The Skrmetta Family Legacy

A Century of Hard Work, Heart, and Determination

For over a century the Skrmetta boats have been a constant presence on the Mississippi Sound. Peter Martin Skrmetta was an ambitious young man who came from an Adriatic island a world away, carrying little with him but his skill as a fisherman, determination, and a belief that opportunity lay across the sea in America. What he would eventually build in his new country was more than a livelihood, it was the foundation for generations to come. The island passenger service he began in the 1920s grew into something far greater than could have been imagined.

From its earliest days to the present, the Skrmetta family business has weathered storms, economic change, and the passage of generations. What started as a modest part-time venture grew into a lasting legacy—one built not only on a ferry service, but on trust, dependability, and Adriatic tradition. The Croatian people are typically very welcoming, loyal, and generous. They have a strong sense of hospitality. At the heart of the Skrmetta family’s story is a simple idea: treat customers with friendliness and respect and they will return. And return they did; not just once, but for generations.

This book captures a few of these moments and more…