William McKusic

William McKusic Image
Location of Interview
Collection Name

Finding Friendship Oral History Project

Description

The Finding Friendship Oral History Project is a joint effort of the Friendship Museum and the Friendship Village School, directed by Sally Merrick, museum volunteer, and Gaylea Hynd, teacher. In 2003-2004 sixth grade students conducted taped interviews of three generations of lobstermen and women, as well as others associated with the lobstering industry. Printed copies of the interviews and CDs of the printed transcripts are available at the Friendship Museum in Friendship, Maine.

Interviewer
Date of Interview
10-03-2003
Transcribers

Peggy Simmons

Principal Investigator
Transcript
Biographical Sketch

William McKusic, commonly known as Bill, was born on September 21, 1971, and relocated from Rockland to Friendship ten years ago. With a background in plumbing and carpentry, Bill has been actively involved in lobstering for the past two decades, primarily serving as a sternman. Alongside his lobstering profession, he is a father of three children.

Scope and Content Note
In this interview conducted by Joshua on October 3, 2003, at Bill McKusic's home, various aspects of Bill's lobstering career are discussed. Bill started lobstering in the early 1980s and has been engaged in the industry for twenty years. He initially entered the field attracted by the financial prospects it offered at the time.  As a sternman, Bill's responsibilities on the boat include baiting bags, placing them in traps, and measuring lobsters. His traps are regular-sized 4-foot traps, weighing approximately forty-six pounds each. To determine where to set his traps, Bill relies on a fathometer, which indicates the water's depth. Throughout the fishing season, he shifts his traps to different locations in search of areas with a higher concentration of lobsters. Bill pulls his traps four days a week and distinguishes them from others by the color of the buoys attached to them. He notes that the lobstering industry has experienced significant changes since he began, with more fishermen competing for fewer lobsters. The challenging aspect of his work, according to Bill, is enduring the cold weather and dealing with foggy conditions, which make it difficult to locate his gear. Reflecting on his lobstering experiences, Bill recounts a memorable moment when he went tuna fishing and successfully caught a tuna fish. Surprisingly, despite being immersed in the lobstering industry, Bill only consumes lobster about once a year and does not have a specific favorite method of preparation.


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