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.

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