Tangier Island watermen have not only been unable to work because of the frozen shoreline around the island, but now they have another challenge facing them.
The recent high winds, ice and snow have caused scores of floating cages used by the watermen for growing oysters to break loose and drift into the Chesapeake Bay.
According to Chuck Epes of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, each of the floating cages contains several bags of young oysters that, if not recovered, will represent a significant loss for the Tangier watermen. As many as 175 of the floats have disappeared, he said, some washing up on beaches as far south as Cape Henry in Virginia Beach.
On Tuesday, Epes issued a plea on behalf of the watermen, asking that anyone who finds such a floating cage contact Tommy Leggett with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at 804-815-7982 or tleggett@cbf.org.
The cages are approximately 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 2 feet deep and are attached to black plastic floats approximately 3 feet long an...