“ OREGON TRAWLER “ 1970s FISHERMEN & FISHING INDUSTRY IN COOS BAY, OREGON 65914
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This educational film, produced in 1975 for the Oregon State University Sea Grant College Program, aims to inform viewers about the workings of a fishing trawler. The crew of a drag boat named Betty A is filmed at work, while the boat’s captain narrates the fishing process and the equipment needed for each task. The trawler operated out of Charleston near Coos Bay in Southern Oregon, along the Pacific Ocean. The short video was directed by Charles B. Jackson in the OSU Extension Service Marine Advisory Program. Financial support for the project came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sea Grant Program, the State of Oregon, and cooperating Oregon Counties. The film provides interesting footage of a fishing trawler in the 1970s.
(00:08) Title: Oregon Trawler. Background image of a fishing trawler named Betty A.
(00:20) A 76-foot otter trawler, also called a drag boat.
(00:40) Footage of the sea beside the boat.
(01:14) Normally, a crew of 3 people works on the boat.
(01:27) The dragger uses a stern reel to operate the net.
(01:38) The men put on fishing bibs and coats.
(01:51) They use the reel to drag the net.
(02:09) The captain lowers the otter boards, or doors, that hold the net open.
(02:18) A cable is attached to the doors from the winches.
(02:23) When the nets hit the water, they spread.
(02:45) View of the boat’s equipment and the ocean.
(02:59) The mud-line herds the fish into the net.
(03:12) The spooler reels the net back.
(03:30) The galvanized steel cable wire.
(03:45) The captain operates the wheel.
(03:59) The doors come up.
(04:14) The crew hooks the doors up to the boat.
(04:38) The captain transfers the mud-lines to the net reel.
(04:47) The lines are wound in.
(05:08) The mud line lear goes on the reel, then the net.
(05:18) Auto trawling is safer for the crew.
(05:26) The net rolls onto the boat.
(05:39) It comes on automatically to prevent crew members from falling into the water.
(06:02) The boat can lift 6000 pounds in one lift.
(06:11) A split lift is seen; this occurs when there’s over 6000 lbs.
(06:20) The rest of the fish spill back into the water and are re-gathered.
(06:36) Hook lines are small winches with hydraulic power; they are used for lifts.
(06:56) Fish are lifted onto the boat.
(07:15) Many types of fish are dragged onto the boat.
(07:25) The empty net is re-wound onto the reel.
(07:56) Birds fly over the boat.
(07:59) Men shovel fish into different sections of the boat.
(08:56) The door is lowered into the water.
(09:26) The net is seen in the water.
(09:50) Footage of the net prepared for a lift.
(10:15) Fish are lifted onto the boat.
(10:30) A crew member tosses fish into bins.
(11:04) Credits: Produced for Oregon State University Sea Grant College Program. By OSU Extension Service Marine Advisory Program. With the cooperation of Capt. Fred Anderson and the Crew of F/V Betty A, Charleston, Oregon.
(11:25) Directed by Charles B. Jackson, Photographed by William C. Smith and Charles B. Jackson. Edited by Charles B. Jackson and Arthur Wright. Narrated by Capt. Fred Anderson.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit