To study and document, through field observation, extensive taped interviews and photographic work, the traditions and customs that are part of the commercial fishing industry in Erie, Sandusky and Ottawa counties, Ohio; e.g., a. informally-learned occupational skills, techniques and values; b. the oral forms, such as oral-historical narratives, legends and folk beliefs, humor and anecdotes, competitions and games and traditional speech and sayings which teach, reinforce and justify those skills, techniques and values; and c. the related traditions of the families and communities whose life and livelihood are bound up with this industry.
To determine how these traditions shape and give meaning to the work of those who are a part of this industry and to the lives of their families and communities.
To design and produce an illustrated publication on these traditions for distribution and sale by the Ohio Sea Grant Program to local business and economic-development interests, to tourist audiences and to the local public, as well as articles for a scholarly audience.
To increase business, tourist, professional and public understanding and appreciation of the cultural heritage and resources of maritime occupations and life in this area of the Lake Erie shore.

Research on commercial fishing in Lake Erie has been almost exclusively biological, technological or economic, and has rarely taken into account the human and social filter through which information, advice, regulations and decisions become real. The present study seeks to balance our understanding of this industry by documenting and presenting its human side. Through field observation, taped interviews and photography, we will examine not so much the industry itself, but rather those individuals and groups whose informally learned skills, techniques, attitudes and values allow the industry to exist and function. In an area where commercial and sport fishermen vie for limit space and resources, we will focus on small-scale commercial fishing, documenting and describing traditions and customs which teach, reinforce and justify that livelihood and way of life.

Phase 1: Preliminary Research (September 1982-April 1983). During this period, principal investigator Timothy Lloyd will conduct three weeks of full-time preliminary research activities. This work is intended to: 1. gather basic economic, biological, geographic, historical, social and cultural information about the region and about the commercial fishing industry from the Ohio Sea Grant Program staff, from other researchers who have worked in the area, and from printed sources; 2. to make and develop contacts in the area who can provide advice, information and assistance during the field research phase; and 3. to synthesize this information into a written report and a written plan for the fieldwork to follow.

Phase 2: Fieldwork and Documentation (June 1983). During this period, principal investigator Patrick Mullen will spend four weeks of full-time research and documentation activities (observation and documentation of occupational activities, extensive interviews with fishermen and members of related occupations, and attendance at, as well as documentation of, family and community celebrations and other events). Principal investigator Timothy Lloyd will also conduct the same sorts of activities during the first and last weeks of Mullen's time at the Lake. A project assistant, a graduate student in folklore at The Ohio State University, will begin logging, indexing and accessioning the sound tapes, black and white photographs and slides into the Folklife Program's archival system in the middle of June, and will continue to do so for four weeks.

Phase 3: Editing and Manuscript Preparation (July 1983 - August 1983). During this period, the co-principal investigators will spend two weeks (Mullen) and four weeks (Lloyd) reviewing the documentary materials compiled during the fieldwork, preparing draft and final manuscripts for the publication, and selecting the visual materials which will accompany the text. The project assistant and the Ohio Foundation on the Arts clerical staff member will spend two weeks and one week, respectively, assisting in the preparation and typing of the draft and final manuscripts.

Phase 4: Publication and Distribution (September 1983-August 1984). During this period, the manuscript and visual materials will be laid out and brought to camera-period, the manuscript and visual materials will be laid out and brought to camera-readiness by the Ohio Sea Grant Program communication staff and project staff.

Accomplishments:
Lake Erie Fishermen: Work, Tradition, and Identity, by Timothy C. Lloyd and Patrick B. Mullen, has won the North American Society for Oceanic History's John Lyman Book Award in the Category "American Maritime History" for 1990.

1986 Folklore forms documented in this project include:

1. Traditional work methods, strategies and procedures, including those for finding fish, predicting weather, navigating, maximizing catch, coping with equipment failure or sudden weather emergencies, saving time or energy in routine tasks, informal safety procedures, and so on;
2. Traditional crafts, such as net making and repair, and including equipment maintenance and repair (both routine repair and temporary, stop-gap measure -- "jury rigging");
3. Homemade tools, or improvisatory or custom adjustments to ready-made tools;
4. Local terminology or slang used to designate tools, functions, places, jobs, fish or other marine life, water and weather conditions, types of vessels or specific vessels and local people;
5. Informal signaling systems used when noise, weather or distance make verbal communication on board difficult;
6. Competitions and games which sharpen skills, establish technical and social dominance and serve as entertainments and tests;
7. Practical jokes, insults, nicknames and other traditional humor specific to the fishing group, used to reinforce camaraderie and tighten group loyalty;
8. Traditional courtesy and routines used to establish respect and subordinance;
9. Proverbial expressions, rhymes and sayings used to describe weather conditions or to condense and convey traditional wisdom;
10. Customs or ceremonies associated with special events such as boat-building or boat launching;
11. Superstitions, beliefs and taboos practiced to avoid bad luck, increase catch size, and the like;
12. Anecdotes and traditional "true" stories or community legends told about local eccentric characters, outrageous or villainous behavior, heroic fishermen, fabulous catches, famous weather or ship disasters, ghastly consequences of not following standard procedure or superstitious ritual, and so on;
13. First-hand personal experience narratives about typical hazards or events of the fishing industry, such as close calls, bad storms, brushes with the law, and the like;
14. First- and second-hand narratives which confirm and reinforce folk belief and superstition ("You know, that is true. I forgot (to do thus and so), and sure enough, we didn't catch a thing");
15. Personal and family histories which recall skillful, brave, resourceful, shrewd, unfortunate or otherwise memorable relatives, friends, crews, or community members, as well as key events which caused upheaval or other significant change in personal, family or community lifestyle;
16. Articles of work dress or clothing, and items of "pocket" equipment which are functionally or decoratively specific to fishermen;
17. Everyday and ceremonial food, feasting or drinking behavior typical of commercial fishermen both on and offshore; its makeup, together with consideration of its social functions and its aesthetic value;
18. Family or community customs and events common to commercial fishermen in the area, which may bind them together during their onshore time just as they are bound during their offshore time.

Benefits:
1986: 1. Increase understanding of the factors which shape this local industry, by documenting and presenting the elements of cultural and social life which, along with biological, technological and economic considerations, must be taken into account for an accurate and complete description or analysis of this industry. 2. Produce a permanent document on an important aspect of regional culture which can be used by a number of local groups and organizations for their own educational and promotional/developmental purposes: fishermen, tourist businesses, maritime businesses and governmental/regional agencies. 3. Contribute to the scholarly literature on Ohio culture and on occupational and maritime folklife. 4. Expand the scope of Ohio Sea Grant Program-sponsored research to date, by balancing its biological, technological and economic emphases and strengths with cultural ones. Thus, this project will also expand business, tourist, public and scholarly perception of the role and function of the Ohio Sea Grant Program. 5. Provide the documentary basis for other cultural education projects in this or other areas of the Lake Erie shoreline.