Archive Record
Metadata
Object # |
2024.031.003 |
Description |
Interview Bob Pierce interviewed May 2024 https://vimeo.com/946191167 With Richie Earle and Russell Walters Topics: Seining, eeling, oystering, life on the river 1950s/60s Bob was born in 1947, son of Bill Pierce, Pine Hill Road He was a farmer, he worked as a mailman in Westport. Life on the Westport River Bob Pierce with Richie Earle and Russell Walters May 2024 Eel fishing off Donovans Lane Cold winters Ice skating on the river Best time to catch eels was in winter when the water was still cold Warmer weather made eels more oily Eel trawls - never seen this done by anyone else Eel trawl hook Crush mussels for bait for eels Kept eels alive in the brook until time to skin the eel Take them to Fred and Annes Slime the eel - wood ash in tub to remove slime to make it easier to remove Eels and johnny cakes was a staple back then Fry up eels in bacon fat Still wriggle after being cut up in pieces Charlie was the police chief, brother of Bob Pierce Eeling at night - used car lights on a battery on a clam night, the water was very clear then Looking glasses used to see through the water Oystering, scalloping Set seine wrapped around north of Hix Bridge, very deep water, rowed in circle to catch the herring, lead weights on the bottom, floats on the top, catch bushels of herring and perch, sometimes smelt Sam Tripp had a fish market in Padanaram Oystering - no areas were closed, in the winter it never froze under Hix Bridge, Portuguese fisherman would send down a bucket with moonshine. Oyster beds - Albert Lees (first), Jim Raposa, east side of Poor Farm Made beds out of shells, no limits on amount $3 a bushel Processed all that was caught Nothing went bad Howie Borden off Cornell Road After Howie died, his wife called Bob, (she was in her 90s) can you take me for a ride in the river "I'm still sea worthy" Farming, also worked at post office full time as a mail carrier, and supervisor Deputy shellfish warden Delivered mail All fishermen had other activities to sustain them, such as farming All problems disappear when on the river, only have to worry about what to hold on to Tonging to dig quahogs, required strength and experience Bull rake, steel, curved teeth, long lengths of wood, weighed 50 pounds, had to be a bull to pull it up No regulations back then Encounters as a warden, very few Seals in the river, "hole in the wall", seal stayed with them More seals now than in the past Seals decimate the fish, no more seal hunts Cormorants also, 1970s and 80s, old gunners called cormorants shags and shot them The river: names of places on the river, hole in the wall, different places for oysters, Crooked Creek Brackish water Clams and steamers Further north - oysters Cadmans Neck, muddy area, eels John Donovan, delivered milk, very strong, became an alcoholic Town landings along river Chape's father Bill (Alvin) White and Uncle Jim They were the premier fishermen, they owned this river, made it their business Fished at the foot of the lane (end of Horseneck Road) They loved being on the river Bill's son Chapin also fished, crab pots, quahoging Green crabs Chape had bait business Tautog business - crabs were used as bait Peter Luevelink Clam measures- quart, peck Other people on the river Swampy Vaughan who had a shack near Hix Bridge to build boats He brought the DDT issue to everyone's attention George Lake Walter Vincent Fred Peckham - premium bass fisherman Equipment Tongs, locally made, belonged to Jim Hollis Bull rake Clam rake Quahog rake Scallop drag Measures- peck for quahog, half bushel, bushel Modern bull rake Treading with sneakers to quahog Keyholing Unusual discoveries in the river - tropical fish, sea horses, a skull found near the Back Eddy |
Search Terms |
Eeling Fishing |
People |
Pierce, Bob |
Object Name |
Interview |
Category |
10: Unclassifiable Artifacts |
Sub-category |
Need to Classify |
Accession# |
2024.031 |