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!
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| Getting ready to push |
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| The help |
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| Locked and loaded |
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| Leaving Penny Creek with the crew |
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| Is this thing on? |
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| Before we got the pressure correct on the hose we were using a shovel to make work easier |
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| Team work |
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| Almost done |
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| Working hard and still smiling |
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| 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.
