Michael Crowley, has been chasing fish stories for years. Formerly on the editorial staff of National Fisherman, he still writes for that publication as well as the trade publication, WorkBoat, and his interests remain firmly grounded in the fishing industry. Working closely with Searsport’s Penobscot Marine Museum led to the recent publication of his book, “Working the Sea: Historic Images from National Fisherman.”

With the combined donations of pre-digital photography from The National Fisherman and The Atlantic Fisherman, The Penobscot Marine Museum’s collection provides a comprehensive look at the American fishing industry from the 1920s to the 1990s.The photographs of boats and the people who worked them document a critical period of change and growth in the history of American fisheries. “Working the Sea” highlights the grit, drama, resourcefulness, practical minutiae, and sometimes epic feats that characterize this essential and iconic industry.