Lumpers unload the fish from the boats. Hear from two New Bedford lumpers talk about how their work has changed over the years.
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In this commentary, they talk about how the auction would start around 7am, and at the end of the auction the lumpers would take the scalloper out. They would finish this task around 10am, and directly afterwards get onto a dragger (and sometimes another dragger right after that), because there was so much work to constantly do.
Newer regulations have meant fewer boats being able to catch fewer fish, and for lumpers it has been tough to sustain a work force with such unpredictable work. Because the work is more seldom, when a lumper gets a call (they are on call 24hrs a day), they HAVE to drop everything and answer the call of duty, also regardless of the weather.
Listen to the commentary about "Lumpers" here.
See also: Working Waterfront Series – Immigration and Ethnicity,
and Working Waterfront Series – Longshoremen,
and Working Waterfront Series – Storms at Sea,
and Working Waterfront Series – Changes in Technology.