Pike, E. July 3, 2018. Crystal Braye interviewing Eli Pike, St. Lawrence.

• Main Author: Braye, Crystal
• Other Authors: Pike, Eli James (1937-), Eli Pike was born August 16, 1937 to James and Violet Pike and grew up in St. Lawrence. He started fishing when he was fifteen years old and continued for fifty-two years. Eli has fished for crab, salmon, lobster and cod.
• Format: Audio
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Objects; Work; Boats; Wooden boats; Fishing; Newfoundland; ren
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/boatmuseum/id/330

Eli Pike talks to Crystal Braye about his experiences with swampbottom boats and fishing from St. Lawrence. His wife, Ella, is also present during the interview. "0:00:00 Recording starts with Eli referring to a photo of a partly built swamp boat he bought from Brian Hodder in Marystown. Hodder got sick and could not complete the boat, so Eli purchased it as-is and completed it himself. It was the only boat he built. 0:00:55 When Eli got rid of the swamp bottom he replaced it with a thirty-five foot motor boat. He replaced that boat with a thirty-five foot fiberglass longliner. 0:01:20 Swampbottom boats were twenty-five in length. Occasionally built to twenty-eight feet. 0:01:29 “There was a man in Epworth used to build them. Ren Roberts was his name. He built boats for the whole Burin Peninsula I think, as far as I know.” 0:01:47 Owned two swamp boats. Lost one when engine broke. Eli and company were picked up by an oar boat and brought to St. John’s. The swamp was sunk to prevent being a hazard lost as sea. 0:02:30 “First time I went fishing in a swampbottom I was about eighteen years old. I fished with Hebert Paul in Burin. I fished with he for five or six years and then I went on my own. I’d say I was twenty-five when I got my own boat - a swampbottom. And I had her for ten years and then I sold her and bought this one here. I had this one twenty years.” 0:03:03 Swampbottom boats were about twenty-five and clinker built. “As far as I’m concerned, it's the best boat you could go in fishing. They were really seaworthy for the size. They’re not like those bigger boats, but for the size you couldn’t get in anything better.” They about six or seven feet wide. Maximum load is about 5500 pounds. He had a five Acadia in the first one, replaced with thirteen horsepower Lester diesel. 0:04:15 Had a sail. “What we call a ‘driver’. Just to keep her head up when you’re taking up trawl and hauling nets… just a small sail on the back.” 0:04:34 Crystal asks about photos of swamp. Two different boats. One owned by uncle ...