Victor Ray Pruitt

Location of Interview
Collection Name

Chesapeake Bay Watermen

Description

The purpose of this project is to work to preserve the heritage of the commercial fishing industries in the Chesapeake Bay region by collecting and archiving oral histories of the men and women who are and were a part of this valuable history.  

Interviewer
Date of Interview
06-15-2013
Transcribers

Fantastic Transcripts
Molly Graham

DOI
10.25923/HSXM-1T36
Audio
Transcript
Biographical Sketch

Victor Pruitt is a seasoned professional in the seafood industry with a rich family history in the trade. Mr. Pruitt and his family were from Onancock, Virginia, and owned and operated buyboats on the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River throughout the 1960's and 70's. They bought and sold seafood using these boats, primarily in Washington, D.C. Among the buyboats they owned and operated were the Lester, Thelma Earl, and the Ruth and Annie. His career encompasses extensive hands-on experience, including labor on the water and commercial transactions in Washington, DC. 

Scope and Content Note
The interview with Victor Pruitt provides an in-depth perspective on the seafood industry, particularly within the context of the Chesapeake Bay. Pruitt discusses the industry's decline, attributing it to the rise of trucking, stringent regulations, and the ecological effects of overharvesting and aquaculture. He offers critical insights into the government's involvement in the industry and advocates for the inclusion of watermen in regulatory decision-making processes. Pruitt's reflections on his personal journey in the seafood business reveal the significant transformations he has observed over the years. The interview encompasses historical changes in the industry's infrastructure, the socio-economic challenges faced by watermen, and the environmental concerns impacting the Chesapeake Bay. Mr. Pruitt tells a few stories about his experience buying and selling seafood and working the water.  Pruitt's narrative offers a personal account of the evolution within the industry, particularly the shift from traditional by-boats to square barges. His story is punctuated by an anecdote involving the sale of his by-boat to a purchaser from Florida, which later revealed that the vessel remained registered under his name. Pruitt's life and work reflect the broader historical and economic shifts in the seafood business, as well as the cultural heritage of watermen. Through Pruitt's experiences, the interview sheds light on the complex interplay between industry practices, regulatory frameworks, and environmental stewardship.


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