News and Events
Smith Island Fisheries
October 20, 2009
A short Fall Break for the Chesapeake Semester students brought them back strong and refreshed to begin a week of exploring the fishing industry and waterman culture of the Chesapeake. What better way to begin this tour then with the a trip to Smith Island, a community comprised exclusively of waterman and their families, in Maryland's lower Bay.
Arriving in Crisfield, MD—once the oyster packing city of the world that would boast 16 freight cars of oyster per day—students boarded the Jason I captained by Terry Laird. Capt. Terry operates one of the boats that ferries people and goods to and from the Island once a day.
Immediately upon leaving Crisfield the development pressures become obvious. Development and forces for change will be the subject of next week's classes and trips.
All goods, materials, food, and essentially anything that is not oysters or crabs has to be brought to the island.
Currently there are roughly 250 people living on the island which is actually comprised of 3 smaller communities of Tylerton (only accessible by boat) Ewell, and Rhodes Point. In 1910 when the oyster industry was booming Smith Island held ~800 people.
Upon arrival students make their way to the visitor's museum. Liz Shandor '11 looks on at an exhibit displaying the women's role on the Island. Have you ever tasted a Smith Island 9-layered cake?
Notice the raised foundation.
Chesapeake Semester students take a stroll along the road towards Rhodes Point. It was high tide and the road was not accessible by foot.
With the island so close to sea level, even daily variations in high tide can be a challenge. What are the implications for this community if the sea level were to change due to global climate change?
A stop over in Ruke's for some root beer and Smith Island 9-layered cake.
Pastor Rick Edmund met the students at the visitor's center to discuss some of the changes he has witnessed over the last 9 years on the island. Pastor Edmund has been selected to the Washington Post's Planet Panel to comment on climate change.
Methodism has been a huge influence on the Smith Island community since its settlement. Even today "camp meetings" take place that draw community members back to the island to discuss pertinent issues facing the Island.
The Little Doll comes back in from working the water. Waterman usually rise around 2:30am to get out on the water and come back in around 3:00pm with their catch. Oysters are coming into harvest now.
View from Bayside Restaurant.
Crab pots line the dock. In the past waterman would crab in the summer and oyster in the winter. However, with the oyster populations in decline, many of the waterman have converted to crabbing almost exclusively.
A waterman finishes off loading his catch of the day.
The Little Doll and the Mariam Joy outfitted to scrap for soft crabs.
Program Manger takes a moment to talk with Benjy Duke '10 and a Washington College alumnus who is now working on Fox Island with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.