Greetings CBFL Members and Friends,
Looking out the window on St. Georges Island in the midst of a snow blizzard, my mind drifts to The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab. What in the world are they doing today? Simply answered, they are tucked in their burrows in the mud of the Chesapeake.
Cooler water temperatures in the Fall sends the blue Crab off shore to the depths of the Chesapeake to hibernate. They will remain there till the water temperature rises to about 50 degrees on the bottom in the springtime, usually around the 1st of April.
Most Blue Crabs that we catch in the Spring time are males,( the ones with the rocket ship). Male crabs seek fresher water in the summer than the females. They migrate up our rivers and bays towards the fresher headwaters when the salinity if high. Most females (the ones with fingernail polish on the claws and a capital building dome on the underbelly), generally stay in more salty water in the lower portion of the Chesapeake
One thing leads to another. Maryland's crab market is based on the male “Basket Trade” and Virginia‘s crab market is based mainly on the female “Picking Trade”.
No wonder there is such conflict when regulating the industry within the two states.
One thing about this cold wintry blast from the Arctic, It will sure make us appreciate the summer time. A time when we can share some hard crabs with a cold
beverage and talk over "stuff" with out friends.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Message From The Captain / Bald Eagles
Greetings CBFL Members and Friends,
Www.thebaylab.org will resume educational class trips in spring although the skipjack Dee of St. Mary's is scheduled to be out of service in 2010 for restoration provided by a grant from The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
Having worked in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries for about 50 years , I have seen many profound scenes of nature. The most interesting is observing the domain of the Bald Eagle.
They are permanent residents. They nest and raise their young here.
They are rather scarce around the river in the summer because they do not get along with the Ospreys ( Hatfield and McCoy syndrome) In the Fall and winter they reign supreme over all marine birds around the Chesapeake. They use the recently vacated Osprey nests for observation posts. It is not uncommon to see a mated pair sharing the view. The Captain recently saw a Bald Eagle removing nesting material from a day marker in the river and transferring it to a rock jetty at the mouth of the creek.
Many times as I have been tonging for oysters and seen the ducks flying around in panic because a bald Eagle is in the air. I have watched many times an eagle hovering over a hapless diving duck waiting for the small critter to run out of air, thus providing lunch.
In talking with residents along the St. Mary's River, it is estimated that a Bald Eagle will catch at least one duck a day for food.
Remember:" It's Our Bay, Let's Pass It On"
From Capn Jack and First Mate Fulchiron
Www.thebaylab.org will resume educational class trips in spring although the skipjack Dee of St. Mary's is scheduled to be out of service in 2010 for restoration provided by a grant from The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
Having worked in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries for about 50 years , I have seen many profound scenes of nature. The most interesting is observing the domain of the Bald Eagle.
They are permanent residents. They nest and raise their young here.
They are rather scarce around the river in the summer because they do not get along with the Ospreys ( Hatfield and McCoy syndrome) In the Fall and winter they reign supreme over all marine birds around the Chesapeake. They use the recently vacated Osprey nests for observation posts. It is not uncommon to see a mated pair sharing the view. The Captain recently saw a Bald Eagle removing nesting material from a day marker in the river and transferring it to a rock jetty at the mouth of the creek.
Many times as I have been tonging for oysters and seen the ducks flying around in panic because a bald Eagle is in the air. I have watched many times an eagle hovering over a hapless diving duck waiting for the small critter to run out of air, thus providing lunch.
In talking with residents along the St. Mary's River, it is estimated that a Bald Eagle will catch at least one duck a day for food.
Remember:" It's Our Bay, Let's Pass It On"
From Capn Jack and First Mate Fulchiron
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Canoe and Kayak Races June 28, 2009
Greetings CBFL Members and Friends,
CBFL will finish school trips this week as summer approaches. The shore side program continues to impress educators from around the state and the skipjack program continues to evolve into a tradition for many schools. Whether it is seining, dip netting in the creek, bird watching or tonging for oysters and observing the many critters of the Chesapeake it is truly captivating for old and young alike. Many thanks to all the staff and teachers and volunteers that makes this educational experience possible.
