Barry Ballard (b. 1945) is the retired Superintendent of Commercial Township (Port Norris, Haleyville, Mauricetown) Schools. He was educated in the Port Norris School and graduated from Millville High School and later earned degrees from Cheyney University and Rowan University. His father was from Virginia and his mother from Crisfield, Maryland. They came to Port Norris in 1928 following the oyster industry. Mr. Ballard discusses his childhood, education, desire to become a teacher and inspiration from Mrs.

Beryl Kane was born and raised in Port Norris, New Jersey. Her mother, Stella Glover Roth, was originally from Camden and Collingswood and was born on July 16, 1896. Beryl recalls her mother as a strict disciplinarian who ensured that her children were always present for dinner when it was ready. Before getting married, Stella worked at the telephone company and later at a corporation where she handled delicate mantels in gas lights. Beryl has a son who is now retired. Alice Gerard, like Beryl, was also born and raised in Port Norris, New Jersey.

Betty Higbee of Fortescue, New Jersey, is owner and operator of Higbee's Luncheonette.. She was born and raised in Cedarville, a nearby town, and attended high school with her late husband, Clarence Higbee, who was affectionately known as Bunky. The couple got married almost fifty-seven years ago and had four children together. Bunky was a lifelong resident of Fortescue, having lived there for seventy-six years. He was born and raised in the same house that Betty and he later lived in, making him a fourth-generation resident of the small house.

Sisters Carrie Jamison (b. 1921) and Edith Selby (b. 1927) grew up in "uptown" Port Norris, New Jersey. As children, they were not allowed to go to Shell Pile or the river (Bivalve). Their parents were from Saint Mary's County, Maryland. Their father came here to work on the boats and on farms. They attended Shiloh Baptist Church. In the early 1940s, they both worked in oyster houses as shuckers including Robbins Brothers, Carl Reed, Stowman's Brothers, Peterson Packing and George Gaskell.

Clyde A Phillips tells of his life and family ownership of the oyster boat CLYDE A. PHILLIPS and Phillips Seafood Packing Company and its brand Phillips' Jersey Cape Fresh Salt Water Oysters. His memories as a child, working the boats in his father's oyster business and shucking house, his family and jobs he had. He locates many of the businesses in Port Norris and Bivalve.

Marie Beebe Cobb was the daughter of Allen Beebe, owner of the Port Norris Iron Works, who fabricated and repaired oyster and surf clam dredges “drudges”, various equipment, oyster knives, hammers and did metal work for the shucking houses.  Mr. Beebe got his start learning the trade as an apprentice to his uncle Archie Jackson in the mid-1940s at Dorchester Shipyard. Mr. Jackson then opened his own business with Bob Sutton and Mr. Blizzard in Bivalve. In 1962, Mr.

Don McDaniels' great-grandfather was Charles Riggin who was the patriarch of a well-known oystering family. Mr. Riggin had the schooners AMELIA RIGGIN, J&E RIGGIN and C.M. RIGGIN. The J&E RIGGIN won the Delaware Bay Schooner Race of 1929. Don started oystering in 1958 and also tonged for seed oysters. But, by 1966 switched to clamming (surf clams and Quahogs). He discussed the clamming schedule and seasons, laws, regulations & permits, and areas he worked out of including Point Pleasant Beach, Barnegat, Atlantic City, Cape May, Maryland and Virginia.

George "Babe" Wallace and Freddie Smith are seasoned veterans of the oyster industry, having dedicated over half a century to shucking oysters. Their lives have been deeply intertwined with the local area, their work, and their families. Wallace and Smith's family backgrounds are rich with stories of work on oyster boats and the tradition of singing gospel songs while shucking oysters. Smith, in particular, has experienced the highs and lows of life, having been married multiple times and tragically losing his daughter in a car accident.

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.

James Bradford was born on July 30, 1930, in Morristown, but was raised in Port Norris where he also attended school. After leaving Port Norris, he served in the Navy and was stationed in Norfolk for three years, with a one-year duty in Hawaii. Upon his return, he worked on an oyster boat for Norman Jefferies, Sr. in Greenwich. His parents were Janet Bradford and Earl Bradford, originally from Newport. He had two brothers, Robert and Earl.