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.

Galon "Skip" Barlow is a long time fishermen from Cape Cod. He tells about a trip he took into Buzzards Bay forty years ago. 

Mr. Barlow describes a day shellfishing which did not go as he planned.

Galon "Skip" Barlow is a retired shellfisherman and seafood restaurant owner from Buzzards Bay Village, Bourne, Massachusetts. Born into a family with a long history dating back to the 1600s in Cape Cod, Skip's lineage includes sea captains and notorious figures. His father, a navy veteran and canal pilot, instilled in him a love for the coastal habitat and shellfishing from a young age. Skip began his career in shellfishing in his early teens, learning the trade from his father. However, after realizing the difficulty of the profession, he returned to school.

“I did have the opportunity of spending those hours with [my kids] on the boat, which to me is one of the best things that ever came out of it.”

Interview with Gary Graham (born in 1946), a retired professor at Texas A & M and marine fisheries specialist with Texas Sea Grant. Graham also served as Gulf Regional Coordinator for the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation and worked as a shrimper. Graham discusses his involvement in the industry from the early 1980's onward doing educational outreach to industry professionals. Collected data on how TEDs perform while on offshore test voyages using early NMFS TEDs. Other Topics: industry perception of TEDs, cannonball, jellyfish shooters, Georgia Jumper Morrison, TED

This interview with Professor Gary Graham, Texas A&M Sea Grant Extension and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management AP member, was conducted as part of the SERO Fishery Managers Oral History project. This project is a collection of oral histories by individuals who participate in fishery management within the Southeast Region of the U.S. and consists of individuals who serve on the regional councils and their scientific and advisory panels or staff. This interview with Mr.

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 Lackmann is a professor at North Carolina State University in the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Additionally, Lackmann is Editor in Chief of the journal Weather and Forecasting. His research interests include the prediction of severe storm events, improved numerical models and how diabatic processes impact storm dynamics. Lackmann holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY).

Interview with Gary Libby of Port Clyde, ME. Libby was born in Thomaston on April 26, 1958. born in Camden. Lives in Port Clyde, ME. Gary has served on shrimp and groundfish Advisory Panels and on a forage fish group as well. He grew up in Thomaston and started digging clams at 12 years of age. His father purchased a groundfish boat and Gary began to work aboard ship. He has also worked in scallops and aboard trip vessels, dragging for groundfish. He worked on deck for a number of years while fishing with his brother.

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.

Sheriff Gary Lipscomb and Trooper Keith Cordial 4-14-1986 interviewed by M. Kline

Interview with Gary Ripka.

Gary Shepherd is a research fishery biologist with the Coastal Pelagic Resources Task in the Population Dynamics Branch of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. He started working for NMFS as a summer student aide in 1975 as a college freshman at UMass Dartmouth and did work-study in the Age and Growth Unit during his senior year. He went to Rutgers for graduate school where he conducted research on weakfish and striped bass populations.

Gary Shigenaka is a third-generation Japanese American born and raised in Lake Forest, Illinois.  During World War II, Gary's father, other relatives, and over 100,000 other Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and incarcerated in internment camps. Following the war, Gary's father and mother moved to Chicago's suburbs, where Gary grew up.  Gary studied oceanography at the University of Washington, graduating in 1976.

Gary Wikfors was born in Weehawken, NJ. After receiving his B.S. in biology at the University of Maine, Wikfors became interested in phycology. He began working at the Milford Laboratory in 1976 while earning his Master's at the University of Bridgeport. He later earned his PhD at the University of Connecticut while continuing to work at the lab. He is now the Branch Chief of the Aquaculture Sustainability Assessment Branch at the Milford Lab.

Interview with Gary Zuckett, Founding member of West Virginia Surface Owners' Rights Organization (WVSORO)

Gayla Hoseth is Director of the Natural Resources Program at Bristol Bay Native Association and currently serves as the Second Chief to the Curying Tribal Council. She spent summers during her childhood putting up fish with her grandmother in Bristol Bay. In this interview Gayla talks about learning to set net fish for salmon with her grandmother and carrying on these practices with her sisters and younger generations of her family. She also discusses the importance of fighting to protect and maintain the traditional Native way of life.

