The PACIFIC CITY DORYMEN have been putting out to sea near Cape Kiwanda to fish for more than 100 years. According to the wall at Cape Kiwanda, which explains their history, the dorys origins came from the turn of the 20th century surf dories and Nestucca River gill net boats that sold their fish to the salmon cannery established in 1887 near the mouth of the river.

After 1927 commercial fishing was only allowed in the open ocean. Since the Nestucca had a shallow dangerous bar accessible only at flood tide, a new larger surf boat was need to be launched in the lee of Cape Kiwanda.

This larger dory, a double ender, is pictured in a photo by TYRONE MARSHALL of Linfield College.

Well known for their record of safety only six have lost their lives at sea in more than a century dorymen are often the first responders to marine distress calls. And, more than 300 vessels now call Pacific City their home port, according to the Pacific City Dorymens Association (www.pcdorymen.com).

Fortunately, the groups contributions to Oregons maritime history will be preserved. Linfield College students have been interviewing Pacific City locals, from children to fishermen in their 90s, and will digitize videos and photos for an online archive at Linfield.

The quest to save the history of the dorymen and women will be featured on Oregon Public Broadcastings FIELD GUIDE at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, and 6:30 p.m. March 3. After airing, the show will be available online at http://watch.opb.org/program/oregon-field-guide

This whole project has been a humbling experience for me, said BRENDA DEVORE MARSHALL, professor of theater and communication arts at Linfield College. I feel privileged to have been able to work with this community. This is a historical story we could easily lose, and yet its such an important part of Oregons past and present.

Elleda Wilson