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
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