The Washington herald., 1911-08-06

Here in paragraph is why Chesapeake
Bay is the real Eden of this country.
There are more oyster grown in Ches-
apeake Bav than in any other body of
water in the world. One little port, Girls
field, practically supplies the entire coun-
try with soft crabs. The peanut trust is
a Chesapeake Bay trust. AccOmac Coun-
ty, on that sun-kissed spot-the Eastern
Shore-supplies America with sweet po-
tatoes. Whenever you eat terrapin under
the light of a candelabrum. 10 the tune Of
an orchestra, at a weeks salary per eat
they come from the Chesapeake Bay
More menhaden, to fertilZe the land that
produces vegetables which only few of us
can buy, are caught in Chesapeake Bay
than in any other water. Ten to one
your Friday dish of clam Chowder is
made of clans that reposed amid the
countless sands of the Chesapeake. And
the chances are the frog legs you eat got
their first exercise meath the pines in
Chesapeake bayou.
It's longish body OF water, with beau
tiful. white sandy shores, trimming the
deep green bordering pine growth. 1t is
as fine body of water for sailing as ex-
lists, for these reasons: First, there Is
little or no tide to bother the skipper, and
to kick up nasty seas; and. secondly, 1t
is broad water, with low-lying shores.
that allow for evenness of wind. Its es-
tuaries are broad. too, and easily sailed.
Naturally in such n body Of water,
where fishing is such q foremost indus
try, there should be great rivalry among
the native shippers There is built on
one of the lower rivers of the bay-the
Poquoson-a craft known as the Chesa-
peake Bay canoe, ranging from % to 40
feet in length, and constructed simply
of pine logs, hewn to shape. 1t is amaz-
ing that a craft so rudely constructed by
men unskilled save by native instinct
should be so beautiful and so speedy.
Their rig Is a leg-o'-rnutton mainsail-
called in local parlance a foresail-set at
a considerable rake, and a jib. These
boats are used all over the bay for oyster
ing, fishing, and as pleasure craft. And
a fleet of them sailing to or from the
fishing grounds is one OF the picturesque
sights of the Chesapeake.
Numberless Craft.
Over on the Eastern Shore. where the
water of the harbors is shallow-the
shore line being to a great extent fatty
another distinctive craft Is used-the
bateau. This craft is also very crude,
and while It is a good. serviceable boat
and a good sailor. it is not nearly so
as the canoe.
II is an odd circumstance, but a fact,
that practically all the native craft of
the Chesapeake are peculiar to those |
waters. Besides the canoe and the
bateau, there Is canoes big sister, |
the bugeye, a big double ender. with |
two lego mutton sails and jlb Then !
there is the pungy, boat built after |
the fashion .of schooner, excepting |
that 1t has a keel instead Of a center
board.
The pungy is used chiefly for oyster |
industry of which 50 much |
adverse criticism is heard in the North. 1
II is perhaps as fine hard weather |
boat as was ever constructed. and where |
The hole OF "A schooner is obstructed with |
the center-board structure, that of the |
pungy Is absolutely open to receive the
cargo.
Around Crisfield. where Grabbing Is
carried on to such vast extent. n
quick working and handy little craft
resembling catboat, is used. It In |
,alled n skipjack. and somewhat re-
,embles catboat. sailing with a single
'ail OF huge spread. In anything like
'mooth water and good wind they