Interview with Gazelle Moore

Jiggs Zingarelli's grandfather came to Florida from Puglia, Italy, sometime in the late nineteenth century. Jiggs's parents settled in Apalachicola, where he was born in 1915. His nickname references his childhood habit of dancing Irish jigs. He served in the Army during World War II. When Jiggs returned home, he looked to printing as a trade. He went to Nashville to learn the craft of linotype and opened Franklin County Press in 1946. Soon, he began printing the oyster tags for the seafood houses in the area, and he has been printing them ever since.

Gene Barr, Carl Miller, and David Hefley are three individuals who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. Gene Barr is a professional who is ready to get started on projects as soon as they are approved. He is knowledgeable about flood proofing measures and the eligibility criteria for the program. He is also familiar with the process of signing up for the program and the responsibilities that come with it. Carl Miller, on the other hand, is an expert in emergency management.

• 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.

Gene law is a fisherman in Newport, Oregon. He grew up in Half Moon Bay, California, and moved to Newport in 1980. He started fishing in high school with a friend, and bought his first boat, a 30 footer, after he graduated high school. He mainly fishes for Dungeness crab, but has also fished for tuna, salmon, shrimp, box crabs, sardines, and herring. His wife is very involved in his job as well, and they have four children. His son Matthew has his PhD in Chemical Engineering, and his younger son runs their 83-foot boat.

This oral history is part of the West Side Stories project of the Kodiak Historical Society. West Side Stories is a public humanities and art project that intended to document the history of the west side of Kodiak Island through oral history, photography, and art. The oral histories chart the personal stories of individuals with a longtime connection to the west side of Kodiak Island, defined for the scope of this project as the area buffeted by the Shelikof Strait that stretches from Kupreanof Strait south to the village of Karluk.

George "Bem" Storter is a Naples native and is 83 years old at the time of this interview. He hasn’t been out on the water in around 20 years (since the net ban) but he is known throughout Naples as being a wealth of information. He commercial fished before the net ban and has been recreationally fishing since then. 

Scope and Content Note

George S. Benton was born on September 24, 1917, in Oak Park, Illinois, and was raised in Chicago. His family had a diverse background, with his mother's family originating from Edinburgh, Scotland, and his father's family immigrating from Rega to Michigan when his father was three years old. Benton's original family name was Blumenstock, but he later changed it to George Benton. Benton's early education was at the University of California at Berkeley, where he was involved with the Department of Geography. However, he did not complete his Bachelor's degree there.

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.

Mr. Combs comes from a long line of baymen. He speaks about being a captain, shipbuilding, and other experiences in the fishing industry.

Oral history interview with George De La Torre.

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.

Mr. Edwards tells the story of a time his father was thought lost at sea.

George Gibson is a long-time resident of Knott County, Kentucky, with a rich history and deep roots in the community. Born and raised on a farm, Gibson's early life was centered around his family's country grocery store, which served as a vibrant social hub for the local rural community. His recollections paint a vivid picture of the area's social life, filled with humorous anecdotes and stories that have shaped the area's history. Gibson's experiences extend beyond the family store, encompassing various communities and social spaces in the area.

Oral history interview with George Griffith.

Interview with George Hampson.

George speaks about what it is like being a commercial fisherman and also having a summer tourist business to supplement his income.

Project Leaders: Lisa L. Colburn and Kate E. Yentes
Date Collection Completed: On going
Location: www.voices.nmfs.noaa.gov
Geographic Location: Locations across New England

George Henry Sprinkle was interviewed on August 22, 2008. This interview was very productive because it took place on the site of Mr. Sprinkle?s net shop and footage of a shrimp net being constructed was filmed. Both men used to shrimp and own their own boats. However, both are retired from the shrimping industry because of high costs of maintaining a boat. The two spoke about the shrimping industry in the past and present, in addition to discussing the techniques and materials used in shrimp net making.

Narrator George Jones, of Key Largo, Florida, was a park manager and recreational fisher at the time of the interview.

George Kiladis is a renowned atmospheric scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of tropical meteorology. Born and raised in the Boston area, Kiladis developed a love for science at a young age, with a particular interest in astronomy and weather phenomena. His fascination with the stars and the weather was further fueled by the occurrence of Hurricane Donna in the early 1960s. Kiladis attended high school in Somerville, where he took advanced courses in physics, math, and Fortran programming, which was quite unusual at the time.

