Fishermen and baymen, duck hunters and decoy carvers, clamshell artists and lifeguards are just some of the tradition bearers featured here. Through oral histories, Long Island Traditions has documented dozens of those committed to preserving a life on the water. Most are participants in our maritime education programs or festivals and museum programs. If you […]
Islip, Oakdale, West Sayville, Sayville, Bellport, Bayport, Patchogue and Brookhaven Hamlet Please visit the survey for tips and suggestions on how to document your house and community. Islip Islip and Great River are two of the oldest communities in the estuary, originally inhabited by the Secatogues, Pentaquit and Connetquot Native American tribes. In the 1600s William […]
The Fisheries The south shore is world famous for the many species of fish and shellfish that live year round, spawn or give birth, or rest on their way to warmer or colder habitats. Fluke and flounder, clams and crabs, and bait fish such as killeys, bunker and spearing are just the tip of the […]
Bob Doxsee: Deep Sea Clamming by Nancy Solomon Bob Doxsee, the owner of Doxsee Sea Clam Company, which closed in 2013, carried on the traditions of his family, one of the older families to settle on the south shore of Long Island. The Doxsees began as farmers and fishermen, including James H. Doxsee who was […]
Bay Houses Bay houses stand on the fragile marshlands in the Town of Islip and the Town of Hempstead. Built by fishermen and baymen, duck hunters and recreational boaters, they come in all shapes and forms, with as many variations as there are builders. Most of the houses that stand today range in age from […]
Commercial Fishing Since the 1700s there has been an active commercial fishing economy on the south shore. Baymen and fishermen have harvested eels, killies, clams, oysters, scallops, blue claw crabs, bait crabs, fluke and flounder and other marine species. While the fishing economy has declined drastically since 1985, when the brown tide decimated the scallop […]