When I lived and worked in Virginia I had a friend who went over my first novel with me. A story which became Escape the Revolution. She lived in the small town of Colonial Beach and told me of its history. She urged me to write a book on the Potomac Oyster Wars that took place in the 1950s. Then she brought up another historical fact, the Paying off at the Boom. This event took place in the late 1800s when new crew were hired to work on fishing boats. Instead of paying them, at the end of the season, they'd kill them and throw them into the Potomac. Their bodies would wash up at The Point, which became known as Ghost Point.
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| Potomac River off Colonial Beach Photo by Alleyne Dickens |
I began my research into the Oyster Wars. In 1785, the Potomac River, which spills into the huge Chesapeake Bay, and that into the Atlantic, was given to Maryland to police. Oysters were a popular meal, and both Maryland and Virginia fished the river to bring up bushels of oysters to sell.
Tonging oysters was the kindest method, plucking them up, and not damaging the beds. Dredging scooped up the bi-valves and ruined the beds, giving the oysters no place to repopulate. Unfortunately, dredging brought in much more oysters, thus more money.
By the 1950s, Maryland had imposed so many restrictions on the Virginians, the Virginia watermen grew furious. Out of defiance they snuck out on the river at night and illegally dredged. The Maryland Oyster Police mounted guns on their boats and shot at the Virginians. Seaplanes swept over the river, searching for dredgers. People were chased down and killed.
Maryland and Virginia fought in the courts as well as the river for their rights.
I had a critique partner once tell me, 'no one would act like this'...when I was writing exactly what did happen.
In my novel Ghost Point, due out in September, I explore this volatile time in Virginia's history with fictional characters mixed in with the actual people who were there.
The Paying off at the Boom will be addressed in a future blog.
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| Ice on the beach, Colonial Beach Photo by Alleyne Dickens |
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Find out more about me and my writing on my website: Dianescottlewis
Diane Scott Lewis lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband and one naughty puppy.
What an interesting bit of history. Keep writing
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Enjoyed it very much. BUT... how could another state dictate, shoot, kill a neighboring state's rights to tong for oysters in their state? Inquiring minds want to know. :D
ReplyDeleterivers often form the boundary between states. Conflicts have risen over more than oysters, especially when the river changes course or when one states action (such as putting in a dam upriver when halts water to the neighboring states city) affects a neighboring state or two.
DeleteThanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much to learn from History. Thanks, Diane for sharing this knowledge.
ReplyDeleteSo often it seems truth is stranger than fiction. Interesting bit of history.
ReplyDelete