On October 1, 1988, Nancy Solomon interviewed John Remsen, Sr. as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. John is a skilled boat builder who has dedicated his life to constructing garveys. John's passion for boat building began when he observed other individuals constructing garveys, a type of boat commonly used in shallow waters. In the early days, John primarily used cedar wood for his boats. He would visit mills in New Jersey, particularly New Gretna, to purchase oak.

Captain Oliver describes trap fishing, early twentieth century Provincetown, the Shaw Fund for Mariner's Children, and his experiences taking Ernie Pyle out fishing.

Notes: The Tales of Cape Cod Oral History Collection is housed at the William Brewster Nickerson Archives in the Wilkens Library at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. For more information about the collection, please contact the Nickerson Archives, http://www.nickersonarchives.org/.

B.J. Copeland holds a Ph.D. in limnology from Oklahoma State University. His academic career began with research on the impact of petroleum waste on Texas bays while at the University of Texas. In 1970, he moved to North Carolina and continued his work in marine sciences. He served as the director of the Sea Grant program for over 23 years, where he focused on the needs of coastal communities and the dissemination of research to address those needs. His role involved extensive travel to small fishing towns to understand local issues and provide necessary information and support. 

Paul Collins was born in December 1954 and grew up in Smithboro, Kentucky. His father hailed from Irishman Creek, a region impacted by the construction of a dam, while his mother's family resided in Smithboro. Paul's maternal grandfather, John J. Amburgey, was a schoolteacher and merchant, running multiple general stores in the area alongside his brothers. Paul spent his childhood in Smithboro, where his family operated a general store that evolved into a department store.

Roy J. Cootes was born on December 3, 1932, at the old San Pedro Hospital in California. He spent his childhood in San Pedro, where his father worked as a shop superintendent for the Atlas-Imperial Diesel Engine Company, and his mother was a homemaker. Cootes attended local schools, graduating from San Pedro High School in 1950, and later obtained a certificate in internal combustion engine technology from Los Angeles Harbor College. In 1953, he pursued a brief career in professional baseball, signing with the San Francisco Seals.

Steven Cole was born in 1942in San Pedro, California. His m other, originally from Oakland, moved to San Pedro as a young child, while his father, a machinist from Amherst, Nova Scotia, arrived in San Pedro around 1918 or 1919. Cole's father worked at the Los Angeles Shipyard, which later became Todd Shipyard, before transitioning to the electrical business. Steven Cole grew up in San Pedro, assisting his father with the family electrical business, Cole's Battery, established in 1923.

Dennis and Barb Cook have been longtime residents of the Lake Winnebago area. Dennis Cook is an experienced sturgeon fisherman in the Lake Winnebago region. Barb Cook has supported and participated in the sturgeon fishing community alongside Dennis

Russell Collar, a lifelong resident of Shiocton, Wisconsin, has a deep-rooted connection to the sturgeon fishing tradition of the region. His family settled in the area several generations ago, moving from Hortonville to Stephensville before establishing their home in Shiocton. Collar grew up immersed in the fishing culture, acquiring skills and knowledge from his father, who was an avid fisherman. Collar served in the military during World War II, stationed in Japan, and returned to settle back in Shiocton, where he continued the fishing traditions.

Richard Culbreath is a member of the Culbreath family from Cortez, Florida, and is associated with the Cortez Grand Old Opry. His contributions to the local music scene are notable, and he plays an integral role in the preservation of regional musical traditions. Leo Galle, hailing from Biloxi, Mississippi, is a musician who collaborates with the Culbreath family. Ray Bach is from Myakka City, Florida, and also participates in the musical activities of the Cortez Grand Old Opry.

Robert Schuster is an educator and historian. His family has resided on St. Croix for generations, and he has had a deep connection to Great Pond Lagoon since childhood. In recent years, Schuster has also been a witness to substantial environmental change across the island. 

Henry Tonnemacher is an environmental biologist who moved to St. Croix in 1977. There, he helped initiate the Hydrolab Program and taught scientific diving at the West Indies Laboratory, formerly part of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s campus on the island. 

Interview with Don Field – NOAA NCCOS Research Ecologist

Don DeMaria – Commercial Fisherman/Diver

Interview with Drusilla Ice.

Donald Mattingly, also known as "Duck," was born on May 4, 1944. He was raised in the seventh district, in a place he refers to as his home place. His father, Joseph Olin Mattingly, was one of the biggest seafood dealers in St. Mary’s County. Donald grew up in a community where oyster shucking was a common occupation, with many people, mostly people of color, working in the shuck houses. He recalls his father going as far as Piney Point to pick up shuckers to bring down to shuck oysters.