Oral history interview with George Love, Jr.

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.

Mr. Mendonsa's transcript contains 4 interviews from 1/30/1987, 1/4/1987, 2/10/1987, and 2/11/1987. George Mendonsa was born in Newport, R.I. in 1923. His father came to Newport from Madeira, Portugal in 1910 and supported his family by working as a trap fisherman. He passed on his knowledge and pride in his work to his son, George, who has worked in the floating fish trap industry in Rhode Island waters for his entire life. George Mendonsa's manuscript is an important document of the floating fish trap industry in Newport, R.I. from the 1940's to the present.

Mr. Mendonsa's transcript contains 4 interviews from 1/30/1987, 1/4/1987, 2/10/1987, and 2/11/1987. George Mendonsa was born in Newport, R.I. in 1923. His father came to Newport from Madeira, Portugal in 1910 and supported his family by working as a trap fisherman. He passed on his knowledge and pride in his work to his son, George, who has worked in the floating fish trap industry in Rhode Island waters for his entire life. George Mendonsa's manuscript is an important document of the floating fish trap industry in Newport, R.I. from the 1940's to the present.

Mr. Mendonsa's transcript contains 4 interviews from 1/30/1987, 1/4/1987, 2/10/1987, and 2/11/1987. George Mendonsa was born in Newport, R.I. in 1923. His father came to Newport from Madeira, Portugal in 1910 and supported his family by working as a trap fisherman. He passed on his knowledge and pride in his work to his son, George, who has worked in the floating fish trap industry in Rhode Island waters for his entire life. George Mendonsa's manuscript is an important document of the floating fish trap industry in Newport, R.I. from the 1940's to the present.

Mr. Mendonsa's transcript contains 4 interviews from 1/30/1987, 1/4/1987, 2/10/1987, and 2/11/1987. George Mendonsa was born in Newport, R.I. in 1923. His father came to Newport from Madeira, Portugal in 1910 and supported his family by working as a trap fisherman. He passed on his knowledge and pride in his work to his son, George, who has worked in the floating fish trap industry in Rhode Island waters for his entire life. George Mendonsa's manuscript is an important document of the floating fish trap industry in Newport, R.I. from the 1940's to the present.

Oral history interview with George Pasha.

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.

George Schmidt is a woodcarver from Appleton who over the years has carved around 40 sturgeon decoys. In his interview with Dick Ristow, he begins with how he got started carving decoys, and then talks about how the pattern of his decoys evolved. This is followed by a brief explanation of the process and the materials used in making decoys. He continues very briefly with his limited sturgeon spearing experience. George also teaches a few classes a year on carving.

George Streit, born on May 19, 1987, is a lifelong enthusiast of fishing, whose love for the sport has shaped his life and experiences. Originally from Queens, George moved to Freeport in 1940, where he discovered his passion for fishing at an early age. He acquired his first sport fishing boat, Tiger, and ventured into the world of big game fishing, which became a significant part of his life. Growing up with a father who was a cabinet maker, George learned the ropes of fishing while working on the shore.

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.

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.

George Walker was born in 1946 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. That was a popular year for births on the island, following World War II and a busy year for the only midwife on the island. Mr. Walker was unable to complete high school, which would have been helpful during his pursuit of his captain’s license. Mr.

George Watkins's family has been in the Apalachicola area since the late nineteenth century. They've witnessed the sponge trade, the loading of cotton boats, and a booming seafood industry. When George was a eight years old, his grandfather began taking him out fishing on weekends. Right then, George knew he wanted to be a fisherman. Over the years he has harvested just about everything the bay has to offer. But one day George decided to take up beekeeping. He says it was because he just liked honey. Like everything else George does, he threw himself into beekeeping with a passion.

Kathleen Schmitt Kline and Ronald M. Bruch interview Gerald Van Straten about cooking sturgeon, spear fishing, and poachers using snag lines. Gerald also discusses family stories of fishing, particularly from his grandfather.

