Fucich Bayou

FUCICH, SIMEONE Oyster Business-Fucich Bayou-Mariner: Simeone, the son of Simeone Anthony Fucich and one of 14 children, was born on the island of Losinj in northern Dalmatia, Croatia on June 15, 1852. He died on August 27, 1914. He was educated in the marine academies of Dalmatia where he was trained to serve as an officer in the merchant marine. He left his native country at age 14 to come to America to live with his Uncle Antonio Fucich in Hazelhurst, Mississippi. Sam, as he was known, worked with his uncle in the produce business where he learned the principals of doing business with the public. In 1869, he and his Uncle Antonio moved to New Orleans where they joined forces with M. Popovich and opened a corner grocery store at the corner of Ursuline and Gallatin Streets. Seeing a need for fresh seafood and a good source of supply he traveled to Donaldsonville where he later met Marie Caliste Martinez. They were married in the Catholic Church in Donaldsonville on August 18, 1874. He decided that there was a need for a good seafood shop in New Orleans, so he opened his first shop in 1875, on Calliope Street between Magnolia and Clara Streets. His Uncle Antonio and his brother Blazich ran the day to day business while he continued to search for a constant supply of fresh seafood. He soon found that a better source of seafood could be obtained in Pointe a la Hache in Plaquemine Parish. Business flourished and in 1883, he moved his seafood shop to a larger building located at # 4 N. Front Street in New Orleans. Business continued to grow; therefore, in 1885 he moved to an even larger building located at # 8 Dumaine Street. With the increase in business and the constant need for even more fresh oysters, he purchased land in Plaquimine Parish, leased oyster beds, and constructed camps where the oyster fishermen could live. He also went into partnership with Mr. Alvin Lee in a General Mercantile Store and Post Office in order to supply the oystermen with food, tools, and housing; and in turn they would sell their oysters to him. He formed what is known today as the first oyster co-op, previously none had operated in this manner or on such a large scale. In 1892, to facilitate the deliverery and insure an ample supply of oysters, he had the Nestor Canal at Nestor Louisiana dug so that the fishermen could bring the oysters to the Mississippi River where the luggers S. S. Grover Cleveland, the M. V. Reliance, and other vessels could pick up the oysters and deliver them to the Picayune Wharf in New Orleans. Business continued to grow; he was shipping oysters, seafood, and produce throughout the area. In August 1901 he purchased 532-36 Dumaine Street for his new shop which extended all the way to Madison Street. It was large enough to handle the volume of business he had established. He had many employees, including his three sons. The business was known as, "Crescent City Oyster And Fish Depot," later it became, "S. M. Fucich & Sons."Business was good and still growing, he began to slow down; and in 1914, while at his summer home in Lake Shore Mississippi, he died of acute indigestion. He was an innovator in the fish and oyster industry. Fucich Bayou near Pointe a la Hache was named in his honor. (Fucich, D 1995)