerly in Fairhaven. Talks about her Norwegian immigrant heritage and marrying a Norwegian fisherman, and later starting their busy gear shop, one of the few left to serve the industry. Kirsten works as bookkeeper in the business, which also employs her husband and their two sons and other workers.

Maria Gomez is from Guatemala and skins, cleans and packs fish at Bergie’s Seafood in New Bedford, MA. She has worked at the company for 15 years and her husband is also an employee.

This oral history was produced in 2017 as part of the Workers on the Waterfront Oral History Project conducted by New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center with funding from an Archie Green Fellowship provided by the Library of Congress.

Mariana Moreno is from Guatemala and has been working at Bergie’s seafood since age 16. She has learned all of the job duties at the plant including jobs typically reserved for men like hand cutting fish. She discusses adjusting her family budget to fluctuating work hours. She was recently promoted at Bergie’s and is always eager to learn more and take on more responsibilities in the workplace.

Pablo Sam immigrated to New Bedford, MA from Guatemala in 2004 and works at Bergie’s Seafood Inc. He started as a fish cutter and over the last couple of years has become a machine operator and a mechanic for 50 percent of the machines at his location. Pablo enjoys his work and plans on becoming a more efficient mechanic for the company.

On September 27, 2011, Nancy Solomon interviewed Joe Scavone as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Joe, a fisherman from Freeport, recalls how he started fishing as a young child with his father on the weekends, and describes how his mother and grandmother would prepare the fish for family meals. Joe describes his transition into commercial fishing, which began in his teens, when he worked on a gillnet boat. He explains the seasonal cycles of fishing and the various techniques and tools he uses to catch which fish in which season.

On May 1, 1998, Nancy Solomon interview Jack Combs as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Jack spent his childhood surrounded by the bay and developed a deep connection to the marine environment. Growing up in a family with a rich fishing heritage, Jack learned valuable lessons from his father and grandfather, including fishing techniques, oyster shucking, and the importance of humor. As Jack grew older, he became involved in various aspects of bay life.

On November 17, 2003, Nancy Solomon interviewed John Remsen Sr. for an oral history project. John Remsen Sr., born on February 5, 1933, in Freeport, New York, provides a detailed account of his life and work as a bayman, sharing his family's multi-generational involvement in fishing and clamming in the Freeport area. The interview covers Remsen's early introduction to the bay at the age of five, his first experiences with clamming alongside his father, and the evolution of his work on the water.

On July 10, 2000, Nancy Solomon interviewed Jerry Collins as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Jerry, a lifelong resident of the Sayville area in Bay Shore, often accompanied his father into the bay, beginning his full-time involvement in clamming in 1946, primarily as a tonger. He discusses the significance of facing the elements and perseverance in this line of work and the importance of having a good boat and engine. He explains the methods of tonging and describes the types and sizes of tongs used.