KATHERINE RICHMOND

PROJECT: WATERFRONT LUMPERS

The Fishing Series “Lumpers” is new documentary work since November 2016. Richmond, herself, has worked in the fishing industry on several fishing vessels and can relate to these waterfront workers. She has photographed this series on five separate fishing trips that this fishing vessel landed. 

Rarely seen and hardly heard of, these are the lumpers of the working waterfront in the fishing industry. You have to be physically strong and disciplined. From the moment they start they don’t stop until all the fish are unloaded into baskets that are lifted by a winch, one at a time, up to the wharf.

From the 1950’s through the early 1980’s a lumper could make a good living and support a family. During the late 60’s - 70’s lumpers were probably the highest paid laborers on the East Coast. In Gloucester Harbor there were over one hundred lumpers, and one quarter of them were part-time, which consisted of firemen, police, professors, real estate agents, pharmacists, and landlords. 

In the late 80’s, when automation and industrialization in the fishing industry took hold, lumping was no longer a full-time occupation. In the 90's, when the government began placing restrictions on the fishing industry, U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry of Massachusetts, began lobbying efforts that lasted for years on behalf of the fisherman.  A Gloucester memorial statue has an engraved quote; "Senator Edward M. Kennedy — his love of the sea was reflected in his commitment to the commercial fishing industry of Massachusetts and the nation."

Lumpers have been displaced due to the government regulations and downsizing of the industry. Insurance companies and government are favoring large industrialized fishing. Today there are a handful of part-time lumpers and they usually work the boats once or twice a week. Lumpers are always on call. The working hours are irregular and unpredictable. Lumping one vessel is a good days pay, on the other days they fill their time with other work that they can find. The younger generation isn't interested in this kind of labor. The individuals in this series are in their late 40's and early 60's. 

The fishing vessels that rely on lumpers, fish off shore at Georges Banks or the Grand Banks located in the deep waters over 100 miles out to sea. It is one area of the fishing industry that cannot be automated because it would damage and greatly reduce the quality of the fish.  Vessels that fish in these deep waters fill their holds with anywhere from 70,000-140,000lbs of fish and they need to maximize the area of their storage space below deck. 

With this series, I wanted to bring awareness to the lumpers hard work, the conditions they work in, changes in the industry, and how their job brings value to the product. Gloucester is historically the oldest fishing seaport in the United States. Faced with uncertainties, the working waterfront and surrounding businesses are trying very hard to hold on to what is left of the fishing industry that still provides many jobs and business opportunities.  

These portraits are not a series of work. They are a collection of portraits I have taken over the years — as I wander and explore different places. I enjoy meeting people, learning about and capturing them comfortably in their environment with natural light. 

A mixed collection of earlier work. All are black and white film photographs with 35mm and Medium format images.