Too Much of a Good Thing
Hand tongs, in use since the early 1700s, extended human reach to oysters too deep to gather by hand. A hundred years later, dredges—so efficient they had already scraped clean the oyster bars in Long Island Sound—arrived on the Bay from New England. But still some oysters remained too deep for tonging and legally off-limits to dredges. With the invention of mechanical patent tongs in 1887, oystermen harvested these protected oysters too.
To learn more about the depletion of the Chesapeake oysters and the men who used these tools, visit the Oystering on the Chesapeake exhibit.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.
Location. 38° 47.232′ N, 76° 13.176′ W. Marker is in St. Michaels, Maryland, in Talbot County. It is on Mill Street. This marker is on the grounds of the Chesapeake Maritime Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Michaels MD 21663, United States of America.
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Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in the Tidewater, in the Chesapeake Bay Region, and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: Rebuilding Rosie Parks (a few steps from this marker); Delaware (a few steps from this marker); Dorothy Lee (within shouting distance of this marker); Bugeyes and Oystering (within shouting distance of this marker); Restoration (within shouting distance of this marker); Edna E. Lockwood (within shouting distance of this marker); Bugeye Design (within shouting distance of this marker); Iconic Chesapeake Light (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Michaels.
Other markers no longer nearby. Miniature Skipjack, Spat (was a few steps
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 469 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 29, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
