1

Alabama

Joe Vaughn and Family AL-60
Bayou La Batre, Alabama

Ila B. Prine
Mobile, Alabama.

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LIFE IN A SHRIMPING AND OYSTER SHUCKING
CAMP

On the south side of the bayou in the little town of Bayou
La Batre, Ala., is a camp that houses the families who work in
the Dorgan, McPhillips Packing Company. The approach to the
Camp from the paved county highway, is over an unpaved road [begin strike through] on [end strike through] along
[begin strike through] whose sides [end strike through] which are the factory and the houses, or camps of the work-
ers.

The camp itself is made up of two long houses and several
smaller ones, near the edge of teh bayou. The two long houses
are built alike, both having a long porch running the entire
lenght of the front side. The buildings are partitioned so that
ten families can live in them. each family having the use of
part of the porch, which has steep steps leading to the ground.
The structures are hight off the ground, so that the water
can not get into them, when the bayou overflows. The work place is bleak
and bare

[begin strike through] The place is bleak and bare, and with the efforts that the
people are making to eke out an existence [end strike through]

On the edge of the bayou, facing the camp are six hogpens
built of slabs of wood. In between each of these are outdoor
privies.

Wandering around the camp were a few scrawny chickens
that looked as though a slight puff of wind would blow them
away. They were picking at the oyster shells that were spread
over the ground in front of the camp house nearest the water.

In the end compartment of the long camp house nearest the

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[handwritten in bottom right corner] To typist
1/4/39