Photo Courtesy of Pat Jarrett, VIrginia Humanities
Chesapeake Bay Crabbing
Tangier, VA
James “Ooker” Eskridge is mayor of Tangier, a small island in the Chesapeake Bay. He is a commercial waterman, his great grandfather, grandfather, and father were crabbers and his oldest son is a crabber. Mayor Eskridge’s family on his father's side came to Tangier from Fredericksburg during the Civil War, and his mother’s family has roots in Tangier stretching back to the 1700s.
Tangier is a community with deep traditions, faith, and an economy based on the blue crab. Its catch is sold through Maryland, meaning the Maryland blue crab you enjoy is more than likely Virginia crab. “I love living on Tangier, I love the work that I do and also the wildlife that surrounds Tangier Island. As mayor my job is promoting Tanger and acting as the ambassador for the island,” he says.
For Riverlore, Mayor Eskridge will be representing making a living working the water of the Chesapeake Bay, where all Virginia waterways east of the Blue Ridge Mountains flow. He’ll be bringing the crab pots he makes and repairs, painted buoys of Tangier, and more.