Local captains preserve centuries old Shipjacks
In Deal Island, folks are getting the chance to Learn about the history of the Chesapeake Bay, especially the traditions of oyster dredging.
Captain Stoney Whitelock is a fourth generation skipjack captain and Whitelock along with others preserve skipjack boats that are over 100 years old.
His goal is to teach anyone who will listen how crucial these boats are for the Eastern Shore, especially the Chesapeake Bay.
"We think our history is worth saving and this particular boat we're working on now is 112 years old. All of the boats were built here on the banks of the creeks and rivers," explains Capt. Whitelock.
Whitlock and several other skipjack captains will be telling their stories of the bay on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Rock Creek Church on Deal Island Road in Chance, MD.
It's a program put on by the Somerset County Historical Society and is free to the public thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.
Afterwards you actually have a chance to get on a skipjack boat thanks to Deal Island Skipjack Sailing Tours.
The cost for the skipjack sail is $40/person and reservations are required, as space is limited. To register, you can contact Carrie Samis at carriesamis@gmail.com or call 443-523-0425.