Allan Tweddle, born on August 16, 1932, in Toronto, is an engineer with a strong background in the automotive and air quality industries. Tweddle dropped out of high school and worked odd jobs before returning to complete his high school education in Toronto. He then pursued an engineering degree at the University of Michigan, driven by his interest in the automotive world. After graduation, Tweddle worked with American Air Filter of Canada, focusing on air pollution and air quality in various industrial settings.

Edwin Veola Hutt (1918-2009)

By the age of fourteen, Hutt was running the family cannery, helping out on the farm and boxing eggs in the post office located in his father’s general store. Hutt donated to the Museum several cannery tokens that were used in place of cash to pay his workers through the World War Two era.

On May 10, 1987, Nancy Solomon interviewed Don Kearsley as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Don did not come from a family of fisherman, but was interested in learning because he lived close to the water near Atlantic City. He developed his fishing under the mentorship an experienced fisherman. The interview covers the traditional methods of clamming and offshore fishing, the evolution of fishing equipment, and the transition from using cotton and linen nets to nylon and poly nets.

Francie Arnett was born on January 28, 1952, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She grew up in St. Clairsville, Ohio, in a house built the same year she was born. Francie is of Polish descent, with all four grandparents having ties to Poland. Both her grandfathers immigrated from Poland, while her grandmothers were born in the United States to Polish parents. Francie was raised in a close-knit, extended family, participating in various family celebrations and reunions. She attended Catholic schools for twelve years, from grade school in St. Clairsville to high school in Lafferty, Ohio.

William Tobias (“Toby”) worked as a fisheries biologist for the Division of Fish and Wildlife for 31 years until his retirement in 2010. He first arrived in St. Croix in 1972 as a student with the West Indies Laboratory. Since then, Tobias has also served on both the Fisheries Advisory Committee for the island of St. Croix and the Caribbean Fishery Management Council. 

Antonio (Tony) Macedo was born on September 7, 1970, in San Miguel, one of the islands of Azores, Portugal. He immigrated to New Bedford, United States, in 1978 at the age of seven. After living in New Bedford for four years, he moved to Acushnet. Macedo is a marine carpenter by profession and has a rich ethnic background of Portuguese. He learned the shipbuilding trade on the job and eventually bought his own business. He has spent his career building and repairing wooden ships by hand, a craft he learned during his teen years.

On November 2, 2015, Dr. Dionne Hoskins interviewed Stephanie Anderson as part of the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project.  Stephanie Anderson grew up with a large, close-knit, extended family in Pin Point, Georgia—a small Gullah Geechee community founded in 1896.

On July 17, 2012, Dr.

On June 15, 2011 Dionne Hoskins interviewed Rebecca Bonds Bowen, better known as “Miss Sula,” as part of the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project. Miss Sula was born in 1946 in Pin Point, Georgia—a small Gullah Geechee community founded in 1896, eleven miles southeast of Savannah, in Chatham County. Growing up, Miss Sula was often the primary caregiver for her younger siblings because her parents would leave early in the morning to either catch or pick crabs.

On July 14, 2010, Dr. Jolvan Morris interviewed Lucy Grant as part of the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project. Lucy Grant was born in 1930 in the small coastal community of Sherman Bluff, Georgia in McIntosh County—30 miles south of Savannah. Fishing was essential in her family and community and throughout her married life. Her husband was a shrimp boat captain and they had three children. However, the family connection to fishing did not extend to her two sons, who hated fishing and chose to enter the military instead.

On August 28, 2014, Dr.

Alexander Chavis, a twenty-seven-year-old male, is a dedicated worker at Bergie’s Seafood in New Bedford. Originally from El Salvador, Chavis moved to the United States when he was sixteen years old in search of better opportunities. Prior to his move, he assisted his mother in her small restaurant business and had aspirations of becoming a teacher. However, the high cost of university education in El Salvador led him to seek opportunities elsewhere. Upon his arrival in the U.S., Chavis was helped by friends and family in New Bedford to secure his first job in fish packing.

On August 19, 2014, Dr. Jolvan Morris interviewed Wilson Moran as part of the Georgia Black Fishermen oral history project.  Wilson provides a firsthand account of traditional environmental stewardship and fishing practices within the Black community of Harris Neck before its transition into a wildlife refuge. Wilson reflects on his family’s history as commercial fishers, detailing the sustainable techniques they used, including seasonal fishing, culling undersized or egg-laden crabs, and replenishing oyster beds.

