Interview with Christine Sykes [CS] Occupation: Fisherman’s wife Port Community: Point Judith, RI Interviewer: Angela Wilson Date: January 5, 2012 Catch Share Oral Histories Project – NOAA Fisheries Logger/Transcriber: Elizabeth Wetterhahn INDEX: [minutes:seconds] Sykes Home, Wakefield, RI Interview [00:00] AW: For the record, this is Angela Wilson, and it is January 5, 2012. And I am at 1974 Ministerial Road. And I’m here with Christine Sykes. I need you to state for the recording that you have read, agreed to, and signed the release form. CS: I have read, agreed to, and signed the release form. AW: Wonderful. To begin, could you start out by stating your name and address, your homeport, vessel name, and how you’re related to a fisherman. If he’s in a sector or not. And sort, of how old you are, if you don’t mind me asking. CS: Alright, my name is Christine Sykes. I’m 60. I live at 1974 Ministerial Road in Wakefield, [Rhode Island]. My husband fishes on the Virginia Marise out of Galilee, RI, and he is in a sector. AW: He is. And what number sector is he in, do you know? CS: No. AW: And you know what’s horrible, I interviewed your husband and I can’t remember either. CS: Oh. AW: But, I’m sure that we’ll look at the transcripts. So, to sort of start out this interview, we sort of just want to get a… sort of an idea of your story, your family’s story. So, for example, where you’re from, how long you’ve been here, your structure of your family, and some of your educational background. Maybe how you even met your husband. 1 CS: Well, I grew up in Blackstone, MA. And I was taking classes at URI in Providence, but then I ran out of classes to take there, so I moved down here in 1980. Worked at George’s part time, and that’s where I met Rodman. It’s a fisherman’s restaurant. AW: And was he fishing in Point Judith at that point already? CS: Yeah, but he was fishing on the Deborah Leigh, which he eventually bought. But he was a deckhand then. AW: And did you finish your degree at the University of Rhode Island? CS: Yes, I have two of them that I never did anything with. AW: Oh, really? What do you have degrees in? CS: Food science and mechanical engineering. AW: Mechanical engineering… holy cannoli. And how long have you lived here? Since 1980? CS: Yeah. Not in this house, but I’ve been down here in South County since 1980. AW: And no children? Just the two of you? CS: Yeah. Just the two of us. AW: And a pack of wild dogs? CS: Yeah, usually. We have four. AW: And when did your husband get involved in fisheries? In fishing? CS: Oh, well like 17 years old. He used to work for his grandfather. AW: So he’s been fishing pretty much his entire adult life? CS: Yeah. AW: And did he start off as, like any other greenhorn, a deckhand? CS: Yeah. AW: And worked his way up? CS: Yeah. Started out as cook. 2 AW: As cook? CS: Yeah, that’s how… out there anyway, how you start off. AW: And did he… he moved up to captain and then eventually boat owner? CS: Yes. AW: And does he captain his boat that he owns now? CS: Yes. He and two crewmen. AW: And what does he… what species does he usually target? [03:31] CS: Finfish. Depends on what’s running. I guess they’re getting yellowtail lately ‘cause they’re there. Codfish when they’re around. It’s just whatever’s available. Sometimes squid. AW: What has been the most common that he’s talked about over the last couple of years? CS: Well, they can’t catch flounder anymore, but that was a big one. Yellowtail and fluke. AW: And does he go out for long periods of time? CS: No. When I first met him, he used to. That was before cell phone days, so I never knew when he was coming home and stuff. And now its… well, now, you know, because of the limits, he’s got to come in every day. Which is weird, ‘cause I have to cook every night. Oh yeah. You know, you’re used to being alone for two or three days, four days. AW: Yeah. CS: Now that he’s home every night, its like geez. AW: Yeah, my husband goes out for two weeks. CS: Oh, yeah. AW: If he came home every night, I don’t know what I’d do with him. I like him around, but…. CS: Yeah. 3 AW: You know, sometimes I like my own…. CS: Yeah, yeah. AW: I get it. Since sectors have begun… what was that, in 2010? Has what he fishes for changed? Have you noticed? Or the amount of time he spends fishing, has that changed? CS: Sometimes he puts long days in now. Like, you know, he’d be in by 2 or 3, sometimes he doesn’t come home ‘til 6 or 7. But I don’t notice any difference in the way he fishes. AW: And how about your household structure? Has that changed at all or is it pretty much the same as before sectors? CS: Except financially, it’s the same. We’re doing much better financially. AW: You are doing much better financially then? CS: Yeah. AW: Well, that’s a plus, right? CS: Yeah. AW: Do you work? CS: Yes. AW: And has your percentage of income towards the household changed over the last few years? Like before sectors and after sectors? CS: No, it’s the same. AW: It’s the same. And we’re here at your beautiful home… would you consider this a fishing community? This particular neighborhood that you live in? CS: No. AW: And how about your social structures? Do you tend to hang out with other fishermen or their wives or other people that work in fisheries? CS: Well, he does. But we don’t really hang out with people now. I mean, we know a lot of people but we don’t like go to their houses or go out to dinner with them. But if we did, that’s who it would be. 4 [06:13] AW: Other people that are fishermen or their wives? CS: I think so, yeah. AW: Yeah? And have you, in the past, had that sort of social…. CS: Yeah, we were a little more active when we were younger. AW: And when you were younger you tended to hang out with fishermen and their families? CS: Yeah. AW: And do you have any people in your social circle that are not fishermen? CS: Yes. AW: And do you spend more time with them than you do with fishermen? CS: As a couple? AW: Yeah. Like, you know birthday parties or coffee and lunch or something. CS: I can’t answer that…. I don’t know. AW: Alright. Let’s see, how about, in your opinion, were there any years that were better for the fishing industry than others? CS: Well, when I first was around, I thought it was better. You know, there weren’t so many restrictions on them. AW: In the early ‘80s? CS: Yeah, mid to late. AW: Mid to late ‘80s? CS: Yeah. You know, they didn’t have to, you know, count every fish that comes over. And you know, he’s… like, he doesn’t really complain about too much, but when he does, I can’t stand [it]. AW: Yeah. 5 CS: You know, he used to enjoy fishing and he doesn’t really anymore. AW: He doesn’t? CS: No. AW: Oh, that’s a shame. CS: I mean, it’s the life, you know? His grandfather and uncles were fishermen. AW: So he has, you know, fishermen in his family? CS: Yeah. AW: Way back? CS: Yeah. He’s the only one left doing it, but…. AW: And do you have any nieces or nephews or…. CS: Yeah. AW: And none of them fish? CS: No. Well, they’re a little too young but, he’s got a brother who works down at the docks. AW: And does he have children, his brother? CS: Yeah, the two nephews. And they’re like 5 and 8, so…. AW: Oh, so no one knows what they’ll do yet. CS: Yeah. I would imagine they would, but…. AW: So you did mention that your income has gone up since sectors started. CS: Yeah. AW: So would you say that your quality of life has also improved? CS: Well, I’m not much of a spender so… I mean, I like save more and try to pay off the mortgage, you know. I’m putting more towards that. Well, I guess so. You know, sometimes I splurge. I splurge more now than I used to. ‘Cause I’m pretty tight with the dollar. 6 AW: Yeah. CS: He’s not, he gets what he wants. AW: Yeah. CS: You know, yeah. No matter what. Before, you know…. AW: So…. CS: So yeah, I guess so. AW: So you still have…. CS: Yeah, I don’t worry about things. No, well actually it’s like when’s the other shoe going to drop, you know? When’s this going to stop, you know? When’s the paychecks going to stop…? AW: Yeah.