A Child at Sea Turned Second-Class Citizen

NEW BEDFORD, Massachusetts — Captain Alan Curtis is not a fragile man. He speaks with a strong raspy voice that always has a quick-witted response to what life throws at him. With a strong build created from years of serving in the scallop industry, Curtis gives valuable knowledge of what working in the fishing industry is like.   

The fishing industry is known to be a dangerous field, and having to learn the hard way. Curtis went on his first trip at 14-years-old and quickly became a regular on the docks by the age of 16. In most fields, child-labor is not allowed or is looked down upon, but in the fishing industry, where many fishermen find themselves generationally locked into the tradition, children working the boats is not a rare sight.  

“My first trip I went out to sea, I almost got lost, out of my own stupidity.” Curtis said.  

At the time, the boat had a toilet bowl, but the only catch was that the men would have to a bucket of water. The bucket had a rope attached, which Curtis wrapped around his arm, and when the bucket was thrown, the force was almost enough to pull Curtis into the water. The water is unpredictable, and the first lesson learned is to watch your back and be careful while out at sea.  

“Back then I was young and stupid, when it was really rough out it was like being at an amusement park.” said Curtis. “It was exciting but now I want no part of it.”  

Now retired, Curtis spends his free time building mini replicas of boats, playing his guitar and rebuilding cars. Curtis makes an occasional trip on the ocean fishing for scallops or quahaug clams and last year made enough to pay rent for the entire year from just one trip.  

Despite the lucrative nature of the scallop business, Curtis says that fisherman are not always treated with the best attitude by business owners and locals, describing the experience as being treated like a second-class citizen.  

“You pay an arm and a leg just because you look outside and can see a boat,” Said Curtis. “You order a beer; they give you some cheese and crackers and end up with a 40-dollar bill.” 

Curtis describes the past of New Bedford’s harbor, saying that at least 15 fishermen’s bars, have been converted into high end restaurants that do not offer welcoming space for fishermen coming off the boats in their work boots and clothing. Like the patterns across America, New Bedford has found itself in the middle of its own gentrification. 

“There’s no more fishermen bars,” said Curtis. “They want to make their money off of us, but they don’t want to see us.” 

Curtis also describes treatment by the Coast Guard who often board boats in an aggressive manner, automatically assuming criminal activity is occurring on the boat, assuming the crew to be guilty until proven innocent.