| 2020 Shell Planting |

This is the time of year when shells should be planted for future strike. Typically oysters spawn mid-June. The shells are necessary so that the strike has a place to attach to. This is where new oysters form. The average growth time for an oyster is roughly three years.

We used a conveyer to get the shells onto the barge.

Two of the supervisors at work.

Lining the barge up for proper shell placement. 

This was roughly 200 bushels of shells.

Then we use a high pressure water pump to blow the shells off the barge once we are over our leased oyster shore. 

It takes a team!

| A September Eco Tour |

Last year we donated an Eco Tour to the raffle at the Bay Seafood Festival.  Steve was the winning bidder.  It took us some time to get him on the books between hurricanes and distance but he and his girls were worth the wait.  They were a fun group to take out on the Molly Anne.  

Explaining how to hand tong

Demonstrating hand tonging

She was the first brave one

Probably a good thing hand tonging isn't used as frequently as it was in the past!!

Caught a few crabs

The town that fish built

The stack

| Warm February 2017 |

We have been experiencing an unusually warm weather pattern in February.  Sure makes working on the water a little nicer!

| Let's Build a Barge |

It helps to have friends who can build and fix just about anything.  Andy is our go to guy.  When we saw an old boat that was about to be scrapped we decided to save her, cut her down, and turn her into a barge.  Here are some pictures of the process.  We now use her for shell planting mostly.

Formerly the "County Doc"

Preparing for decking

Addition to the bow to add square footage

Ready for decking

Ready for fiberglass

Hatches are on the way

Fiberglassing

Messy work

Almost complete

Drying before painting

Floating and ready to work

| Planting Shells |

When we shuck our oysters we save the shells to put them back overboard.  Some of the shell pile goes to our own shore that we lease while other shells go back to people who hire us to dredge their shore.  It's important to put the shells back overboard because this gives something for the eye larvae to "attach to" or "strike" when the time is right.  This process grows new oysters!  Typically, the strike is in June and it occurs once per year.

We have a barge that we made out of an old boat that we decked over.  Her purpose is to haul shells to whatever location we are planting at.  The conveyer {see how we brought her home here} is loaded with shells which then drops the shells onto the deck of the barge.  Once we get the barge to our location, we use a fire hose to spray off the oyster shells.  We've improved the process since this round of pictures that you'll see below but you'll get the idea!

Getting ready to push

The help

Locked and loaded

Leaving Penny Creek with the crew

Is this thing on?

Before we got the pressure correct on the hose we were using a shovel to make work easier

Team work

Almost done

Working hard and still smiling

Home Port

At last count we have put well over 2,000 bushels of oyster shells (and still counting) back into the Great Wicomico River.  If you ever have oyster shells that you'd like to add to the pile, just let us know!  Someone is normally around to accept them or you let us know and we can come get them from you.