Mr. Gerald William Bosarge was born on November 13, 1934, in Pecan, Mississippi, to Mr. Charles Bosarge and Mrs. Bosarge (born Saksa, in Finland). He is married to Mrs. Harriet Janice Zirlott (born in Coden, Alabama on June 27, 1945). They have two children, Gerald William Bosarge Jr. and Lori Ann Bosarge. At the time of this interview, Mr. Bosarge was retired from commercial fishing, and after forty years of fishing for a living, he currently fishes for fun and sustenance. He is from a multi-generational fishing family, with ancestors who fished on both sides of his family. 

Oral history interview with Geraldine Knatz.

Gibb Walker, a native of Sapelo Island, Georgia, has been a part of the shrimping industry from a young age. Born on Sapelo Island, he moved to Brunswick in 1955 due to a lack of job opportunities in his hometown. His passion for shrimping was ignited by his uncle when he was around fifteen or sixteen years old, and his father was also a shrimper. At the age of twenty, he started running a boat in 1961 and continued shrimping until 2000 or 2003. Walker was one of the few Black captains in Brunswick, a position he held from around 1982 or 1985.

Gilbert Simmons, a lobster fisherman and boat builder, was born on November 25, 1949, and has always resided in Friendship, Maine. He is the owner of Simmons Boat Works, Incorporated, located at 11 Bayberry Drive, Friendship. Gilbert, along with his wife Sharon, has two children named Jason and Ellen and one grandchild. With a passion for hunting and playing, Gilbert spends his free time engaging in these activities. His expertise lies in building custom boats, particularly lobster boats, and he has been in the boat-building business since approximately 1983.

Gina Ylitalo is an environmental chemist at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington. She was born in Yakima, Washington in 1957, and has been interested in a career in science since junior high.She attended Yakima Valley Community College for two years before transferring to Western Washington University and receiving a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. She earned her Master of Science in Chemistry from Western Washington University and was hired by National Marine Fisheries Service in 1989.

Interview with Ginny Goblirsch.

Giuseppe Pennisi, a resident of San Francisco, is a seasoned fisherman with deep familial ties to the fishing industry. His lineage in the profession can be traced back to his grandfather, who was adept in the use of Paranzella nets for the capture of halibut and flatfish. Pennisi's formative years were spent on fishing boats, where he gained firsthand experience in the trade. Over the years, he has observed a transformation within the fishing sector, marked by a downturn in local fish processing businesses.

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.

"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." 

Oral history interview with Glen Brooks. 

Glenn Evans and Mark Nease are two divers/boat captains with extensive experience and knowledge about the marine ecosystem of the Florida Keys. Glenn Evans, a seasoned marine biologist, has spent a significant portion of his career studying the changes in the marine ecosystem, with a particular focus on water conditions such as clarity, algae blooms, and visibility. His work has contributed significantly to the understanding of the impact of environmental changes on marine life.

Glenn Robbins was born in January of 1947 in Castine, Maine. In this interview, he discusses his work teaching industrial arts and as a commercial fisherman. He has been fishing commercially since 1978.
 

Glenn Robbins is a herring and lobster fisherman out of Rockland, ME. He has extensive experience on the sea as he started fishing when he was 12 years old. He compares purse seining and trawling and talks about their effects on marine ecosystems. Robbins also speaks about the changes, as well as the rises and falls, in the fisheries over the past 60 years. Robbins emphasizes how important it is to fish sustainably and protect fishing grounds.

Captain Samuel Cottle and Gloria Cottle are a married couple with a long history in the fishing industry. Captain Samuel Cottle is a fisherman who has used the ports of Point Judith, Rhode Island for his fishing activities. Gloria Cottle was born and brought up in Wakefield, Rhode Island, which is just several miles from Point Judith, a large fishing port. The couple resides in Albion, Maine. Captain Samuel Cottle's earliest memory of fishing dates back to when he was five years old. His great grandfather, who had fought in the Civil War, was a significant influence in his life.

Oral history interview with Gloria Radmilovich.

Golden Glen Hale is a notable figure from the Carr Creek community in Kentucky, known for his rich understanding of the local history and his personal experiences growing up in the area. Born and raised in a close-knit community, Hale's childhood was filled with games and education at Neely Elementary. His life was not without hardship, as he recalls his family's reliance on welfare and commodity cheese, and his own experiences selling newspapers as a child.

