Tangier Island Raid

C

Capt. Frank Miller

Active member
Back in the early 70's Tangier Island (a small inhabited island) in the Chesapeake Bay was raided by federal wardens. The agents had placed a female informant on the island for months. The resulting raid netted lawmakers, businessmen, and many noted people. Thousands of ducks were found and I think evidence of market hunting.

I am student of Chesapeake Bay duck hunting history and collect every paper and book I can on the topic. If anyone has any history or knowledge of the event I would appreciate anything you can tell me. I do know that Outdoor Life did an article on the raid. But I can't find out what issue it was. I also know that all of the parties were charged in Federal Court in Norfolk Va. I actually had a chance to hunt with one the individuals that was charged in the raid. In fact it was his lodge that was raided. But he refused to say even one word about it.

Thanks
 
Frank,request the court records ,pertaining to the case,under the freedom of information act.Check with the clerk of court first.You may need an attorney.Worth a try since you are digging into the waterfowl history of the Bay.
 
Frank, I remember the article. I think it was late 70's when it was printed, 77 or 78 maybe.

As a side note. Only 2 places in the world where that dialect (sp) is spoken, Tangeir and Guinea Neck, VA
 
Your right about the dialect my first wife is from Guinea and in fact my duck marsh (which is for sale) is located in Guinea neck. The Gunieamen speak a very pure dialect of Elizabethen English. I was blessed enough to do a lot of gunning down there. It is very much isolated like the marshes of Louisiana where I just spent 5 year. I have been in some garages down in Southern Va. that would make a decoy collector cry. The stoies I heard as a boy and the things I saw on the bay were unreal. Walsh's book didn't touch a tip of the iceberg.
 
Civilization almost came to the area, too!
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Just out of curiosity, whats your idea of civilization? A Burger King? If memory serves correct, they fought to keep the liberal anti gun movie crowd from making a movie there. Sounds smart to me! I don't condone illegal gunning at all. Growing up on the Bay I have seen the decline in birds, oysters and seafood. But I understand a generation struggling to cope as they transition from a hunter gatherer lifestyle to a quote civilized society. Like the Cajuns these people were used to providing for their families. Pollution, mismanagement and above all else devlopment have done more to destroy the world duck hunters cherish so much.
 
Frank, I work with and have worked with many of the watermen and retired DNR officers in Somerset Co Md. There stories of Tangier and Smith Islands are unbelievable.On Smith Island no one registers there cars, however the Md State police could never catch anyone driving. They always were tipped off when the police were on there way. They finally launched on the western shore, crossed the bay , and busted a few. Then they dropped all charges, go figure!!!!!

As far as the language. When I was in college they sent me and a fellow student to Crisfield to work for the day. We arrived early and were told to go get breakfast somewhere cause they didn't start that early. I was with a student from New Mexico. She heard some watermen from the Islands talking and her jaw literally dropped. I then interpreted what they were saying about the oyster season and she couldn't believe I understood them.She was still talking about that day when we graduated 2 years later.
 
Frank, did you know that buck Rowe donated his store for the Guinea Museum? It is still in the organization process even though any self respecting Guineaman will tell you that Guinea doesn't start in Bena, it starts in Achilles.
 
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