CHRISTOPHER WHITE’s books explore the fishing, natural history, and rare and common inhabitants of the Chesapeake Bay, the nation’s largest estuary

A compelling portrait of a vanishing American tradition, as seen through the eyes of the characters-unforgettable men and women-who make their living from the decks of the skipjacks that harvest oysters from Chesapeake Bay. Called watermen, the captains of this sailing fleet are the last fishermen in North America to harness the wind. After 500 years, the Age of Sail has come down to eighteen boats in a pivotal year on two islands in the Bay. How many will make it through the season?
Photographs. 372 pages.

The definitive field guide to the Chesapeake Bay. The nine major habitat zones encountered along the Chesapeake-from freshwater wetlands and streams to tidewater marshes to the open Bay-are described and illustrated. Because the guide is organized by ecological community, each of which has its own unique set of plants and animals, field identification becomes much easier. To aid further in this process, the most important field marks of more than 500 species are shown in superb pen-an-ink drawings. Four introductory chapters provide the background for this fascinating ecosystem, explaining the workings of the Bay and its place as the most productive estuary in North America. Aquatic and wetland plants; invertebrates; freshwater, estuarine, and marine fishes; amphibians and reptiles; birds; mammals are all represented in this benchmark work. Illustrations by Karen Teramura. Glossary. Index. 212 pages.

A guide to the vanishing species of the Chesapeake watershed, which spans six states and the District of Columbia. An overview explores the major habitats of the region and the general threats to its diversity. Over fifty species accounts, ranging from the Virginia round-leaf birch to the Maryland darter to the peregrine falcon to the Delmarva fox squirrel to the Eastern cougar, tell the story of plants and animals on the brink of extinction. Color photographs, paintings, and species distribution maps accompany each entry.
Glossary. Index. 160 pages.