Thomas Quintin
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project is an ongoing oral history project documenting the history and culture of the commercial fishing industry and other port trades. The project was begun in 2004 in conjunction with the Working Waterfront Festival, an annual, education celebration of commercial fishing culture which takes place in New Bedford, MA. Interviewees have included a wide range of individuals connected to the commercial fishing industry and/or other aspects of the port through work or familial ties. While the majority of interviewees are from the port of New Bedford, the project has also documented numerous individuals from other ports around the country. Folklorist and Festival Director Laura Orleans and Community Scholar/Associate Director Kirsten Bendiksen are Project Leaders. The original recordings reside at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Maryland with listening copies housed at the Festival's New Bedford office.
Thomas Quintin Jr. is a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, born in 1961 at St. Luke’s Hospital. He has spent his life in the fishing industry, working his way up from deckhand to captain. Quintin is a self-proclaimed “dinosaur” in the industry, struggling to remain viable against the growing corporate fishing industry. He has been a captain for 21 years, but has also worked as a deckhand and a mate on various boats. Quintin is currently employed by Quinn Fisheries, which owns five boats. He is known for his strong work ethic, his commitment to safety (including conducting random drug tests on his crew), and his pride in the fishing industry.
Scope and Content Note:
This interview with Thomas Quintin Jr., conducted by Madeleine Hall-Arber in September 2012 at the Fairfield Inn during the Working Waterfront Festival, provides a detailed account of Quintin's life and career in the fishing industry. Quintin discusses his journey from deckhand to captain, his experiences working on different boats, and the challenges he faces in the industry. He also talks about the physical and mental demands of the job, the competitive nature of the industry, and the pride he takes in his work. Quintin provides insight into the business and economics of fishing, including the process of preparing for a trip, the financial rewards and challenges, and the impact of fisheries management regulations. The interview also touches on Quintin's personal life, including his family and his wife's award-winning clam chowder.
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