CBFL is a fee-based 501(c) 3 organization and like all non profits continually struggles to complete its Vision and Mission on track.
Our Vision: Chesapeake Bay Field Lab provides opportunities for future generations to learn about the Southern Maryland waterman and the Bay with hands-on experiences on a working skipjack and through environmental shore side programs. Our aim is to keep alive the history and culture of the watermen, with their ties to the farming community and inspire our visitors to be good stewards of the Bay
Our Mission: Our mission is to operate the workboats of the Chesapeake, like the skipjack, as floating classrooms, giving people the opportunity to experience the life of the waterman and learn about the Bay and its tributaries. We will offer our visitors learning experiences on St. George Island, by creating an oyster house classroom as a living museum and restoration lab and by preserving the surrounding rural atmosphere. CBFL will grow as an educational institution for people of all ages and backgrounds, with special consideration to ensure its services are fully accessible. We will grow our service capacity and keep this entity operational for future generations to enjoy, by bringing on staff, building membership and leveraging private and public resources.
CBFL will host an Inaugural Canoe and Kayak Event at the Bay Lab on St. George Island Sunday, June 28th from noon to 4pm. Bring your canoe or kayak to 16127 Piney Point Road, St. George Island, and explore our beautiful island. A trip around the island is about 6 miles. We have 50 nesting pair of Ospreys here and the young have just hatched. You can get a bird's eye view of races for the afternoon, paddle with the otters, diamondback turtles and the mute swans. All proceeds go to environmental education at the Bay Lab.
Please pass this information on to your email lists.
The River Creek Lodge is now open on St. George Island. They have 28 waterfront rooms for overnight accommodations. www.rivercreeklodge.com, 301-994-1234
Remember: "It's Our bay, Lets Pass It On" We are only passing through.
From Capn Jack and 1st Mate Fulchiron
CBFL will finish school trips this week as summer approaches. The shore side program continues to impress educators from around the state and the skipjack program continues to evolve into a tradition for many schools. Whether it is seining, dip netting in the creek, bird watching or tonging for oysters and observing the many critters of the Chesapeake it is truly captivating for old and young alike. Many thanks to all the staff and teachers and volunteers that makes this educational experience possible.
CBFL is a fee-based 501(c) 3 organization and like all non profits continually struggles to complete its Vision and Mission on track.
Our Vision: Chesapeake Bay Field Lab provides opportunities for future generations to learn about the Southern Maryland waterman and the Bay with hands-on experiences on a working skipjack and through environmental shore side programs. Our aim is to keep alive the history and culture of the watermen, with their ties to the farming community and inspire our visitors to be good stewards of the Bay
Our Mission: Our mission is to operate the workboats of the Chesapeake, like the skipjack, as floating classrooms, giving people the opportunity to experience the life of the waterman and learn about the Bay and its tributaries. We will offer our visitors learning experiences on St. George Island, by creating an oyster house classroom as a living museum and restoration lab and by preserving the surrounding rural atmosphere. CBFL will grow as an educational institution for people of all ages and backgrounds, with special consideration to ensure its services are fully accessible. We will grow our service capacity and keep this entity operational for future generations to enjoy, by bringing on staff, building membership and leveraging private and public resources.
CBFL will host an Inaugural Canoe and Kayak Event at the Bay Lab on St. George Island Sunday, June 28th from noon to 4pm. Bring your canoe or kayak to 16127 Piney Point Road, St. George Island, and explore our beautiful island. A trip around the island is about 6 miles. We have 50 nesting pair of Ospreys here and the young have just hatched. You can get a bird's eye view of races for the afternoon, paddle with the otters, diamondback turtles and the mute swans. All proceeds go to environmental education at the Bay Lab.
Please pass this information on to your email lists.
