Florida Memory is administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, Bureau of Archives and Records Management. The digitized records on Florida Memory come from the collections of the State Archives of Florida and the special collections of the State Library of Florida.
State Archives of Florida
- ArchivesFlorida.com
- State Archives Online Catalog
- ArchivesFlorida.com
- ArchivesFlorida.com
State Library of Florida
Related Sites
Listen: The Folk ProgramMax Dooley making a cast net - Lakeland, Florida.
Image Number
Photographer
Date
Rights
Collection
Series 1640, Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program, Max Dooley, Reginald Reis Castnet making, 1992-1993 ; Box 16, FF6
Geographic Term
Subject Term
Occupational groups--Florida--Polk County--Lakeland
Occupations, Maritime--Florida--Polk County--Lakeland
Maritime occupational equipment
Net makers
Net making
Textiles
Woven goods
Domestic arts
Craft
Hand weaving
Handicraft
Fishing nets
Artisans--Florida--Polk County--Lakeland
Material culture--Florida--Polk County--Lakeland
Mentoring in the arts
Nets
Personal Subjects
Physical Description
General Note
The design of the castnet has remained relatively unchanged since its introduction to Florida by Spaniards centuries ago. When thrown properly, the net spreads to a full circle, trapping fish within its perimeter as it settles to the bottom. As it is pulled in, the net forms a bag that holds the fish.
Dooley mentored Reginald Reis.
Max Dooley of Lakeland has been making castnets since the 1930's. He hand ties every piece of the net using "widener" knots to create nets with an excess of mesh for a given diameter. One of his 10-foot diameter nets contains over 26,000 knots and takes him about 60 hours to complete. He feels that his nets spread better and catch more fish than those pieced from machine-made mesh. He uses the nets to catch mullet for his family.
Order Prints
Please select the size and options
Order Scan
Please select the size and options