Khong Tran is a Vietnamese-American shrimper living in New Orleans. Mr. Khong Tran was born, one of nine children, on September 23, 1955, in Kien Giang Province, South Vietnam. He began fishing and shrimping with his father at the age of ten. His mother sold their catch at the local markets. In 1978 Mr. Tran escaped Vietnam by boat with friends to avoid being drafted to fight in Cambodia. He escaped with thirty to forty people toward Thailand and three months later made it to Hawaii, where he lived for one year before moving to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1980. Mr.

Mr. Kha Van Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American shrimper living in New Orleans East. Nguyen was born in 1950 in Phat Diem, in the north of Vietnam. In 1954, when Vietnam was divided into North and South, he moved with his family first to Da Nang, then My Tho and Can Tho, finally settling in Vung Tau in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. Mr. Nguyen helped his father catch fish to sell to the market. When Mr. Nguyen was thirteen years old, his father died so he quit school to become a fisherman to help support his mother and four siblings. In 1969, at age eighteen, Mr.

Le Van Dong is a Vietnamese-American shrimper living in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Mr. Le Van Dong was born January 9, 1958, one of three children, in My Tho, South Vietnam. In 1968, Mr. Dong moved to the port city of Vung Tau, South Vietnam. Mr. Dong’s father was a guard in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnamese Army), and took responsibility for raising his young children upon the early death of Mr. Dong’s mother. Mr. Dong began catching and selling fish at the age of fourteen to help support his family. Mr.

Kim Dai Dinh is a Vietnamese-American, living in East Biloxi, who worked in seafood processing plants.

Mr. Tuan Tran is a Vietnamese-American shrimper living in Biloxi, Mississippi. Tran was born on July 28, 1963, one of seven children, in Nha Trang, South Vietnam. Mr. Tran’s father died in battle, serving in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, when Mr. Tran was twelve years of age. Upon his father’s death, Mr. Tran quit school to help his mother make a living to support selling produce and other goods in the market. In 1986 Mr. Tran was out fishing when he made a sudden decision to escape Vietnam when approached by others who were escaping.

Mr. Tuan Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American living in New Orleans who is the Deputy Director of Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation and served on Louisiana Congressman Joseph Cao's oil disaster Rapid Response Team following the BP Deepwater oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010. Nguyen was born, one of thirteen children, in 1980 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Thanh Nguyen and Than Nguyen of Phu Quoc, Vietnam.

Reverend Daniel Quan Nguyen was born, one of five children, on July 15, 1941, in Tay Ninh Province (east of Saigon), South Vietnam. His parents were farmers and his father died when he was just a year old. Reverend Nguyen attended high school and university in Saigon, studying science and law, then becoming a high school math teacher. From 1968 to 1975, he served as an infantry commander in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnamese Army). He was stationed with the Fourth Battalion Regiment of the Seventh Division in the Mekong Delta.

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.

Mr. Cui Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American shrimper living in East Biloxi, Mississippi. Nguyen was born in 1954, one of seven children, in the city of Rach Gia in the Kien Giang Province of South Vietnam. His father, Ngoc Van Nguyen, was a fisherman. His mother, Kau Thi Nguyen, farmed rice. They all worked together to fish and sell at the local market. In 1972 Mr. Nguyen served in his town in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnamese Army). In 1981 Mr.

Mr. Daniel Nguyen is the environmental justice coordinator for the Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation in New Orleans Versailles Community. He also currently serves as the project manager for the Viet Village Urban Farm and Sustainable Aquaculture Park, managing daily activities and helping to organize community fisherfolk and gardeners in a cooperative effort to market their goods to local New Orleans restaurants.

Mr. Dac Truong is a Vietnamese-American shrimper living in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Truong was born on May 8, 1954, in Rach Gia, South Vietnam. His father was a fisherman, head captain, and carpenter who built his own boat. Mr. Truong was his co-captain. In 1982 Mr. Truong escaped Vietnam with his family, navigating to Malaysia as captain on a friend’s boat. They were later transferred to a camp in the Philippines where he learned some English. In 1984 Mr. Truong and his family finally made it to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where they lived for three years.