The River Creek Lodge is now open on St. George Island. They have 28 waterfront rooms for overnight accommodations. www.rivercreeklodge.com, 301-994-1234
Remember: "It's Our bay, Lets Pass It On" We are only passing through.
From Capn Jack and 1st Mate Fulchiron
Sunday, June 7, 2009
June letter from the Capn
Greetings CBFL Members and Friends,
This spring weather has brought us severe thunderstorms and abundant rainfall.
Lightening hit a tree just below our house and stripped bark off it for 40 feet. It looked as though someone took a chesil and peeled the bark off 3" wide up the tree. Good thing no one was seeking refuge under it at the time.
A dozen Bottlenose Dolphins were spotted in St. George Creek several days ago. They are always good omens for fisherfolk. The Dolphins chase fish up the creek, circle them and feed as a group.
Rockfishing is good in the Lower Potomac River with many 20-24" fish being caught trolling on the bottom with umbrella rigs.
The Blue Crabs are scarce yet a while but are getting "nice and fat." We have many small crabs but they will still need to shed their shells several times before they are legal.
The skipjack Dee of St Mary's and The Nathan of Dorchester along with the oyster buy boat Cap'n Sam will be at St. Mary's College dock on June 20 beginning mini-cruises on the St. Mary's River at noon.
On Sunday, June 28 from noon till 4pm CBFL will host thte inaugural Canoe and Kayak Races in front of the Bay Lab on St George Island.
It will be a fun filled day with different classes of races being held ( see attached flyer).
Please join The Chesapeake Bay Field Lab Inc.
For membership renewals or new memberships please go to www.thebaylab.org and click membership.
Remember: "It's Our Bay, Let's Pass It On"
From Capn Jack and 1st mate Fulchiron
This spring weather has brought us severe thunderstorms and abundant rainfall.
Lightening hit a tree just below our house and stripped bark off it for 40 feet. It looked as though someone took a chesil and peeled the bark off 3" wide up the tree. Good thing no one was seeking refuge under it at the time.
A dozen Bottlenose Dolphins were spotted in St. George Creek several days ago. They are always good omens for fisherfolk. The Dolphins chase fish up the creek, circle them and feed as a group.
Rockfishing is good in the Lower Potomac River with many 20-24" fish being caught trolling on the bottom with umbrella rigs.
The Blue Crabs are scarce yet a while but are getting "nice and fat." We have many small crabs but they will still need to shed their shells several times before they are legal.
The skipjack Dee of St Mary's and The Nathan of Dorchester along with the oyster buy boat Cap'n Sam will be at St. Mary's College dock on June 20 beginning mini-cruises on the St. Mary's River at noon.
On Sunday, June 28 from noon till 4pm CBFL will host thte inaugural Canoe and Kayak Races in front of the Bay Lab on St George Island.
It will be a fun filled day with different classes of races being held ( see attached flyer).
Please join The Chesapeake Bay Field Lab Inc.
For membership renewals or new memberships please go to www.thebaylab.org and click membership.
Remember: "It's Our Bay, Let's Pass It On"
From Capn Jack and 1st mate Fulchiron
Monday, May 18, 2009
May Letter from the Captain
Greetings CBFL Members and Friends,
CBFL teachers and staff welcomed the sunshine Friday after many straight days of rain.
Student trips are still on schedule with classes until early June. CBFL just finished a program for The Friends Community School of College Park and this year's class for Leadership Maryland. The shore-based exercises are a big hit with all students and teachers.
The Blue Crab season has begun. Males last week were bringing $80 and Sooks were $40 to the crabber. We will have mostly males now in the Lower Potomac River because the male crabs buried here last fall. Male crabs seek fresher water than the females and as a result the males travel toward the headwaters of the Chesapeake during hot dry times in the summer.
The Blue Crab shedding of mostly males that we have in May is a direct result of the migration pattern of the Blue Crab.
