Dancing with the Tide

A certain mystique has always surrounded watermen of the Chesapeake Bay, but this book goes far toward dispelling it by taking the reader on a journey with the watermen as they harvest oysters, clams, fish, and crabs. The author was on board with the watermen, so he describes their work firsthand, including not only the practical details, but also the humorous and serious sides of a typical day.A sequel to an earlier work that Blackistone published in 1989, Dancing with the Tide chronicles what has changed for the watermen over the last decade: how a changing Bay and new regulations have impacted their working life, what declining harvests have meant to them, and what the new millennium might hold for them and their families. Blackistone also interviewed government officials, conservationists, and watermen's association officers to incorporate other facets of this fascinating occupation, which so captivates the public. Engaging photographs of the watermen at work highlight this documentary of a year in the life of the harvesters of the Chesapeake Bay.