The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection
The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection consists of interviews with commercial fishermen conducted in the early 1980s and early 1990s. Locations discussed range from New York City to Albany and time periods from the 1920s to the 1990s. The focus of these interviews is primarily on the decline of the commercial fishing industry, including changes in fishing techniques and gear, changes in water quality and pollution, economic and market changes, and changes in fishing populations, including government regulation.
Content note: Some of the terminology used in these interviews reflects the time period and personalities of the people being interviewed and not that of the Hudson River Maritime Museum or New York Heritage.
You can explore this collection and others at: https://nyheritage.org/collections/oral-histories-hudson-river-commercial-fishermen offsite link
| Interviewee | Interviewer | Dates of Interview | Location of Interview | Description | Contributing Organizations | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim DeGroat | Marguerite Holloway | Stony Point, NY |
On January 11, 1992, Marguerite Holloway interviewed Tim DeGroat at Stony Point, NY, for the Hudson River Maritime Museum. DeGroat discusses his family's multi-generational involvement in fishing on the Hudson River, detailing traditional methods… |
Hudson River Maritime Museum | The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection | |
| Turk DeGroat | Christopher Letts | Stony Point, NY |
On April 14, 1984, Christopher Letts interviewed Turk DeGroat at Stony Point for the Hudson River Maritime Museum Oral History Project. DeGroat reflects on his lifelong involvement with shad fishing in the Hudson River, beginning at age 13. He… |
Hudson River Maritime Museum | The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection | |
| Henry Gourdine | Unknown | , , , | Ossining, NY |
On September 27, 1989, Henry Gourdine was interviewed about his extensive experiences in the fishing industry. Gourdine discusses a range of topics, including the seasonal cycles of crab and shad fishing, the challenges of maintaining and… |
Hudson River Maritime Museum | The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection |
| Dennis Hardy | Unknown | Piermont, NY |
On July 10, 1993, Dennis Hardy was interviewed about his life and work as a commercial fisherman in the Hudson River region, focusing on traditional fishing methods, changes in the fishing industry, and the challenges of preserving local… |
Hudson River Maritime Museum | The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection | |
| Edward Hatzmann | Unknown | Croton-on-Hudson, NY |
On April 26, 1992, Edward Hatzmann was interviewed about his experiences as a commercial fisherman on the Hudson River. Hatzman discusses his career, focusing on techniques, challenges, and changes in the fishing industry, including the use of… |
Hudson River Maritime Museum | The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection | |
| Ron Ingold | Marguerite Holloway | Kingston, NY |
On January 2, 1999, Marguerite Holloway interviewed Ron Ingold in Kingston, NY, as part of the Hudson River Maritime Museum's oral history project. Ingold reflects on his experiences as a fisherman on the Hudson River, beginning with memories of… |
Hudson River Maritime Museum | The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection | |
| Fred Johanssen | Unknown | Hudson, NY |
In this interview, Fred Johanssen discusses his extensive experience in the fishing and boatyard industries, touching on topics such as the physical demands of fishing, the decline of the striped bass population due to PCBs, and his observations… |
Hudson River Maritime Museum | The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection | |
| Louis and Harry Lasher | Unknown | Edgewater, NJ |
On July 17, 1993, Louis and Harry Lasher were interviewed about their experiences with shad fishing along the Hudson River. The Lashers discuss their lifelong involvement in fishing, covering topics such as traditional techniques for setting… |
Hudson River Maritime Museum | The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Hudson River Commercial Fishermen’s Oral History Collection |