Description of the job of the tankerman, a licensed position on a fuel barge. Explanation about the benefit of fueling from a barge rather than a truck. Description of changes in fishing and scalloping since 1977. Demographic changes in the fishing community, lack of interest among young people. Some discussion about nicknames and superstitions, loss of the old-timers.

Paul Lemieux is 60 years old, a third-generation French-Canadian who grew up in the New Bedford area and attended the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational High School [Voc] where he learned welding. He started his own business, Blue Fleet Welding Services, in 1984 and has been working on the New Bedford waterfront in this capacity for 33 years.

In this interview Richard Gallagher, an electrical engineer at Chris Electronics in New Bedford, MA, shares his work history, discusses various electrical components of boats, details his daily work, and explains the relationships with customers, fishermen, and between co-workers at Chris Electronics.

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.

Phillip Mello describes his duties as a general manager at Bergies Seafood in New Bedford, MA, including auctions, transportation, fish cutting, sales, deliveries and networking. He joined Tichon Seafood in 1980 and continues to be active throughout the Fairhaven/New Bedford Harbor. Mello enjoys photography and documenting the fishing community. Changes in weather and fishing regulations have altered prices, catches and the economy of the fishing industry.

Petter and his wife Sharon own Harbor Hydraulics in Fairhaven, which he started with his brother some years ago. Petter graduated from New Bedford Vocational school, worked fishing with his father-in-law for a while, then at Scandia propellers, and eventually opened his own shop doing both installations and the business end of the paperwork. Sharon does the computer work and their son works in the shop and doing installations on the boats.

Peter Heleen, fifty-six years old, has been involved in the fishing and shipping industry since he was a teenager. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, he worked for a variety of companies, including C.E. Beckman Company, a marine supply company, until 2013, when he became the yards purchasing manager for the Fairhaven Shipyard. He discusses his early years in the industry, the challenges of the job, his relationships with vendors and how the industry has changed over the years, particularly in terms of inventory management.

Patricia Galdamez is from El Salvador and is the team leader of the frozen fish line at a large fish processing plant in New Bedford. She enjoys her job and working with the various fresh and frozen fish products.  

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.

On May 7, 1987, Nancy Solomon interviewed Carmine Marinaccio, a passionate fisherman and charter boatman. Carmen discusses his early years, detailing his family's move from the Bronx to Long Beach, and his experiences growing up near the water, where he developed a love for fishing and boating. The interview covers his career transition from a charter boatman during the Great Depression to making fishing lures. Carmen shares his perspectives on the challenges small-scale fishermen face, including economic hardships and the impacts of regulatory changes.

On May 15, 1987, Nancy Solomon interviewed George Combs as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. George was born and raised in Amityville, New York and comes from a long line of baymen, boat builders, and market gunners dating back to 1644. He discusses significant family members such as his father, a famous decoy carver, and his great-great-grandfather, a privateer and shipbuilder. The conversation covers the evolution of boat types used by the Combs family, such as Garveys and gunning boats, and details their construction techniques.

On June 7, 1987, Nancy Solomon interviewed Frank Cona as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history collection.  Frank Cona, a fifth-generation fisherman from Macata, grew up in a family deeply rooted in the trade. Frank's father and older brother played significant roles in his early education, teaching him the ins and outs of fishing on their dragger boats. From the age of six, Frank was actively involved in fish cleaning, gradually acquiring the skills that would eventually propel him to become a captain.

Stanley Sargent, born in 1965 in Stonington, Maine, is a seasoned commercial fisherman hailing from the rugged coastlines of Maine, a state renowned for its rich maritime heritage. Born into a family with deep roots in the fishing industry, Sargent's life has been inextricably linked to the sea from an early age. His forebears were among the hardy souls who braved the Atlantic's capricious moods to haul in the bounties of the ocean, passing down their knowledge and passion for the craft through generations.

John Williams is a seasoned commercial fisherman hailing from Stonington with a lineage deeply rooted in the maritime tradition. His initiation into the fishing world began in his formative years, working alongside his father, which laid the foundation for the eventual captaincy of his own vessel. Williams' expertise spans a diverse array of fishing methods, including lobstering, groundfishing, and scalloping, showcasing his adaptability and depth of knowledge within the industry.