Gordon Murphy, a lifelong resident of Friendship, was born on November 23, 1931, into a family deeply rooted in the town's history, spanning at least five generations. He was the only child of Wilbur and Hazel Burns Murphy. Gordon received his early education in Friendship, attending school until the 10th grade. He completed his studies in Waldoboro, graduating from Waldoboro High School in 1949. Gordon started lobster fishing in seventh grade. In 1951, Gordon joined the U.S. Army Reserves, and two years later, in 1953, he was called up for active duty during the Korean War.

Ronald M. Bruch interviews Gordon Priegel, former DNR fish manager in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Priegel, who worked in Oshkosh from 1959 to 1970, was instrumental in many of the conservation practices and development of available knowledge on Lake Winnebago’s sturgeon population, both of which are still of great importance today. Priegel discusses research he conducted and memories from his working life.

Gordon Waring was born on July 19, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York. He earned his B.A. in Biology from Humboldt State College, his Master’s from Bridgewater State College, and his Ph.D. in Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Waring began working for NOAA in 1973 and is a retired former team leader of the seal project within the Protected Species Branch at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.

Gordon "Gordie" Wilson is the superintendent of Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas national monuments in St. Augustine, Florida.

Grady Leavins is a self-made man. Growing up in rural Bagdad, Florida, he sought out opportunity at every turn. He spent a couple of years at a community college but was anxious to work. He worked part time at the Arizona Chemical Research and Development Laboratory in Panama City and commuted to Apalachicola to work extra hours harvesting oysters. In 1976 Grady moved to Apalachicola. Living there, he immediately recognized opportunity in the oyster industry. He started small, but he was soon selling the oysters that he caught all over the state of Florida.

Grady Sullivan of Big Pine Key, Florida is a seasoned marine life collector and fisherman who has been a full-time resident of the Florida Keys for over two decades. His primary occupation involves collecting marine specimens for various purposes, including wholesale, retail, and for renowned marine life institutions such as SeaWorld and Miami Seaquarium. In addition to this, Sullivan also collects plants, mollusks, and live rocks for aquariums, showcasing a broad understanding and appreciation of marine life.

Greg Abrams is a commercial fisherman, and owns a seafood business in Panama City. Abrams discusses mostly the changes in fisheries regulations through his time as a fisherman. 

Scope and Content Note

Greg Guannel is the director of the Caribbean Green Technology Center at the University of the Virgin Islands. He is a civil engineer by training and has a background in coastal engineering and hazard risk reduction by ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs. Guannel focuses on issues of infrastructure resilience, energy independence, and waste reduction. He resides on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and his work encompasses the entire Virgin Islands region.

Interview with Cokie Rathborne and Greg Lier in Harvey Canal, Louisiana.

Greg Young is an impassioned fisherman drawn to fishing by "destiny." He comes from a restaurant background which he has continued through the establishment of Sandabs, a seafood restaurant in Scott's Valley, CA. Mr. Young emphasizes the importance of a strong fishermen-sanctuary relationship because, as he explains, he and other fishermen care about healthy fish populations as much as conservationists do. Mr.

This interview with Gregg Waugh, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Deputy Director, was conducted as part of the SERO Fishery Managers Oral History project. This project is a collection of oral histories by individuals who participate in fishery management within the Southeast Region of the U.S. and consists of individuals who serve on the regional councils and their scientific and advisory panels or staff. This interview with Mr. Waugh explores his long career in fisheries management. Gregg has been with the Council since 1980 and is currently Deputy Director.

Oral history interview with Gretchen Tostrup. 

Commissioner Griffin Lotson reflects on his experience with the shrimp industry in Darien, Georgia. He discusses the role of fishing in the Gullah Geechee community in terms of making a living, ethnic identity, and culture.

Guadalupe is an employee at a company that cleans fish. She shares her work experiences and life experiences.

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.

Gunnar Gundersen and Johan Gundersen are a father and son duo who were interviewed on September 23rd, 2005. Gunnar Gundersen, the father, is the owner of Scandia Propellers and Supplies, a business located in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Gunnar and his wife immigrated to New Bedford, Massachusetts from Norway in 1951. Gunnar had worked in the shipyard, Noratlantic Diesel, for ten years before purchasing Thompson Propellers and changing its name to Scandia Propeller Service and Suppliers in 1961.

