Capturing the Gloucester Fishing Fleet: The Photographs of Peter Prybot
Preserving the history of fishing in Gloucester in the mid-late 20th century
F/V "St. George" and crew (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
In his book White-Tipped Orange Masts, Peter Prybot wrote that he knew he wanted to be a fisherman when he was only eleven years old. His fascination with fishing led him to write his college biology thesis on the Gloucester fishing fleet in 1970.
Materials for his thesis included photographs he took of the boats and their crews as well as interviews with the boats’ captains.
Peter Prybot books (1998) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
In 1998, prompted by the 375th anniversary of the first English settlement in Gloucester he published his thesis materials along with additional photos and interviews from the 1980s and 1990s in the book White-Tipped Orange Masts, which he reprinted in 2007.
In his book he writes that he unknowingly recorded “the beginning of the end for wooden eastern-rigged side trawlers.”
Huge Lobster on Deck (1980s) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
His other writing credits include his regular “Ebb & Flow” column for the Gloucester Daily Times; articles in National Fisherman, and Oceans Magazine; and his 2006 book, Lobstering off Cape Ann: A Lifetime Lobsterman Remembers.
In Lobstering off Cape Ann: A Lifetime Lobsterman Remembers, he recounts his own experience working as a lobsterman.
Bringing in the Mackerel (1980s) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
As an avid fisherman and photographer, Prybot continued to photograph fishing boats and crews for many years. He went on several offshore fishing trips in the 1970s-1980s photographing the work of the fishing crews.
Hauling Seine Net (1980s) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
Prybot was an advocate for fishing and the fishing industry as well as a passionate advocate for Gloucester fishermen. His books and articles explained fishing in simple terms so that anyone could understand.
He had an interest in biology and a general curiosity about the world around him, and he was known to fish for enjoyment.
Because of his work as a lobsterman and as a photographer Prybot was a common sight around the Gloucester waterfront.
F/V "Our Lady of Fatima" (1980s) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
Anne Prybot donated Peter Prybot’s collection of photographs to the Cape Ann Museum’s Library & Archives after his passing. The collection consists of photographs he used in his books and articles.
Negatives from "White-Tipped Orange Masts" (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
These photographs include black and white 35mm negatives, color 35mm negatives, color slides, and prints. The collection came to the CAM L&A in four plastic tubs and a ring binder and were rehoused in archival boxes and sleeves, retaining his original organization and notes.
Peter Prybot photo tub (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
Negatives and prints for White-Tipped Orange Masts were originally stored in a fish tub. These negatives have careful notes about which frame to use for each boat in his book, and the prints are organized by page number.
This organization shows how much effort and thought he put into his college biology thesis and, later, his book.
Organizational notes for negatives (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
Besides fish and lobsters, he also harvested crabs, periwinkles, sea urchins, and seaweed on his daily fishing trips. As a gardener his vegetables often won gardening competitions at the Topsfield Fair.
Prybot credits his wife, Anne, for carefully storing his initial materials for White-Tipped Orange Masts as well as typing and editing his work.
Re-housed Peter Prybot prints (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
He explained his love of fishing and the ocean in Lobstering off Cape Ann:
“Although lobstering has largely consumed my life since age twelve ... it’s also given me a livelihood, a hands-on education, a defined and meaningful purpose in life, a unique sense of freedom and pride and a job that I wouldn’t trade for the world."
The following are photos he took for the White-Tipped Orange Masts showing several different crews of the Gloucester fishing fleet.
Crew of the F/V "Antonia" (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
"If a stranger came aboard and made a couple of offshore trips, he would either jump overboard or go crazy...At times fishing is miserable. We are often out during holidays and in every type of weather, but that’s part of this business." – Captain Santo Mineo of the F/V Antonia.
Crew of the F/V "Belinda II" (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
“What I like best about fishing is eating haddock chowder, coming home after a hard day out fishing, and relaxing.” – Jim Madruga, owner and skipper of the F/V Belinda II.
Crew of the F/V "Curlew" (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
“What we like most about fishing is coming home and settling up and staying in as long as possible.” – F/V Curlew skipper Dominic Montagnino.
Crew of the F/V "Ida & Joseph" (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
“Nowadays the only good things left about fishing are plenty of fresh air, good food and especially coming in after a trip.” – Joseph Calamo of the F/V Ida & Joseph.
Crew of the F/V "Leonard & Nancy" (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
“There is nothing larger than the ocean during a storm.” – Sal Ferrigno of F/V Leonard & Nancy.
Crew of the F/V "Linda B." (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
“This is our living; we have to take the good with the bad.” – F/V Linda B. skipper Rosario “Salvi” Testaverde.
Crew of the F/V "Our Lady of Fatima" (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
“Fishing is quite a life. We are twice at sea and only once at home. Once the boat’s lines have been cast off, we are out to get a good trip.” – F/V Our Lady of Fatima Captain Cecilio J. Cecilio.
Crew of the F/V "Peppy" (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
“Fishing is our livelihood; we have no other trade. We are carrying on our fathers’ trades.” – Tom Randazza of the F/V Peppy.
Crew of the F/V "Serafina N." (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
“You go, go, go so often when the weather is good that you hardly have time to catch your breath then.” – Phil Nicastro of the F/V Serafina N.
Crew of the F/V "Vincie N." (1970) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
“Fishing is the cleanest life; it’s continuous, rugged, and often monotonous. In contrast to people working ashore, we do not work with the clock. You’re finished when the job is done. With fishing, a person is always working.” – Captain Joe Novello of the F/V Vincie N.
Peter Prybot (1980s) by Peter PrybotCape Ann Museum
The Cape Ann Museum Library & Archives is proud to hold these images and the entire photographic archive of Peter Prybot. The collection is open to all researchers at 27 Pleasant Street.
The exhibition 'Capturing the Gloucester Fishing Fleet: The Photographs of Peter Prybot' was organized by the Cape Ann Museum Library & Archives, Gloucester, Massachusetts. Items in this exhibit are from the Peter Prybot Negatives and Photographs Collection.
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