Choptank Odyssey: Celebrating a Great Chesapeake River

Tom Horton

Schiffer Publishing, Feb 28, 2016 - History - 160 pages

This book of more than 150 vibrant photographs and seven essays depicts the natural history, human history, science, and culture of the Delmarva Peninsula's largest river. Explore the Choptank River--from its beginnings at upstream springs and farm ditches to its broad estuary below Cambridge, Maryland--discover its inhabitants, and learn about the impact of human activity on the natural environment. Generations of watermen and farmers, oystermen and oyster shuckers, crabbers and crab pickers, commercial fishermen, and a "turkler" are just a few of the folks you'll become acquainted with. Additionally, retired biologist and aquatic scientist Nick Carter, water quality scientist Tom Fisher, and oyster captain Wade Murphy offer tales of wonder and sacrifice while also warning us of the consequences of overpopulation and wasteful habits. Learn how we can restore the river, reduce pollution, conserve food and fuel, and protect this special place for all of time.

About the author

David W. Harp is the staff photographer for The Chesapeake Bay Journal. He co-produces "Voices from the Edge," a continuing video series about the fecundity and variety of life along the edge of land and water, with Tom Horton. Tom Horton reported on the Chesapeake Bay for the Baltimore Sun for fifteen years before becoming a freelancer in 1987. His first book, Bay Country, won the John Burroughs Medal for our nation's best natural history book of the year.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Choptank Odyssey: Celebrating a Great Chesapeake River
• Author: Tom Horton
• Photographs by: David W. Harp
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, 2016
• ISBN: 0764350005, 9780764350009
• Length: 160 pages
• Subjects: History / United States / State & Local / Middle Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA); Nature / Ecosystems & Habitats / Rivers; Science / Natural History