Traci and Hinton Arnsdorff
Boat Stories
Commercial fishing has deep cultural ties to the Georgia coast, particularly the shrimping industry, which is the state’s largest and most economically valuable fishery. Shrimping has played an integral role in shaping the identities of the commercial fishermen who have spent most of their lives on the water. At the heart of these identities are the fishing boats that have carried captains and their crew for decades.
These vessels have been bought and sold by fishermen up and down the coast for decades, connecting multiple generations of fishing families. They serve as the backbone of Georgia’s shrimping industry and have become iconic symbols for fresh and locally harvested seafood for the millions of residents and tourists who visit the coast.
In 2020-2021, Anthropologists at Georgia Southern University collaborated with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant to record the stories and experiences of local shrimpers and their boats. Funded by Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resource Division through a Coastal Improvement Grant (NOAA #NA20NOS4190175), student researchers learned about commercial fishing as they conducted these oral history interviews. These recordings powerfully preserve the voices and culture of commercial fishing to be shared with current and future generations. This database of knowledge is also available to guide science and regulatory decisions. Get to know Georgia's commercial fishermen by listening to their "Boat Stories"
Amber Chulawat
Hinton and Traci Arnsdorff are a married couple who own and operate a home shrimping business. Hinton Arnsdorff has a long history with boats, having owned and operated many throughout his life. His first boat, the Bunny B, was a forty-foot vessel that he ran when he was about fifteen years old. After two years, he sold it and got the West Wind. He has also run the Grey Ghost, which he has had for over twenty years. Other boats he has run include the Notre Dame, which sunk off of Saint Katherines, and Ms. Kim, which sank off of Key West. Traci Arnsdorff joined her husband for the second half of the interview. The couple has a twelve-year-old son who knows about shrimping but is not encouraged to make a living from it. Their daughter, however, is interested in taking over the boat and running it. She has a pair of dress rubber boots and work rubber boots, which she wears depending on whether she is coming to drink beer or work. Despite the challenges, the Arnsdorffs continue to run their shrimping business, providing fresh product to their loyal customers. They do not shrimp during the winter, and Hinton, who used to go to Key West every year to shrimp in the winter, now prefers to be home at night.
Scope and Content Note
The oral history interview with Hinton and Traci Arnsdorff, conducted on November 12, 2021, in Brunswick, Georgia, provides a detailed account of their lives as shrimpers and boat owners. The interview is part of the research project “Boat Stories” and was conducted by Amber Chulawat and Sierra Sutton. The interview primarily focuses on Hinton Arnsdorff's experiences with various boats he has owned and operated throughout his life. He shares stories about his first boat, the Bunny B, which he ran when he was about fifteen years old, and other boats he has run, including the West Wind, the Grey Ghost, the Notre Dame, and Ms. Kim. He also discusses the challenges he has faced, such as the sinking of some of his boats and his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. Traci Arnsdorff joins the interview in the second half, discussing the impact of shrimping on their lives and sharing stories about their experiences. She talks about their home shrimping business, where they catch and sell shrimp, and their two children, a twelve-year-old son and a forty-two-year-old daughter. The couple discusses the future of the shrimping industry and their daughter's interest in taking over the boat. The interview provides valuable insights into the lives of shrimpers, the challenges they face, and the passion they have for their work. It also offers a glimpse into the changing nature of the industry and the impact it has on the families involved.
Project Note: This project is supported under grant award #NA20NOS4190175 to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources from the Office for Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of DNR, OCM or NOAA.
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