Richard A. Whitman is a seasoned fisherman with deep roots in Rockland, Maine, where he has spent his entire life of 48 years. Born into a family with Italian and Sicilian heritage, Whitman's connection to the sea and fishing is a product of both his lineage and his environment. From a young age, he was drawn to the waters that have long provided sustenance and livelihood to the people of Rockland. Over the years, Whitman has gained extensive experience in various sectors of the fishing industry, mastering techniques for catching herring, salmon, scallop, lobster, and shrimp.

Richard Bridges is a seasoned commercial fisherman from Stonington, Maine. He began his fishing career at a young age, setting 150 traps when he was just seven years old, alongside his best friend who was eight at the time. His family, originally from Swan's Island, moved to Connecticut for work during the war but returned to Maine when Bridges was born, believing it was a better place for a boy to grow up. Bridges started groundfishing commercially in 1964, and gill-netted out of Stonington from 1974 until 1984.

Paul Molyneaux was born in 1958 and has lived in various parts of Maine, including East Machias, Trescott, and Eastport. He began his career in the fishing industry in 1975, initially working in Key West, Florida, where he was involved in shrimp processing. In 1981, he moved to Maine and started fishing out of Rockland on groundfish and sword fishing draggers [4]. He also worked on scalloping during the wintertime. In 1986, Molyneaux moved to Eastern Maine to run the fish processing plant, Passamaquoddy Quality Seafood and Fillet, located on the Passamaquoddy Reservation.

Russell Wright, born in 1960, is a lifelong resident of Lubec, Maine. He has been serving as a marine patrol officer since 1999. Prior to joining the Marine Patrol, Wright had a brief stint in the logging industry before returning to his roots in the fishing industry. He has three brothers who are actively involved in the fishing industry. Wright's decision to join the Marine Patrol was influenced by his love for water and dealing with people.

Lynn Bowman was born on December 20, 1938, in Eastport, Maine. She is a third-generation Eastporter who lived in the city until her high school graduation. Like many young people from Eastport, she moved away after graduation to pursue opportunities in larger cities. She relocated to Portland, where she lived for approximately forty-eight years. During her career, Bowman worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and she is now retired. In her youth, she was involved in the fisheries, working in a factory during the summer when she was fifteen.

Interview with fisherman Leonard E. Young, III, born September 9, 1944 in Bar Harbor, Maine. Young describes his entry into the commercial fisheries and discusses both lobstering and groundfish fishing.
 

One of the founding members of the San Diego Addicts Dive Club, Frank contributed countless artifacts and histories to this project. He set many records for competitive spearfishing, hand-crafted refined models of dive equipment from spearguns to sea sleds, and collected rare specimens as a scientific diver for Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He currently resides in La Jolla with his wife Suzy, and continues to provide insight and historical knowledge to new generations of divers with unmatched generosity.

Bill Howard is a seasoned diver with a rich history in the field of oceanography. Born in Pasadena, California, on September 1, 1938, Howard moved to San Diego in the summer of 1951. His first experience wearing a mask in the ocean was in front of the Marine Room. Howard was part of a dive club called the Cormorants, which was in existence for a short while. He later joined the Addicts, along with his diving buddies Bob Shea and Dave Lynn. Howard has a history of winning dive competitions, often with large sheep head fish. He also has experience with boat trips to the Cortes Bank.

Chuck Mitchell was born in Los Angeles in December 1940 and moved to San Diego in 1947. He grew up in Point Loma, attending Cabrillo Elementary School, Dana Junior High, and Point Loma High School. His father was a mechanic who owned his own garages, which led to Mitchell spending a lot of time working on cars and developing a curiosity about how things work. This curiosity has been a driving force throughout his life. In the early 1950s, Mitchell and his family moved onto a boat at Jim Underwood's Landing, the first marina on Shelter Island.

Walter Budd was a prominent figure among the men who worked the Great South Bay during the early-to-mid 20th century. Born in 1909, Budd started his career in West Sayville, Long Island, at the age of fifteen. Initially engaged in farming oysters, he, like his counterparts, had to adapt to the declining fertility of the bay's oyster beds by exploring alternative livelihoods or supplemental jobs.

Chuck Nicklin, a renowned diver and underwater cinematographer, was born in Massachusetts and moved to San Diego in 1942 at the age of fourteen. His father was in the Navy and was reassigned to San Diego during World War II. Despite his initial reluctance to move, Nicklin fell in love with San Diego and decided to stay even when his father was reassigned back to Boston. Nicklin graduated from Point Loma in 1945 and began his journey into the world of diving as a teenager, exploring the waters around Sunset Cliffs and La Jolla Cove.