Gunnar Gundersen describes his work as the head of Scandia Propeller Services and Supply, Inc. located in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Scandia works on marine propellers and hydraulics. Gunnar is thirty-seven years old and is a third generation worker in this family-owned business. His great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from Norway and founded the company in 1961.  He has been working at the company since he was sixteen years old. His father recently retired from the day-to-day business operations and Gunnar has stepped in and now heads the company.

Gus Lovgren, 33 years old at the time of the interview, is a captain and crewmember on the F/V Kailey Ann in Point Pleasant, NJ. Gus is the fourth generation in his family to fish East Coast waters, but maybe not the last: his five-year-old daughter has dreams of carrying on the family legacy, someday.

Scope and Content Note

Gwen Bowe, a resident of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been sturgeon fishing on Lake Winnebago since 1980. Her first catch was a significant one, marking the beginning of her independent fishing endeavors. This fish she speared was eventually donated to Case Western Reserve University when Robert Kennedy, Jr. contacted Bill Casper about getting a sturgeon to display in the museum. Prior to that, she had accompanied her husband on fishing trips but had not actively fished herself. 

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.

Hallie Arno, originally from New Jersey, moved to Lincolnville, Maine, and developed a strong connection to the ocean. She was a student at College of the Atlantic (COA) in Bar Harbor, ME at the time of this interview.

Scope and Content Note

Mrs. Hang Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American, the wife of a shrimper, and a resident of East Biloxi, Mississippi. She was the only child of Binh Nguyen and Nhung Nguyen, born in 1968 in Can Tho, South Vietnam. Her father, who passed away in Seattle, Washington in 2009, served in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnamese Army). Her mother worked in the home. After the fall of South Vietnam, Mrs. Nguyen’s father was sent to reeducation camp. It was then that her mother had to go to work selling fish, coffee, and fabrics in different places.

Hank Thompson Flood Story 1-28-1986 

Hank Thompson, Jim Blosser, Bryan King, Michael Parsons 1-29-1986

Hannah Cinnemantaro is a marine observer with a rich family history in the marine industry. Born and raised in Ipswich, Massachusetts, Hannah grew up close to the ocean, influenced by her parents, who both worked in the marine industry. Her mother worked on a Whale Watch since she was pregnant with Hannah, and her father worked on another Whale Watch boat and in the marine industry with oil riggers. Hannah's love for the ocean led her to an internship on a whale watch out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, where she collected quantitative and qualitative data on humpbacks on Stellwagen Bank.

Hans Davidson is a retired commercial fisherman from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Born and raised in a fishing family, Davidson began his career in the industry in 1974 and retired in 2004. He started as a shacker, a newcomer to the industry, and worked his way up to the position of captain. Throughout his career, Davidson worked on several vessels including the Florence B, the Dolphin, the Ambassador, and the Edgartown. He also spent time as a mate on the Eagle.

Hans Laufer, resident of Storrs, Connecticut, Research Professor at the University of Connecticut, Retired Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology focusing on Crustacean and Annelid Reproduction as well as aquaculture.

Harley Wallace, born on May 21, 1951, is a lifelong resident of Friendship, Maine, where his family has deep roots for four generations.  Harley has lived in Friendship his entire life and comes from a family with a long tradition of lobstering spanning four generations. He has three sisters and one brother and is the father of two children with one grandchild. Harley began his lobstering journey at the age of six, accompanying his father on the boat.

Harold Trivett was born on May 13, 1924, in Dickenson County, Flatwood. He was raised on a large farm of 1,560 acres, where he learned farming from a young age. By the time he was five, he was already milking cows, and by six, he was milking two cows, walking two miles to school, and then returning to milk them again. Harold completed his education at Virginia Tech (VPI). After finishing school, he worked in a store in Haysi for three years before moving to Grundy, where he built a building and started a business named Arington Trivett, also known as the Family Shop, in 1950.

Harold Bickings Jr. is a descendant of a long line of oyster fishermen who have been in the business since the 1800s. His great-grandfather, a Danish immigrant, started the family's involvement in the oyster industry, which was carried on by subsequent generations. Bickings Jr. has a wealth of knowledge about the family's history in the oyster business, including the trials and hardships they faced, the locations of their businesses, and the names and locations of other companies in the Port Norris and Maurice River area.