1940. American commercial shrimping, as we know it, was now a quarter century old.   Diesel motors had replaced the gas ones found in earlier, smaller vessels.  Shrimp was being sold dockside for 5 cents a pound.   The Andrews Sisters’ song “Hold Tight” (“shrimps and rice, they’re very nice”) had come out the year before and was being sung by crews.

If you enjoy a glance back and good humored writing then you might enjoy a WPA publication, “St. Augustine Shrimp Fleet”.  It was sponsored by the Florida State Department of Public Instruction for use in the public schools and is dated 1940.   The writer spends 24 hours on a boat named Fortuna captained by Domingo de Cruz, a Portuguese immigrant.  It provides a colorful, easy-to-read insight to our shrimping past.

Interestingly, the captain laments the heyday from 10 years prior when hauls were larger.  Perhaps the St. Augustine fleet that had now grown to 123 documented boats were proving to be too much competition. 

In 1940 St. Augustine was the shrimping capital of America and shrimping was its major industry.  This was due to the 1913 arrival to the area of a Gloucester, Massachusetts fisherman named Billy Corkum.  He observed the use of seine nets for shrimping in the inland waterways and concluded that shrimp could be more successfully harvested in the Atlantic.  After first experimenting with dragging a net between two boats he rigged up the otter trawl system inspired by the cod fishing methods in New England.  This style of trawling, as many of you well know, is still used today.  

The article not only provides vivid descriptions of the layout and workings of the trawler (cabin, work areas, engine and net design) but names some of the other vessels seen that day.  He goes on to list some of the origins of the many immigrants in St. Augustine at that time (Scandinavians, Portuguese, Italians and Minorcans) and mentions several old shrimping family names.  

The use of a try net (called a trial net) and palm needles for net repair provide interesting detail, but not as interesting as the doctoring methods used on board.  The seemingly common complaint of a fish bone stuck in one’s hand was remedied by applying a solution of hot butter and vinegar.  Captain de Cruz insisted that within 24 hours the bone would come out in fragments with no further pain.   If a sharp object like a nail were to prick a shrimper then an onion must be rubbed on the object and then the onion applied to the wound.  And figs soaked in milk were used to stop bleeding at the mouth.  Apparently this bleeding was more likely to occur back at port in “jook”s or “ale-houses”.  Hmm….

For the foodies there’s a description of the preparation of lunch, a Spanish pilau, and directions as to how to make it.  Stay tuned because that looks like a recipe to try and post about!

To read this publication and learn more visit Florida Memory and go back in time for yourself!

Several years back we started buying vintage postcards of shrimp boats.  Not only are they visually appealing but they help tell a little bit about the history of shrimping based on the age of the card.  Some of the ones that we have are bordered in white which dates them from 1915 to 1930.  And some are “linen” meaning that the paper has a high rag content.  The peak use of this material was 1930 until 1945. 

Postcards are relatively inexpensive to purchase and easy to store or display.  We keep ours in a little flip style album with clear sleeves so that you can see both sides.   

The back of the card is often as interesting as the image with personal messages, old stamps or the printer’s comment about the image.  

The one above gives an indication of how busy Tampa was at one time.

Details such as boat names, (“Benito Mussolini” above) give us insight to the various shrimping communities and the heritage of American shrimping.   St. Augustine had many shrimpers of Italian and Greek descent. 

Start your own collection by browsing at garage sales, flea markets or antiques stores.  ebay always has a selection and if you buy more than one from the same dealer ask if they will adjust shipping charges.

To learn more about dating postcards by the card material used, design or postage requirements click here.


To view our favorites from our collection click here and scroll down.

Happy collecting!

It will be ten years ago this May that Jack Leigh lost his battle with cancer.  He had been a dedicated photographer documenting in striking black and white images that he loved.  His passion for the seafaring ways and the beauty of his native Georgia coastline are evident in one of our favorite books, “Nets & Doors: Shrimping in Southern Waters”.    Jack identified many years ago that our shrimping industry was threatened and in 1989 published a book portraying commercial shrimpers that he followed for 3 years.   

A native of Savannah, Jack studied at The University of Georgia, and fittingly was the cover photographer for what is perhaps Savannah’s best known novel, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”.

Being the shrimp fanatics that we are, “Nets & Doors” is now part of our collection.  (He has other noteworthy books that you can read more about here on this Jack Leigh web-site).  Consider treating yourself or a fellow shrimper to “Nets & Doors: Shrimping in Southern Waters” – it was, for us, a very welcome gift!  

Don't have big bucks for a shimp boat of your own?   Here's our solution that can net up to 100 pounds per trip with the help of two strikers and one captain.

This Key West 1720 Sportsman has been equipped with a rig made in the back yard from square iron.  Pulleys, doors and a net can be purchased from a marine outfitter.   With one man driving and two working the nets it is far less work and yields more than other recreational shrimping techniques.  Questions?  Contact us for some friendly guidance.