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.

Ran Bui is a Vietnamese-American shrimper in Biloxi, Mississippi. Mr. Ran Bui was born in 1960, one of eleven children, and raised in the port city of Vung Tau in southern Vietnam. Mr. Bui’s parents are originally from Hai Phong in the north of Vietnam. His father, Canh Bui, was a member of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnamese Army) and a fisherman; his mother, Mau Thi Nguyen, fished with the family and worked for a seafood company processing oysters and shrimp. Mr. Bui began fishing with his father at age eleven.

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.

Theodora Beal, affectionately called "Gram," grew up in West Tremont, Maine, in a large family of six brothers and six sisters. Her father was a fisherman, and they lived by the water, surrounded by boats and the fishing industry.

Russell Boynton, born on June 4, 2005, is a resident of Ellsworth, Maine. He has been involved in worming for nearly 50 years, starting during his high school years in 1957. Russell's interest in worming sparked when he observed people carrying buckets of worms and realized its potential for earning money. Initially balancing worming with college and a grocery store job, Russell soon discovered that worming was more lucrative. He gradually transitioned to full-time worming during summers and part-time while teaching and coaching.

Paul Brayton is a multifaceted individual who has pursued various occupations throughout his life. Born and raised in Ellsworth, Maine, Brayton began his career as a commercial fisherman after serving in the Navy as a pilot. He was drawn to the excitement and freedom of fishing, spending long hours at sea, and enjoying the financial rewards that came with it, especially during the less regulated times of the 1970s. However, as he started a family, Brayton realized that the demanding nature of offshore fishing was not compatible with being present for his loved ones.

Wes Bunker is a part-time lobster fisherman and sea urchin diver in Hancock County, Maine.  

John Crossman has been a lobster fisherman for 23 years, starting in Frenchboro, an island off the coast. John learned fishing from his father. He currently fishes off Bass Harbor, Mount Desert Island, but keeps his fishing spots secret.

Danner Curtis is a lobsterman based in Blue Hill Bay, Maine. Curtis did not come from a fishing family and was able to start fishing after filling out a Maine state license. There are now permit programs in place, including a student program that allows students to fish 150 traps in the summer as long as they attend college.

Scott Fuller, a former lobstering and scallop fisherman, was born in Maine. He embarked on his fishing career in 1983 and continued until 1987. Growing up in a coastal community, Scott developed an affinity for the sea and its unpredictable nature. His choice to become a fisherman was fueled by a desire to embrace the challenges and rewards that came with the occupation. Although not from a family with a fishing background, Scott was introduced to the trade through an in-law who was already involved in the industry.

Billy Grindle, is a fisherman who used to fish for various types of fish from Eastport, Maine to California. He fished for scallops, lobsters, tilefish, butterfish, squid, mackerel, herring, porgies, giant Atlantic bluefin tuna, and oysters. Billy started fishing at the age of seventeen and continued until he was thirty. He owned a forty-foot boat but also worked on larger boats up to a hundred and ten feet. He kept his boat in various locations such as Northeast Harbor, Bass Harbor, Gloucester, Block Island, and Port Clyde.

Billy Haas is a lobster fisherman, commercial urchin diver, and scallop diver. He has been involved in these activities for about fifteen years. His daily schedule varies throughout the year. He works for ten months and takes two months off, usually during May and June. During the slow period, he prepares for lobstering, which begins at the end of June.

Peter Harvey is an aquaculture research worker employed by the University of Maine at the Franklin facility, where he holds the position of systems manager. With a background in both engineering and marine aquaculture, Peter plays a crucial role in the facility, overseeing the maintenance, design, and expansion of various systems. He takes pride in his work, describing it as a combination of problem-solving and experimentation, where he gets paid to explore and test new ideas.

Fred Hersom is a lobster fisherman who first went out fishing with his father when he was six years old. He discusses the weather, bait, number of traps, sale of lobsters, rules, and regulations, and a typical day in the life of a fisherman. He fishes out of Stonington, Maine, and usually sets out four to five hundred traps.

Bob Hessler is the manager at Maine Shellfish Company, a shellfish wholesale company. His responsibilities are accounting, data processing, and purchaser of lobsters.

Herb Hodgkins is a renowned figure in the lobster industry, known for his expertise as a lobster fisherman, entrepreneur, and researcher. Born and raised in Hancock, Maine, Herb was exposed to the world of lobster fishing at a young age, accompanying his father on fishing trips. From being a curious helper to occasionally being a little nuisance, Herb developed a deep-rooted connection to the lobster industry. Although Herb didn't pursue lobster fishing as a full-time occupation, he remained closely involved in various other aspects of the industry.

Heath and Lee Hudson are mussel fishermen and entrepreneurs based in Maine. Heath Hudson owns a thirty-three-foot dragger named the Ms. Daisy, which was originally a lobster boat converted into a dragging vessel for mussel harvesting. The Hudsons operate the Frenchmen Bay Mussel Company, which was initially started by Heath's father. After his father retired, Heath purchased his boat and continued the family business.

Brian Langley is a a culinary arts teacher and local restauranteaur.  Langley learned the restaurant business from his father and discovered his passion for cooking when he took a culinary program in high school. His seafood-centered restaurant, the Union River Lobster Pot in Ellsworth, Maine, is based on the lesson that you have to sell what people want to buy, not what you want to sell. Langley serves a variety of fish but the top sellers are salmon, halibut, scallops, shrimp, and clams.

Jane Langley is the co-owner of Union River Lobster Pot, a seafood restaurant located in Ellsworth, Maine. Born in Michigan, Jane moved to Southwest Harbor at a young age and later settled in Ellsworth. With a background in the restaurant industry, Jane and her husband operated the Oak Point Lobster Pound for ten years before deciding to venture into something new. In 2005, they purchased a property on South Street and built the Union River Lobster Pot.

Kevin Lynch is a seasoned boat captain and fisherman with extensive experience in various types of fishing. He has been involved in the fishing industry for approximately fifteen years, primarily focusing on scallop fishing, dragging industry, tuna fishing, and elver fishing. Kevin's fishing ventures have taken him to different locations, including Maine and New Jersey.

Jamie and Annie Perry are a husband and wife who reside in Ellsworth, Maine. Jamie has been a lobsterman for approximately fourteen to fifteen years. His decision to become a lobster fisherman was influenced by his family's long-standing tradition in the fishing industry. The couple has children, and Mrs. Perry has had to adjust to the seasonal nature of Jamie's work, as lobster fishing provides income for only about five to six months of the year.

Michael Rioux is retired scallop and urchin diver and lobsterman.  He lives in Surry, Maine, and worked out of Blue Hill Bay and Stonington, Maine. Rioux started in the fishing industry by driving a dive boat for other divers before getting into scallop and urchin markets, and then lobstering. He fished in various areas, ranging from Milbridge to Vinalhaven, North Haven, Isle Au Haute, and Swan’s Island.

Steve Robbins is a seasoned lobsterman hailing from Ellsworth, Maine. Born in May 1945, he has spent most of his life dedicated to the fishing industry, primarily focusing on lobster fishing. At the time of the interview in May 2005, Steve was sixty years old, with over five decades of experience as a lobsterman.

David Sargent is a lobster fisherman, clam digger, and sea urchin and scallop diver.  Sargent's boat is 22 feet long, and he has 275 traps. He has one additional person who helps with tasks like filling bait bags and cleaning traps. He primarily uses herring and hide as bait, which can be challenging to obtain at certain times of the year.

