The Steamboat Era Museum, Irvington, presents the third session of the Second Saturday Series at 3:30 p.m. this Saturday, April 8. William Knight Smiley IV, Resident Ecologist at the Tides Inn, will talk about the history of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.
On Oct. 1, 1608, the English ship Mary and Margaret arrived at Jamestown. Captain John Smith, hired by the Virginia Company of London, and leader of the Jamestown Company described the landscape to be very different than we see today. One of his observations was about the huge abundance of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.
Smiley will discuss how oyster populations declined and how modern efforts are fighting to repopulate the bay and secure the future of the oyster industry.
Smiley holds a master’s degree in sustainability, and leads immersive experiences on Carter’s Creek and the Rappahannock River including a “Chesapeake Gold” tour about oysters and “Beautiful Swimmers,” featuring blue crabs.
Tickets for the event are $5 per session. ...