Kenny Swaine: Clamshell artist Kenny Swaine is the 3rd-generation owner of a bait and tackle shop in St. James. Like his father and grandfather, Swaine catches killies and other baitfish that he sells to recreational fishermen, who use the bait to catch striped bass, bluefish and flounder. In 1990 Kenny began making fish and lighthouse […]
Pete Ames: Master Fishing Rod Maker Born in Little Neck, Queens, Pete Ames is a 3rd generation fishing rod maker who has made hundreds of fishing rods for sport fishermen on Long Island. He is one of a very few traditional rod makers left on Long Island, a craft that he learned from his father […]
Tony Sougstad: Dragger Fisherman Tony Sougstad was a dragger fisherman who lived in Freeport from the 1960s. He became a dragger boat captain in 1970, after working as an engineer, because he preferred working on the water—a tradition common in Norwegian families. He caught a variety of species, including fluke, flounder, squid, and whiting. Like […]
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 […]
Bayman Cory Weyant shared some of his stories about working on the bay over many years with folklorist Nancy Solomon of Long Island Traditions. This video is part of the Freeport Waters exhibit which opened in 2016.
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 […]
Fish Markets & Eateries Waterfront hotels and clam bars have marked the landscape of the south shore since the late 19th century, when more visitors, including estate owners, sportsmen and recreational fishermen began exploring the region, during summers and on weekends. Soon afterwards various investors began building summer hotels, from Long Beach to Patchogue, most […]
