The Changing Tides At one time, Burbank Trawl Company was the largest producer of fishing nets in the United States. Stories about the family business tell of nets made for President Richard Nixon and a fishing boat that accidentally caught a submarine in its trawl...
Then and Now The Skinny Days of the Burbanks Net making was and still is a way of life that has supported the Burbank family from the early 1900’s to present day. Even through the depression, William Burbank, Sr. was able to support his family making nets and seining...
Salty and Superstitious Life as a Shrimper...... So what does it take to be a shrimp boat captain or a striker? Billy says, “You have to be a lover of the sea, with salt in your veins.” He’ll tell you it takes a tolerance of weather, high seas and windy days. “Most...
A Day in the Life Stories and Superstitions of Shrimpers Billy’s childhood gave him a bird’s eye view of the men and women who made Fernandina Beach the shrimp capital of the world. It also gave him first-hand experience as a shrimper and first-hand knowledge...
The Making of a Net Maker Billy Burbank, III, is an institution in Fernandina. His family’s shrimp nets have been used all over the world and, today, you will see their sport nets being used in many of the professional sports leagues. In fact, locals can see Burbank...
Life on the River Written By Lori Hoerl At Crane Island, we have a deep appreciation for our natural surroundings, the people who have shaped our local history, and the stories that continue to be told through the deep connection our neighbors have to this island we...