William Kirk, born in 1947, is a lifelong resident of Rockland, Maine. He is the first member of his family to work in the fishing industry, having entered the lobstering fishery independently in 1967 to supplement his income from working at a clothing factory in town. Despite the significant increase in the cost of bait and other operating costs over the years, Kirk continues to actively lobster, selling his lobsters locally throughout his career. He has two sons, one of whom works with him in the lobstering business while the other works for a fishing company.

Dick Long is a pioneer in the field of dive suit invention and construction. Born in Berkeley, California, he moved to San Diego in 1963. His early life was marked by the impact of World War II, which led to his parents' divorce and his subsequent boarding out to a farm in Northern California. Long's diving career began in Monterey, where he learned to dive without formal classes, relying instead on a couple of basic guidebooks. His first experience with a mask in the ocean was in Monterey, where he was introduced to skin diving by a colleague.

Barbara Allen is a seasoned diver and underwater instructor who has made significant contributions to the diving community in San Diego. Born in Los Angeles, Allen first visited San Diego as a teenager with her parents. Her first experience with diving was in 1957 when she took the LA County Underwater Instructors class. This marked the beginning of her lifelong passion for diving and underwater exploration.

Interview with William R. Modden, born July 21, 1934 in Bar Harbor, Maine. Modden began fishing commercially in 1952 at the age of 18. He participated in the scallop and groundfish fisheries in Maine and Massachusetts.

Michael Sullivan is a seasoned commercial fisherman based in Brunswick, Georgia. With a career spanning several decades, Sullivan has owned and operated multiple fishing vessels, including his most recent acquisition, a 60-foot research vessel previously owned by The Department of Natural Resources. Prior to this, he owned and operated The Flying Cloud, an 88-foot North Carolina built boat, which was one of the largest boats on the East Coast in terms of power and size when he purchased it in 1986.

Lindsey Parker is a long-standing member of the commercial fishing community in Georgia. He has a rich history as a commercial fisherman and has been involved in various projects at the UGA Marine Extension. Over the years, he has captained several boats, including the Georgia Bulldog, the Morning Star, and the Southern Comfort. His career spans over 36 years, during which he has formed numerous friendships within the fishing community. Parker is known for his candidness and willingness to share his experiences and insights into the fishing industry.

Robert Everson is a seasoned fisherman from McIntosh County, Georgia, with a rich history in the fishing industry. His journey in the industry began with the help of his father, who also worked in the industry. Everson's early years were spent working on several boats in the Gulf of Mexico, starting as a striker and gradually gaining experience and skills. He also worked with his father out of Fort Myers, Florida, where they would embark on three-day trips to the Gulf of Mexico for shrimping.

Morris Butler is a seasoned shrimper from McIntosh County, Georgia. He has spent over forty years in the shrimping industry, working on various fishing vessels such as The Sundown, The Turning Point, The Thunderbolt, The Sea Walker, and The Four Ladies. His career in shrimping began at a young age, introduced to the industry by his father. Despite health issues forcing him into early retirement, Butler maintains a close relationship with the shrimping community, reflecting fondly on his experiences and the camaraderie among fellow shrimpers.

Mr. Robert Todd focuses on the history of his family’s commercial fishermen legacy. He discusses the boats run and operated by members of the Todd/Sawyer family. He discusses his short film, Trawling Traditions, which covers some histories of commercial fishermen on the Georgia Coast.  He also gives recommendations for the future of shrimping in Georgia. 

Marty Collins is a seasoned commercial fisherman with a rich history of working on fishing vessels. He began his career as a captain at the young age of sixteen and has since worked on numerous boats, including the Blackbeard and Cindy Marie. He has been with his current company for nine years and has spent the last four years on his current vessel, the Lady Denise, a 96-foot steel hull freezer boat. Prior to the Lady Denise, he worked on the fishing vessel Forgiven, which was named after the wife of the preacher he worked for.

Michael Vernon is a seasoned fisherman based in Eulonia, Georgia. He has extensive experience working on various fishing vessels, having served on approximately ten to twelve boats throughout his career. Currently, he is the captain and partner on the Miss Doris, a position he has held for the past three years. Prior to this, he worked on the Golden Phase, one of the oldest boats in the county, for the longest duration. His experience spans from North Carolina to Key West, with stints on boats such as the Lady Denise, Megan Elaine, Daddy's Girl, and War Horse.

