"The oyster is not a beautiful animal,
except perhaps to another oyster, and, as a matter of fact, it does not even resemble
a typical member of the animal kingdom. Yet this non-descript mass of protoplasm
living between two calcareous shells has greatly influenced human civilization.
Wars have been fought over the right to catch these animals, and many a man has
met his death when he went to sea to retrieve them from the depths."
- Robert A. Hedeen, The Oyster: The Life and Lore of the Celebrated Bivalve
It is hard to imagine that this slimy, little, blob of an animal could have such
a tremendous impact on the Chesapeake Bay region. But the fact is that skipjacks
like Sigsbee and Minnie V. were built because of the oyster! For
this reason, we consider the oyster to be a very important little creature!
While on board, you will be able to examine live oysters, dissect them, and
learn about this animal's unique life cycle. In addition, we will examine how these
animals affected the economy and history of the Chesapeake Bay.
Check out these links for online oyster fun!
Links will open in new window.
