New Bedford in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
From Whales to Flatfish and Scallops
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
1. From Whales to Flatfish and Scallops Marker
The boats you see in the harbor today are mostly commercial fishing vessels - primarily draggers and scallopers; the whaling barks of the past have long since vanished. By the 1930s, just as whaling faded and the textile industry fled to the South, a new fishing industry came to New Bedford's port. With the advent of refrigerated trucks and a growing number of fish dealers, fishermen from this region, Maine, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia, along with Norwegian and Portuguese immigrants, began to drag the Atlantic for scallops and flounder.
Men like Norwegian-born Rasmus Tonnessen helped establish the scallop fishery here, opening the New Bedford Ship Supply in 1935. Other fishing-related companies found a niche here too, like a fileting operation responding to a new trend: homeowners no longer wanting to buy and cook fish whole. With hard work and ingenuity, a modern fishing industry came of age.
On the draggers in particular they were Newfoundlanders and Nova Scotians.... The guys that were scalloping at that time were mostly from Maine, and shortly thereafter we had some Norwegian people come from Brooklyn, New York, bringing their boats here to try fishing.
Howard W. Nickerson, 1998
Erected by National Parks Service, Department of the
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.
Location. 41° 38.132′ N, 70° 55.273′ W. Marker is in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. Marker is on MacArthur Drive south of Elm Street, on the left when traveling south. This marker is located in the downtown area, along the waterfront, very near the New Bedford Harbor, Waterfront Visitor Center building. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Bedford MA 02740, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Working Waterfront (within shouting distance of this marker); Whaling Capital (within shouting distance of this marker); The Dartmouth (within shouting distance of this marker); Commonwealth of Toil (within shouting distance of this marker); From Whales to Bales (within shouting distance of this marker); Centre Street (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Double Bank (about 500 feet away); Colonel George Claghorn (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Bedford.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
2. From Whales to Flatfish and Scallops Marker
Close-up view, that is displayed on the marker, of a photograph of Rasmus Tonnessen, a leader in establishing the fishing industry in New Bedford.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
3. From Whales to Flatfish and Scallops Marker
View of the marker looking north along Elm Street, with a view of the New Bedford Harbor, Waterfront Visitor Center in the background.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
4. From Whales to Flatfish and Scallops Marker
View of the marker looking south along Elm Street.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 30, 2015
5. From Whales to Flatfish and Scallops Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 306 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 4, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.