It is always nice to see the return of the "Laughing Gulls" because we then know that the soft crabs are on the flats. Laughing Gulls have a distinct black head and sound like they are laughing when they call. The Winter Dredge survey done each year by the Department of Natural Resources indicated a doubling of the amount of crabs available to be caught this year. Hopefully, after several molts, we will have an abundant supply to "fill our crab tooth."
The Ospreys will soon have their eggs hatched. The male shares the nesting duty with the female. The pair of Ospreys in the front of our house on St. George Island change the guard about 10 am each morning. Forty days after the start of nesting, the chicks appear and it will take both adults fishing dutifully to keep the brood fed. The 50 pair of birds on St George island will probably increase the Osprey population by 80-100 individuals.
The Oyster Hatchery in Piney Point, Maryland has resumed operations for the oyster restoration program in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries.
Governor O'Malley's decision to restart operations after the hatchery had been "moth balled" for 6 years will be a defining step in restoring the native oyster ( Crassostrea Virginica ) to Maryland's waters. Thank you Governor O'Malley, Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources John Griffin, Deputy Secretary Eric Schwab, Director of Fisheries Tom O'Connell, and Aquatic biologist Mike Naylor, for your efforts in making this a reality.
The skipjack, Dee of St. Mary's, will be at Historic St. Mary's City for the 375th anniversary on June 20, 2009 for short cruises and to spread "Lore of the Chesapeake."
The next event at CBFL will be the Inaugural Kayak and Canoe Race on St George Island at the Bay Lab on June 28, 2009, 12 till 4 pm
Please click here to read mroe about the event. We are looking for sponsors for this event to join Cindy Broyles from Booz Allen Hamilton.
For more info about what we have lost in the Chesapeake and other interesting missives go to www.vikivolk.com
Remember : It's our Bay , Let's Pass It On"
From Capt'n Jack and First Mate Fulchiron
CBFL teachers and staff welcomed the sunshine Friday after many straight days of rain.
Student trips are still on schedule with classes until early June. CBFL just finished a program for The Friends Community School of College Park and this year's class for Leadership Maryland. The shore-based exercises are a big hit with all students and teachers.
The Blue Crab season has begun. Males last week were bringing $80 and Sooks were $40 to the crabber. We will have mostly males now in the Lower Potomac River because the male crabs buried here last fall. Male crabs seek fresher water than the females and as a result the males travel toward the headwaters of the Chesapeake during hot dry times in the summer.
The Blue Crab shedding of mostly males that we have in May is a direct result of the migration pattern of the Blue Crab.
It is always nice to see the return of the "Laughing Gulls" because we then know that the soft crabs are on the flats. Laughing Gulls have a distinct black head and sound like they are laughing when they call. The Winter Dredge survey done each year by the Department of Natural Resources indicated a doubling of the amount of crabs available to be caught this year. Hopefully, after several molts, we will have an abundant supply to "fill our crab tooth."
The Ospreys will soon have their eggs hatched. The male shares the nesting duty with the female. The pair of Ospreys in the front of our house on St. George Island change the guard about 10 am each morning. Forty days after the start of nesting, the chicks appear and it will take both adults fishing dutifully to keep the brood fed. The 50 pair of birds on St George island will probably increase the Osprey population by 80-100 individuals.
The Oyster Hatchery in Piney Point, Maryland has resumed operations for the oyster restoration program in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries.
Governor O'Malley's decision to restart operations after the hatchery had been "moth balled" for 6 years will be a defining step in restoring the native oyster ( Crassostrea Virginica ) to Maryland's waters. Thank you Governor O'Malley, Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources John Griffin, Deputy Secretary Eric Schwab, Director of Fisheries Tom O'Connell, and Aquatic biologist Mike Naylor, for your efforts in making this a reality.
The skipjack, Dee of St. Mary's, will be at Historic St. Mary's City for the 375th anniversary on June 20, 2009 for short cruises and to spread "Lore of the Chesapeake."