Jonathan Bennett is a commercial fisherman based in Brunswick, Georgia. Born into a family deeply involved in the fishing industry, Bennett has been engaged in commercial fishing since birth. His grandfather owned boats and his uncles ran bait businesses, providing him with a rich background in the industry from a young age. After graduating, Bennett began running boats and has since dedicated his life to the profession. He has worked on several vessels, with his most recent being The Flying Cloud, an 85 by 24-foot boat with a twin Caterpillar unit.

Joseph Rauls is a seasoned fisherman from Brunswick, Georgia, who has been involved in the shrimping industry for several decades. His journey into the world of fishing began in 1969 when his father bought a shrimp boat. Rauls was drawn to the entrepreneurial spirit of his father, who always found ways to make a living, including shrimping. Over the years, Rauls has witnessed significant changes in the fishing industry, particularly in the design and operation of fishing vessels.

Jose “Joe” Magalhaes describes his work as a paint shop foreman for the Fairhaven Shipyard located in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. He is a Portuguese immigrant who is fifty-seven and has been working at Fairhaven Shipyard since he left high school at sixteen years old. He talks about how he got started “back in the day” and learned his craft from his highly skilled co-workers.

Joao “John” Bernardo describes his work as an upholsterer for the last 38 years, including jobs for commercial fishing boat owners. Bernardo discusses his other jobs related to the commercial fishing industry, working with other Portuguese immigrants in the fish houses and how he learned his current craft.

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.

Jeff Ferreira is a 50-year-old supervisor of F & B Rubberized in New Bedford, MA, a company that specializes in tire recycling for use in the fishing industry. In this interview, he describes the history of the company, his job at F & B Rubberized, and the uses of recycled tires in the fishing industry.  He speaks about his company notably as a family business and what he hopes for the future of fishing and tire recycling.  

In this interview, Karen Joseph describes her experiences growing up in her family’s business, the RA Mitchell Company, on the New Bedford waterfront. She discusses her experience being a female in a leadership role in a male-dominated industry, as well as the positives and negatives of working in a family business. Finally, she discusses her hopes for the future of the fishing industry.

Jose Couto started working at New Bedford Ship Supply the year that he graduated from high school. He was hired initially because he had taken bookkeeping courses and was fluent in Portuguese, but since then has been promoted as a manager. In addition to bookkeeping, he deals with buying and stocking the store with supplies, often consulting with his customers to meet their needs. In this interview, Jose also discusses changes in the industry and his own experience.

Joe Moniz first came to the States as a soccer player. Later he emigrated to New Bedford from St. Michael in the Azores, where he’d been a farmer, as were most of his family. He’s been a lumper for many years, although he started out in construction for five years before lumping. He talks about the work of a lumper and the process of unloading boats, changes in the industry and in boats and technology and its effects on the job, changes in kinds and hauls of fish, and his love for the independence of the work.

John Pelicas describes in detail his work and life as a marine mechanic at R.A. Mitchell, where he has worked for 31 years. An immigrant from Portugal, he comes from a fishing family and has always been a part of the community on the waterfront. He discusses dangers if the job, fishing regulations, various engine fabrications, his deep commitment to the job, difficulties with computerized engines and what he sees as a bright future for the fishing industry.

John Miranda describes family life in Portugal, his immigration to America in 1980 and his training in engineering in both Portugal and the U.S. He discusses working for R.A. Mitchell for three decades, engineering changes in the fishing industry over the last 3 decades and his hopes for the future of fishing in general.

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.

Jenifer Sanabria emigrated from Honduras to New Bedford, MA nine years ago and currently works in a packing line at a seafood factory. The company works with a variety of fish including filleted codfish, the process starts from when the boats arrive with the product, and they are processed, filleted and packaged for distribution across New England. She has a family back home that she has committed to providing to for the rest of her life. 

Shareen Davis is deeply connected to the coastal town of Chatham, where she was born and raised. Growing up in a large family during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, Shareen navigated the challenges of a struggling household. Her family's ties to the fishing industry ran deep, with her maternal grandfather being a pivotal figure in her life. Despite societal gender distinctions of the time, Sharleen defied expectations and embraced a strong voice for fairness and equity, advocating for those who needed support.

