During the Civil War Washington became the target for Union gunboats operating in the Pamlico. One can still see cannon balls fired from these gunboats in the house fronts across from Castle Island. Castle Island's most infamous use was as a bordello during the 20th century. Located in the center of the river it was exempt from state and local laws banning such activity. Today Castle Island is abandoned and serves as a resting place for turtles and birds.
Oyster barges along unidentified river.
An oyster sloop is at the upper left. Stephen Hammack, Matthew Lawrence, Russ Green, Brad Rodgers, Heather Cain, Dave Miller, MJ Harris, Mike Hughes. The Crew Students in the summer field school are usually all enrolled as MA students in the Maritime Studies Program. A new addition this year is the inclusion of one Ph.D. student from the nascent Coastal Resources Management Program. All nine students are scientific divers with zero visibility training, a necessity in this brown water environment.