The next event at CBFL will be the Inaugural Kayak and Canoe Race on St George Island at the Bay Lab on June 28, 2009, 12 till 4 pm
Please click here to read mroe about the event. We are looking for sponsors for this event to join Cindy Broyles from Booz Allen Hamilton.
For more info about what we have lost in the Chesapeake and other interesting missives go to www.vikivolk.com
Remember : It's our Bay , Let's Pass It On"
From Capt'n Jack and First Mate Fulchiron
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
vikivolk.com
www.vikivolk.com/justbeforeitsgone.html
The link above will send you to a series of essays on much that has been lost of the traditional Chesapeake Bay watering culture. It is posted on a new website: www.vikivolk.com.
Among other sections of the website are essays about St. George Island under "But Now I Have a Dog" and a growing body of articles on more contemporary issues under "Once A Reporter Always A Reporter."
My wife, Viki Volk, a reporter for more than 20 years in St. Mary's County has just launched the website and would love to hear from you about what is posted and also interests you have for future stories. You can reach her at viki@vikivolk.com.
I hope you find something to enjoy and pass it along.
Thanks for reading,
Jack Russell
The link above will send you to a series of essays on much that has been lost of the traditional Chesapeake Bay watering culture. It is posted on a new website: www.vikivolk.com.
Among other sections of the website are essays about St. George Island under "But Now I Have a Dog" and a growing body of articles on more contemporary issues under "Once A Reporter Always A Reporter."
My wife, Viki Volk, a reporter for more than 20 years in St. Mary's County has just launched the website and would love to hear from you about what is posted and also interests you have for future stories. You can reach her at viki@vikivolk.com.
I hope you find something to enjoy and pass it along.
Thanks for reading,
Jack Russell
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Greetings CBFL Members and Friends,
The Chesapeake Bay Lab (www.thebaylab.org) will start student trips on April 16th this year. Most of our classes on the Skipjack and our Shore Side program are in the morning. Anyone wishing to volunteer for either can just simply respond to this email and the captain will "get you on board to help."
CBFL provides about 4000 students with a truly unique educational experience about the world in which we live.
The Needlework Conference put together by lifetime Becky Benton was a hugh success. About forty local artisans were in attendance to quilt together and display pieces of "great work and wealth." Many thanks to Mary Lou Troutman for the artwork logo used at the conference of the Dee of St. Mary's with the Blue Heron in the marsh grasses. The conference was hosted by the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, MD.
The Paul Hall Center is located in downtown Piney Point and is one of the finer conference centers and educational facilities on the East Coast.
They are also very generous neighbors supporting many worthy causes in the Southern Maryland area. We thank you all for your efforts.
The first Purple Martins this year arrived at St. George Island on April Fool's
Day.Today , Sunday April 5, there are about a dozen birds at the nests. They help make life hospitable here in the marshes with the bugs and mosquitoes they eat.
These birds are good neighbors and are easily cared for with simple nests of two gallon buckets obtained from the local pastry shops.
A 2 inch hole about 3 inches from the bottom , a little dark paint for the inside, a piece of wire and you are ready to start a colony. They love being close to the rivers edge or an open space about ten feet off the ground.
CBFL members will conduct an Osprey nesting census on St. George Island in a matter of days. The captain estimates that we have about 50 nesting pairs of birds on this island. That
will surely allow us to boast of being the Osprey Capital of North America. Only evidence to the contrary will make us not lay claim to this title.Crab season is just around the corner with the water temperature at 50 degrees. Crabs usually come out of the mud at 50-51 degrees and start to roam around looking for food after a long period of hibernation. Crab pots are going overboard as we write this missive "a platter of steamed crabs would be good right now."
CBFL's next event : Kayak and Canoe races on June 28th. These races will be held on the waters of the island Creek at the Bay Lab. Please stay tuned for further information about types of races and prize monies to be offered.
Remember: It's Our Bay, Lets Pass It On
From Captain Jack and 1st mate Fulchiron
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