Anne Shankle grew up in Michigan, and moved to Naknek Alaska in 1996 while building her own house from scrap parts leftover from seafood processors. She subsists off the land, and lives off the grid with her dog sled team. Ann has extensive knowledge of medicinal and native plants, and discusses how she has subsisted in Naknek, which includes harvesting berries, plants and herbs from the tundra. Anne also talks about when she commercially fished for sockeye salmon, as well as fished for crab in Kodiak.

Qui Lam is a Vietnamese-American shrimper living in Houma, Louisiana. Mr. Qui Lam was born in 1961, one of eight children, near the city of Rach Gia, South Vietnam. His father’s name was Bung Lam. His mother’s name was Hui Trang. Mr. Lam is of Chinese and Vietnamese descent. At a young age, Mr. Lam traveled with his father by boat to the market to help buy merchandise to resell in his stores, which were later taken by the Communist regime. After 1975, Mr. Lam began shrimping to earn a living, in addition to growing watermelon and potatoes. Mr.

Leslie Hood is a commercial fisherman in Long Beach, Mississippi.

Thomas Gonzales is a retired commercial fisherman from St. Bernard, Louisiana.

George V. Jackson, III (b. 1957) is a third-generation commercial fisherman working out of St. Bernard, Louisiana. He was born on February 13, 1957, in New Orleans, Louisiana to George Jackson Jr. (born September 28, 1934, in New Orleans) and Odurna Jackson (born December 12, 1937, in New Orleans). His father was a part-time commercial fisherman, concurrently with being a baker and a millwright. In the late 1960s, his father became a full-time commercial fisherman. His father’s family worked at Jackson Brewery in New Orleans and fished.

Cuc Huynh is a Vietnamese-American shrimper and tuna fisherman, living in New Orleans East. Mr. Cuc Huynh was born in 1964, one of nine children, near Phu Hai in Binh Thuan Province, South Vietnam. His father’s name was Tich Huynh and his mother’s name was Em Thi Phan. Tich Huynh served as a soldier in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnamese Army). Mr. Huynh learned to fish from his father when he was thirteen years old. His mother bought and sold fish in town. After the Communist takeover in 1975, Mr. Huynh quit school to fish for food and survival.

Joseph Gregory Ladnier, who goes by Greg is owner/operator of Sea Pearl Seafood Co., Bayou La Batre, AL, which specializes in wild caught American shrimp.

Track 1:  Born in 1903, Mr. Welsh, a retired judge, describes his experiences growing up in Provincetown, Massachusetts.  He talks about how is father became a lawyer and judge in Provincetown.  He describes his youth and life in Provincetown in the early 1900’s, his experiences with the artist Charles W.

Gary Hatch, a lifelong resident of Owls Head, Maine, comes from a lineage of fishermen. His formative years were spent learning the intricacies of lobster and flounder fishing, a tradition within his family. Hatch's career in fishing expanded when he was introduced to seining by an older fisherman, a method that deepened his connection to the sea. His affinity for the coastal environment was not only a source of livelihood but also a passion that led him to explore the shorelines and waters of Maine.

Gary Libby is a seasoned fisherman with deep roots in Port Clyde, Maine, a town with a rich maritime history. Born into a family with a longstanding connection to the sea, Gary's lineage includes coasters and merchant captains, and his family has been an integral part of the area for generations. His life has been shaped by the ebb and flow of the ocean and the fishing industry that has sustained his community for decades.

On July 12, 2000, Steve Warrick interviewed Bob Kaler as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history collection. Bob Kaler, a lifelong resident of Patchogue, New York, worked in clamming and crabbing for decades. Bob discusses the process of setting trap lines for crabbing, attributing his start in the industry to living near the bay. Over the years, he's seen the number of crabbers increase in reaction to a decline in the clamming industry and the rising demand for crabs.

On October 15, 2020, Zachary Mason interviewed Lisa Carroll for the Decades of Change in the Florida Reef Tract: An Oral History Project. Lisa Carroll, a resident of Tequesta, Florida, is the owner and operator of the Jupiter Dive Center in Jupiter, Florida. The dive center offers charter boat services, diving instruction, equipment rentals, and retail sales, and is known for its role in the local diving community. The interview begins with Carroll's biographical background, detailing her early years in New Jersey and her passion for the ocean, which led her to Florida in 1995.