Jim Stanley is a lobsterman based in Ellsworth, Maine. Born and raised in the area, Jim comes from a family with a strong fishing background. His stepfathers, brothers, and nephews are all involved in the fishing industry, making it a family tradition. Jim started fishing at the age of thirteen, accompanying his uncle and cousin on fishing trips out of Bartlett's Island. Over time, he developed a passion for lobstering and eventually acquired his own boat, a seventeen-foot vessel that he uses to haul traps.

Jennifer Vose is a naturalist and marine researcher working for the Marine Environmental Research Institute. Based in Blue Hill, Maine, she spends her summers as a naturalist on their boat trips, educating the general public about the local ecology and marine habitat. With a focus on teaching people about the intricacies of the ecosystem, Jennifer's work involves hauling up lobster traps, studying the species caught, and explaining their anatomy, life cycles, and ecological significance. Her aim is to raise awareness about the local environment and promote conservation efforts.

Kip Young is a seasoned lobster fisherman and tuna fisherman hailing from Corea by the Sea, Maine. Born and raised in a coastal town, Kip was drawn to the sea and the fishing industry from a young age. At the age of fourteen, he made the decision to become a lobsterman, primarily because it was the main industry in his town and he found it to be a fun and exciting endeavor.

This is an interview with the alewife agent for the city of Ellsworth, Maine. Each year lobstermen come to buy alewives for bait for the lobster. He discusses the mechanics of the fish trap and moving the fish to their spawning grounds. He discusses the life cycle of the alewife and the importance to the lobster harvest. He discusses the sea birds that follow the fish and the competition that develops among them.

When Leroy Duvall refers to himself as one of the younger people, it's despite his 64 years, but it's without a trace of irony. Part of it is that he is the President of the Fleur de Lis Society, a club half the size of what it once was because its membership is slowly passing from old age. And part of it is that, after 30 years of shrimping on the Gulf, his body still feels young. Eventually, the economic repercussions of endangered turtles forced him to retire from shrimping, and when Hurricane Katrina washed away his bakery, he retired from that, too. Mr.

Even in a town like Biloxi, it's not often someone can claim seven generations of fishing heritage. The line in Frank Parker's family may have stopped at six when his parents pushed him to go to college and consider other lines of work, but the years of growing up playing on the dock had him pretty well convinced he was going to go back out onto the Gulf. So at 24 years old, 12 credits shy of graduating, Frank decided to listen to the sirens and bought himself a boat. The funny thing, though, is that his parents listened to them too.

Corky Hire may have had an inauspicious beginning to his shrimping career, taking over for his ailing father, but now 70 years later, his memories of working the Gulf are almost all fond ones. His time on boats, through the 30's and 40's, was during a time when Biloxi's seafood industry was growing tremendously and ail schooners were being replaced by powered boats, and Croatian families were making the shift from immigrant laborers to cannery owners and professionals.

Georgo Trojanovich is, as he says, "The only real Croatian in Biloxi." But in a city as proud as this one is of its Croatian heritage, everyone here knows what he means: with the arrival of Croatian families tailing off by the second half of the 20th century, Georgo is one of the few - yes, perhaps only - Croatian-born immigrants in town. A distant relative of a local restaurateur, Georgo came as a teenager to escape Tito's Communist regime, working as a dishwasher at Mary Mahoney's restaurant.

Captain A. B. Crosby was a seasoned fisherman based in Yarmouth Bar, Yarmouth, N.S.. He was known for his extensive knowledge and experience in mackerel fishing, which typically began in mid-April and ended early in July.  Crosby's fishing method involved the use of a net, which was set up in the middle of April and taken down in May. The first catch of Crosby's net varied from year to year, with the first pursing usually taking place in mid-May.

A.B. Coldwell, Director of Customs in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, was a prominent figure in the coastal community during the late 19th century. Born into a maritime culture, Coldwell assumed the role of Director of Customs in Lunenburg, a position of significance in a town deeply tied to the sea. His tenure in this role allowed him to witness and oversee various aspects of the local fishing and shipping industries.

