Net Making and Net Fishing in Florida

Interview with Billy Burbank III, Net Maker
4th Grade Lesson Plan

This lesson has been reviewed and approved by CPALMS.

Overview

In the interview, longtime net maker and Fernandina resident Billy Burbank III discusses the history and practices of the net making trade. Conducted by folklorist Peggy Bulger in July 1980, the interview begins with Burbank describing how his grandfather began the family business, Burbank Trawl Makers Inc., in 1915.

At the time of the interview, Burbank Trawl Makers 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 nets. Fourteen years after the interview, in 1994, Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment limiting marine net fishing. Burbank Trawl Makers Inc. changed their focus to making nets for sports equipment.

In this lesson, students will listen to the interview with Billy Burbank III. As they listen, they will complete a Sound Recording Analysis Worksheet from the National Archives and Records Administration. They will then discuss their findings.

Sunshine State Standards

• SS.4.A.1.1: Analyze primary and secondary resources to identify significant individuals and events throughout Florida history.
• SS.4.A.6.1: Describe the economic development of Florida's major industries.
  Examples of industries may include, but are not limited to, timber, citrus, cattle, tourism, phosphate, cigar, railroads, bridges, air conditioning, sponge, shrimping, and wrecking (pirating).
• SS.4.E.1.1: Identify entrepreneurs from various social and ethnic backgrounds who have influenced Florida and local economy.

Florida Standards

• LAFS.4.RI.1.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
• LAFS.4.RI.1.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
• LAFS.4.RI.1.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
• LAFS.4.RI.3.7: Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
• LAFS.4.SL.1.2: Paraphrase portions of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

Objectives

Students will:

• Listen to an interview with net maker Billy Burbank III.
• Complete a Sound Recording Analysis Worksheet from the National Archives and Records Administration.
• Determine whether the interview is a primary or secondary source.
• Discuss their findings.

Materials Needed

1. Interview With Billy Burbank III, Net Maker
   
2. Sound Recording Analysis Worksheet (from the National Archives and Records Administration)

Procedure

Part I: Activate prior knowledge

• Tell students that they are about to listen to an interview with net maker Billy Burbank III. In this interview, Billy Burbank discusses making nets for fishing. Ask the students what they know about net fishing. Do they know anyone who net fishes or who makes nets?
• Tell students that the interview took place in 1980. Have the students talk about the year 1980 in a relative way. What was happening in 1980? Has anything happened between 1980 and now that might have affected the net making industry? [Examples include changes in technology and the net ban.]

Part II: Introduce the activity

• Tell students that they are about to listen to an interview with net maker Billy Burbank III. Tell the students that Billy Burbank makes nets for fishing.
• Give each student a copy of the Sound Recording Analysis Worksheet from the National Archives and Records Administration.

Part III: Sound Recording Analysis

• Have students complete the worksheet as they listen to the interview.
• Have students discuss their findings.

Extension Activity

Information for teachers

Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment limiting marine net fishing in 1994. Burbank Trawl Makers Inc. changed their focus to making nets for sports equipment.

Questions for students

What do you think the Burbank net making business is doing now? Try searching the Internet for “Burbank nets.”