Warren E. Bailey, born and raised in Woods Hole, has been deeply connected to the fishing industry throughout his life. He grew up on North Street and attended school in the village. At the age of 17, he started working for Sam Cahoon at his fish market. However, his plans to immediately join the service during World War II were delayed, and he continued working for Sam Cahoon throughout the summer. Bailey eventually enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II. After his military service, he returned to the fish market in Falmouth, where he continued his work.

Born in 1902, Mr. Hallett describes his childhood experiences from 1907-1909 while vacationing in South Dennis, Massachusetts. He also describes his experiences living as a summer resident in Silver Beach, North Falmouth, Massachusetts from 1910 to the 1920. He describes the costs of rentals and food in 1907, his experiences with Captain Howard Kelley family in South Dennis; his great uncle Joyce Taylor in Hyannis who was a prominent realtor and business man; Mr. Hallett's life as a child and teenager in Silver Beach, North Falmouth and the affluent neighbors who were summer residents.

James Nadler discusses lake sturgeon spearing construction with the interviewer. James also discusses his experiences sturgeon spearing and changes in spearing over time. Interviewer identity unknown.

Dr. Crosby was born in Brookline in 1895.  He reads from the introduction to his unpublished memoirs for approximately 10 minutes.  This section deals primarily with the train trip from Boston to Buzzards Bay and then on to the Chatham depot, the ride from the depot to their summer home in East Harwich, and his earliest memories as a child during the summer with his family and relatives.  Dr.

Right now, I can close my eyes and see that boat and hear the noises that it made.  When it came in the creek, it would blow the whistle and black smoke would come from it.  It was just great watching that steamboat come in.

Ken Corbett served as a state warden, with significant contributions to law enforcement and conservation efforts in Wisconsin. He began his career as the first warden in Clinton, Ohio, where he established a reputation for integrity and dedication. Corbett's tenure was marked by his involvement in various law enforcement activities, including addressing illegal activities and maintaining public order. He worked under notable figures such as O.K. Johnson and others in law enforcement.

Gladden Schrock is a multifaceted individual with a diverse professional background. He has established himself as a herring fisherman, author, and playwright. His life's work has been significantly influenced by his experiences in the herring stop-seine fishery, which he began in the 1960s. Schrock's career has been rooted in South Bristol, Maine, where he has witnessed and contributed to the evolution of coastal life. His insights extend beyond fishing to encompass the sociocultural transformations within his community, including the interactions with Amish and Mennonite groups.

Jode Hillman, a professional decoy carver, has been in the profession for about seventeen years, with the last six years being professional. He specializes in making cedar decoys, which are primarily used for duck hunting. However, many people also collect these decoys as decorative items. Hillman's interest in the bay, duck hunting, and life on the marshes is deeply rooted in his family history. His father's family, the Hillmans, were avid fishermen who would often visit Fortescue for fishing trips during the weakfish boom years.

That was all back-breaking hard labor ... every time you’d squeeze that line – I had forearms that looked like Popeye, for God's sake. -- John F. Sherwin

Joe Evjen was born in 1967 in Gainesville, Florida. His father served briefly in the Navy, and his brother attended the Naval Academy. Evjen was active in the Boy Scouts and developed an early interest in orienteering. He pursued a degree in surveying and mapping at the University of Florida and became interested in the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Evjen graduated in December 1990 and joined the NOAA Corps in January 1991.

It may seem strange to you people, but when I say rarely went to the mainland, we had students in school who were in the graduating class who had never left the island.  That was a big experience for them. 

Eva Cushman, born in 1924 in Camden, Maine, was a long-time resident of Port Clyde, Maine. She moved to Thomaston with her parents shortly after her birth and attended Thomaston schools where she met her future husband. Her husband worked on the mailboat Nereid, which traveled from Thomaston to Monhegan to Boothbay Harbor and back. They married in 1941 and had seven children together. In 1946, they moved to Port Clyde where her husband worked as a lobsterman, fisherman, and clam digger.

Joe Zahtila and Dave Relyea are two significant figures in the history of the Frank M. Flower shellfish hatchery in Bayville, Long Island. Joe Zahtila began his tenure at the hatchery in the 1960s, starting as a hatchery technician responsible for general maintenance and working with shellfish. Over time, he evolved into a key player in the hatchery's operations, contributing to the development of new methods for growing shellfish, particularly oysters and clams. Dave Relyea started at the hatchery a bit earlier, in 1964.

My generation – we’ve lived through the horse and buggy days right up to mechanized machinery and people going to the moon and landing on the moon and like that.  You can't visualize anything that could advance to that, but I suppose it will be.