In 1988, the "Menhaden Chanteymen," a group of retired black fishermen who had previously worked in Beaufort's menhaden industry, gathered at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, in Beaufort, to sing some of their traditional work songs. That same year, the ex-fishermen performed at a public event sponsored by the North Carolina Maritime Museum. They later performed for the North Carolina General Assembly and the National Council on the Arts. They also appeared at New York City's Carnegie Hall and on national television and radio. In 1990 the Chanteymen recorded a collection of maritime work songs, Won't You Help Me to Raise 'Em: Authentic Net Hauling Songs from an African-American Fishery, for Global Village Music. . . .
