Hunting Waterfowl in the Chesapeake

Hunting Waterfowl in the Chesapeake. . , When waterfowl migrate along the Atlantic Flyway, the Chesapeake Bay is an important stop-over where they can find food and shelter during their long journey., As Europeans settled this area, duck hunting emerged as a commercial enterprise. In the 19th and 20th centuries, men traveled to places like Eastern Neck Island to hunt the prized canvasback duck and other waterfowl for Baltimore and Philadelphia markets. This market hunting severely depleted populations of many common wintering and migratory waterfowl species.,

"From the shell pile to Hell Point (Hail Point) and as far up the creek as one could see, was literally a mass of waterfowl, so thick, that it almost seemed that one could walk upon them. I am not exaggerating in the least when I tell you, no history of the earliest records of the flight and congregation of waterfowl could have exceeded what we saw that day. There must have been hundreds of thousands, the very best of all our known varieties, Canvas, Red and Black Heads, intermingled with great quantities of geese and swan." , , quoted from "Early Days," a reminiscence by William A. Sixon; as he describes his first visit to Cedar Point (on Eastern Neck Island) in early 1923

, Over time, hunting regulations were established to protect the waterfowl, and market hunters were replaced by recreational sportsmen. Private hunting and gun clubs sprang up on Eastern Neck Island., Today, waterfowl hunting is prohibited on the island. Each year, thousands of migrating and wintering waterfowl find a safe haven here., [Caption:] , During the early and mid 20th century, the building behind you served as a private hunting lodge for Edward Johnston and his friends. This 1940's photograph shows hunters behind the lodge displaying their day's harvest.