TALES FROM THE RIVERHaving worked at Nanticoke Seafood for 29 years, I was privy to some of the musings of the local watermen. Technically, I was the Purchasing Agent for Nanticoke Seafood, which processed frozen products. Nobody seemed to know much about Nanticoke Seafood and always thought I worked for Coldwater, which moved to Cambridge years before. Actually it was the largest producer in the world of fried clam strips. We didn’t have our own retail label, but produced in large quantities for large chains such as Red Lobster, Long John Silver’s, Friendly’s, Shoney’s and Country Harvest Buffets. This took up all of our production and was reflected in Nanticoke Seafood never having a losing year in its 40+ years of its existence.
Getting back to the subject of tales from the river, my grandmother was quite upset when I went to work down there in 1974. She was 86 at the time and very set in her ways and convictions. When I asked her why she was so upset, she asked if they sold oysters down there. I told her they probably did through the H. B. Kennerly Co. She said oysters made you “lustful” and I had better be careful. One day I wandered outside where they were unloading the tonging boats. They used to unload them into a bushel-sized bucket that was hauled manually by rope and pully to the waiting front-end loader for transport to the shucking or grading tables. I asked one of the watermen if there was any truth to what my grandmother had told me. He kind of grunted and said that if there was any truth to that, Mr. Kennerly wouldn’t be getting them for $3.00 a bushel.
Another time, when one of the tongers came into the office to get paid for his day’s catch, I was witness to this conversation. An occasional tourist would come in for a pint of oysters and happened to be there when this tonger came in for his money. It was a particularly nasty day, cold and rainy, and he looked like he had experienced all that Mother Nature could mete out. When I asked him if he was O.K., the lady in the tourist entourage interrupted and remarked that he was a waterman and he was used to it. At this point, he calmly remarked that you never get used to being wet and cold. He didn’t offend her, but he did get his point across.
When I started working down there, I became Salisbury’s link to fresh oysters at wholesale prices. I didn’t mind and usually delivered the pints. Something happened early on that I never divulged. Everyone wanted their oysters in their own liquor right out of the shell. The first pint I requested from the “skimmer man” was for the oysters to be in their own liquor. He calmly informed of two things. One – nobody wants oysters that haven’t been “washed”. The sand and shell would make for very precarious eating. As far as “in their own liquor” – oyster liquor is simply water. Nobody ever complained and I never divulged the truth to them.
Another amazing fete and a combination of American ingenuity and shear intestinal fortitude I witnessed was the time a Mr. Pruitt was out tonging oysters and his motor quit. He took the carpet from his boat and cut two slits in it. Through these he wove his tong shaft handles to make a sail. With this he proceeded to sail back to safe harbor at Nanticoke. Before the days of cell phones and modern technology, Americans had to think for themselves. Times may have gotten more convenient, but are we losing the ability to use our brain to come up with these inventive solutions?
11 comments:
Having had grandparents that lived on the Wicomico, done at muddy hole, all my childhood years, I know what George is talking about. I always thought my pop pop was the smartest man in the world. The stuff he used to make. He had a saying, if someone else can make it, so can I. He owned an old fishing boat named the Mar-Sue, after his 2 daughters. Used to hate catching those eels and oyster toads though. Thanks for bringing back those memories.
Joe, do you know who this Mr.Pruitt is? My wife thinks this was her grandfather. He worked the river as a tonger down on the Nanticoke
My grandmother has a saying I swear she lives by, actually a few of them. She always says, necessity is the mother of invention and waste not, want not. She can make anything she needs out of things I would throw in the trash. She won't go out and buy anything and says if she can't make it, she doesn't need it. Her most recent "need" was a coldframe for her garden plants. She nailed boards together, covered them with clear plastic, it leans against her pump house with the plants under it. She said when it warms up she'll just fold it up and store it for next year. I can only hope I become as resourceful as she.
to 9:19
Mr. Pruitt had a son named Gordon who graduated with me from Wi-Hi in 1961. I hope this helps you.
George
RPR I know who your grandmother is, I was there the day she was making the cold frame. She has been recycling before it became the thing to do.
thats him!! Thanks George. Gordon passed away with cancer 5 yrs ago. My wife had good memories brought back when she read this. She remembers her grandmothers kitchen on Tangier Island. Her mother and Gordon divorced when she was only 2 but her mom kept her in contact with his side of the family as much as possible. I appreciate you confirming it. It's funny how things work out. How a story on a blog will bring back a thought that helps bring healing through a memory. You never know how we are all inter-twined in life.
When I was a boy in the late 30's in Wilmington, DE. My mother(who will be 100 next month)had gallon cans of Chincoteague Oysters delivered by train each week. She put them in pint and quart jars which I delivered, by wagon, for 30 cents a pint or 60 cents a quart. At the same time I picked up the jars from the previous week and took orders for the following week.
Ken, it is sad how times have changed. Now I don't think the average person on the shore has ever eaten oysters.
Obtaining food has been reduced to going to walmart to buy premade frozen crap. Fresh food has become a thing of the past, and it is a shame. Watermen, small farms, etc have all but disappeared.
Thank you for this wonderful first person account.
Every time I go by the site of the Nanticoke Seafood Company it looks closed. Is it out of business? If so, that is too bad because another piece of our history is lost. If it is closed, are there any plans for another company to reopen the site?
We look forward to more of your accounts.
Great article George. I remember when Bob Dunn was Sales Manager or something and he was going to hire me to handle accounts out of the area. Something happened which I can no longer remember but it did not work out. Already had my resignation ready to go at AL Love the memories, as you know
The only way I would eat raw oysters now is to go to Chincoteague and get them myself.
Now George you shouldn't have told me that about oysters, it's always worked for me in the past! If it fails for me next time I'm going to blame you hahehehee
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