Casterline Fish Company
Fulton, Aransas County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Founded by Cecil Weber Casterline in the 1930s, his “fish house” initially sourced fish, oysters and shrimp from local fisherman, iced the catch in barrels and shipped them by rail to San Antonio and other destinations. In 1944, Cecil and his father, Frank, purchased the harbor property and acquired several fishing vessels from other fishermen. Cecil’s brother, Leslie Eugene, joined the business after WWII. During the 1950s, the family mostly processed shrimp and oysters. Early boats were purchased, but the family later built their own boats around 40 to 80 feet long and most were named for family members. In 2015, Casterline Fish Company was sold to Prestige Oysters. However, Casterline Fish Company’s legacy and influence on Fulton’s seafood industry remains.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
During the 1930s Cecil Weber Casterline opened a Fulton "fish house" on the Gulf, buying oysters, shrimp, and fish from local boats, packing the catch in barrel ice, and shipping it inland by rail to San Antonio and beyond. With his father Frank he bought the harbor property in 1944, and the family, later joined by brother Leslie after World War II, built their own fleet of boats named for relatives. For some eighty years Casterline Fish Company was a mainstay of the Coastal Bend seafood trade before its 2015 sale to Prestige Oysters.
Why it matters
The company is a window into the working Gulf Coast economy, where family fishing houses turned a local catch into a regional industry that fed inland cities.
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Related people
- · Cecil Weber Casterline
- · Frank Casterline
- · Leslie Eugene Casterline
Themes & tags
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