During the early Fall of 1942, photographer Howard Liberman joined the crew of one of the many fishing boats in Gloucester, Massachusetts for a day on the seas. The following photos capture the unique personalities and culture that marked the lives of a small fishing community in the 1940s.
Gloucester, Massachusetts. John Riberia, captain of the fishing trawler Old Glory, kissing his wife before leaving for the fishing grounds off the Massachusetts coast
Gloucester, Massachusetts. A young boy, probably a fisherman of tomorrow, because many of the boys will follow their fathers as fishermen in the New England waters
Gloucester, Massachusetts. Captain John Riberia on the fishing trawler "Old Glory"
On board a line trawler converted for dragging, fishing out from Gloucester, Massachusetts. Taking it easy
Portrait of a fisherman on board a fishing vessel out from Gloucester, Massachusetts
On board a fishing vessel out from Gloucester, Massachusetts. One of the fishing crew
On board a fishing vessel out from Gloucester, Massachusetts. View of choppy waters
Gloucester, Massachusetts. Two Gloucester fishermen on a fishing boat
Gloucester, Massachusetts. A lookout climbs the cables high above "Old Glory's" deck to check the location of other trawlers. When one trawler strikes good fishing ground the captain notifies other boats in the fleet
Gloucester, Massachusetts. Portrait of a fisherman
Gloucester, Massachusetts. Striking good fishing grounds, fishermen load their boat with rosefish. Only a thin slice from each side of the rosefish is useable as food. Fish meal and fish oil are made from the remaining parts
Gloucester, Massachusetts. A vessel unloading fish. The man at the head with a rope is controlling the canvas basket that brings fish up from the hold
Gloucester, Massachusetts. "Food for Victory" fishing. Hauling fish in a cart from the wharfside to a fish packing plant
On board a fishing vessel out from Gloucester, Massachusetts. Women in a packing plant candling fish and cutting out a parasite known as Syphirin lumpii
Gloucester, Massachusetts. Shoveling fish into the rotary scaler at a fish packing plant
