In 2007, Bob Bryson was a seasoned shellfish grower with deep roots in the coastal community of Barnstable Harbor, Cape Cod. His life and work are inextricably linked to the ebb and flow of the tides that shape the shores and livelihoods of those who call this place home. Born into a family with a rich legacy in shellfishing, Bryson has spent decades nurturing the beds that yield clams, oysters, and other bivalves, ensuring that the tradition of shellfishing is not only preserved but also thrives for future generations.

On September 23, 2005, Millie Rahn interviewed Bob Mitchell as part of the Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project. Bob was born and raised in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, into a family of Fairhaven natives. He shares pieces of his family’s history, his father’s founding of R.A. Mitchell Company in 1954, and his pursuit of further education in England at the Lister Engine Factory School. Returning to the United States in 1962, Bob resumed his role in the family business.

In 2007, Bob Wallace was a shellfish grower in the town of Wellfleet.  He has been an integral figure in the local shellfishing industry. His life's work has centered on the cultivation and harvesting of shellfish, a trade that has sustained his family for generations. Wallace's expertise in shellfishing is not only a testament to his personal dedication but also serves as a living connection to the region's maritime heritage. Over the years, he has witnessed the ebb and flow of the industry, adapting to the changing tides of environmental, economic, and regulatory landscapes.

Bradford Hathaway was a reporter for the New Bedford, MA Standard Times. He covered the waterfront for a number years. He recounts a few stories from his career including the loss of two fishing vessels and a visit on a Russian fishing vessel.

On December 12, 2023, Sarah Weeks interviewed Brian Hockstrasser for the Accompanied At Sea: Voices from the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program project. Hockstrasser, who grew up in Stony Brook, New York, has always been passionate about the marine world. The interview begins with Hockstrasser recounting his early experiences around water, including maintaining a saltwater fish tank with his brother using locally caught marine species. His first job at 15 was at a nature center, where he conducted environmental tours and worked on shellfish restoration projects.

Brian Lee began his fishing career on a long liner. He tells the story of how he survived a serious injury on deck. He now is a commercial rod and reel fisherman out of Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

On April 6, 2011, Georgen Charnes and Nantucket Lighthouse Middle School students Katie Ponce and Evelyn Hudson interviewed Carl H. Sjolund at his home in Nantucket. Sjolund, a 15th-generation Nantucketer with Norwegian paternal roots, is a seasoned commercial and bay scalloper who has worked extensively in fisheries from Alaska to New England. In the interview, Sjolund reflects on his lifelong experiences in the fishing industry, including distinctions between bay and sea scalloping, and changes in fishing practices due to regulations and technological advances.

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.

Carlos Morales came from Guatemala to New Bedford to find work to provide for his family. He shares his experiences in the seafood processing industry and about his job as a fish cutter. We learn about life in Guatemala and his education there, as well as how it set him up for success in aspects of his job. He closes his interview with his aspirations for his kids as well as for his future.

On September 26, 2004, Millie Rahn interviewed Carlos Rafael as part of the Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project.  Carlos talks about his childhood in the Azores, and the influences that led him to immigrate to America, where he settled in New Bedford in 1968. He chronicles his career, which started when he was 17 and lied about his age to start working as a doffer in a textile mill, and details his entrance into the fishing industry. After years of work, he built a company, Carlos Seafood, Inc.