Skipjack Kathryn
The Skipjack Kathryn lies alongside a Tilghman Island pier in Knapps Narrows Skipjacks are the last working boats under sail in the United States In winter fleets of skipjacks used to dredge oysters from the floor of Chesapeake Bay Drudgin as watermen called this process was hard cold dirty sometimes dangerous work The name skipjack is taken from fish such as skipjack herring skipjack mackerel skipjack tuna that leap in and out of water and play on the water s surface With a reputation for speed skipjacks sometimes can resemble the fish as they come about quickly making continuous passes or licks over oyster beds On Maryland s Eastern Shore the skipjack originated in the 1890s It was better known as a small two sail bateau with a V hull The craft evolved into a larger hearty skipjack powerful in light winds Ranging in length from 25 to 50 feet these boats have a shallow draft with centerboard and carry a single mast two sail sloop rig Soon after its introduction to the Chesapeake in the 1890s the skipjack became the preferred oyster dredge boat Some have estimated nearly two thousand skipjacks were built all specifically designed for dredging oysters from the Chesapeake Bay The peak building years were during the 1890s and the first decade of the 20th century In 1957 more than 80 skipjacks still plied the waters of Chesapeake Bay Today the prevalence of powerboats and disease and environmental hazards affecting the oyster present a bleak future for commercial skipjacks Despite restoration efforts the fleet has diminished sharply in recent years Few skipjacks operate commercially except in the tourist trade
Size: 5081px × 3387px
Location: Knapps Narrows, Tilghman Island, Talbot County, Maryland, USA
Photo credit: © Jim Kidd / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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