Crisfield in Somerset County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Oyster Dredges
Dredges have been used aboard boats to harvest oysters for hundreds of years. A dredge is composed of a metal frame with an attached collection net. The dredge is pulled through the oyster bed by the boat, and the teeth scrape the oysters into the net. Dredges were introduced in New England in the 1700s, but were initially outlawed in the Chesapeake to protect the livelihood of oystermen using hand tongs. The skipjack oyster dredge was introduced to the Chesapeake Bay in the mid-1800s and this efficient type of dredge is still used today. The teeth on dredges vary in length and are used according to the texture of the bay's floor.
The power oyster dredge is a more recent variation of dredge and is pulled by diesel-powered workboats. It is equipped with a dive-plane to allow it to dig deeper into the oyster bed. The dive-plane is the rectangular metal sheet affixed to the frame.
Erected by Crisfield Heritage Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 37° 58.684′ N, 75° 51.573′ W. Marker is in Crisfield, Maryland, in Somerset County. It can be reached from the intersection of Spruce
this page online
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Skipjacks and Bugeyes (here, next to this marker); Hand Tongs (here, next to this marker); Drop Tongs (here, next to this marker); Crab Shedding Float (here, next to this marker); Crab Pots (here, next to this marker); Crab Scrape (here, next to this marker); Watermen of the Tangier Sound (here, next to this marker); African American Watermen of the Chesapeake (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Crisfield.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 260 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 13, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