Captain Eliphalet Wharf of Gloucester, MA was interviewed by William Wakeham and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery and commentary on the use of seining technology.

This interview with Captain Benjamin Payson of Gloucester, MA took place on November 16, 1893. William Wakeham and Hugh M. Smith conducted the interview in an effort to gain information on the mackerel fishery. At the time of the interview, Payson had 40 years of experience and was captain of the vessel S.F. Macker out of Gloucester, MA.

Charles H. Pew of the firm John Pew & Sons in Gloucester, MA was interviewed by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of gear types, technology and the mackerel fishery,

David Tarr, of James G. Tarr & Bro. in Gloucester, MA was interviewed by William Wakeham and Hugh M. Smith. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Captain Frank Foster of Gloucester, MA was interviewed by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with Captain George M. McClain of Rockport, MA by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with Captain G.W. Nass of Lunenburg, N.S. by William Wakeham and Richard Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with George Churchill of Yarmouth, N.S. by William Wakeham and Richard Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with Captain H.M. Seelyr of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with George Dores of Lunenburg, N.S. with William Wakeham and Richard Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman J.N. Gardner of Yarmouth, N.S. by William Wakeham and Richard Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains information on Nova Scotia mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman John A. McKinnon of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman John C. Mills of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman Henry Weaver of Lunenburg, N.S. by William Wakeham and Richard Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains information on N.S. mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman John E. Gorman of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman Joseph Graham of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman John F. Critchett of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham and Hugh M. Smith. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman John J. Pentacost of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman John F. Vanteir of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman Levi N. McLean of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman Norman J.B. Tooker of A.F. Stoneman & Co., Yarmouth, N.S. by William Wakeham and Richard Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman Russell D. Terry of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman Nelson Cantillo of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery. 

The interviews contained in "Canada" are part of Volume I of the Joint Fisheries Commission's investigation in 1893 of the fisheries in New England and the Canadian maritime provinces. William Wakeham and R. Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission traveled along the coast to speak with fishermen, businessmen and mill owners between Cape Cod and New Brunswick.

Interview with Captains Sol Jacobs, John Chisholm and Joseph Smith of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham and Richard Rathbun. Interview contains information on New England mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman Solomon A. Rowe of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman W.L. Zwicker, an agent of the Fisheries Intelligence Bureau, Lunenburg, N.S. by William Wakeham and Richard Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman Thomas C. Parish of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman William M. Hartly of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman William H. Greenleaf of Gloucester, MA by William Wakeham, Richard Rathbun and Hugh M. Smith of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman James Ellsworth of Portland, Maine by Richard Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains information on the mackerel fishery.

Interview with fisherman N. Orchard of Boothbay, Maine, by Richard Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Interview with W.S. Jordan & Co. of Portland, Maine, by Richard Rathbun of the U.S. Fish Commission. Interview contains descriptions of the mackerel fishery.

Oral history interview with Matthew Matich.

Oral history interview with Tony Lauro. 

Oral history interview with Joan Milke Flores.

Oral history interview with Charles Queenan.

Oral history interview with Marifrances Trivelli. 

Oral history interview with Martin Cox. 

Oral history interview with Leonard Pitt. 

Oral history interview with Joe Radisich. 

Oral history interview with Jerilyn Mendoza. 

Oral history interview with Kaylynn Kim. 

Oral history interview with Jun Mori. 

Oral history interview with Bob Mohle. 

Oral history interview with Rudy Svorinich, Jr.

Oral history interview with Lloyd Menveg.

Oral history interview with Martha McKinzie.

Oral history interview with Justine Arian.

Oral history interview with Carol Thomas Rugnetta.

Oral history interview with James Hahn. 

Oral history interview with Andrew Cesareo. 

Oral history interview with Lorenzo DiCarlo. 

Oral history interview with Helen DiMaggio.