Video Premiere: The Last Waterman of Wittman
“I made him hate it and I made him hate it for a reason.”
It was Steve Jones’ last week crabbing with his son before he moved to college. His son, who had been helping him crab since he was 6, had chosen to study business.
Steve will be the last member of his family to work on the water after four generations. As much as he wanted his son to crab, he knows its not a sustainable career. He predicts that in 3-5 years, he’ll be out of business and will have to find other work.
We met Steve Jones in a parking lot in August. Ethan and I were going for a walk through the small town of Wittman, Maryland while on vacation with his family. It was noon and we saw him packing up his truck after a morning on the water. We introduced ourselves (we had been curious to talk to some crabbers) and he immediately started talking about the changes in the industry and in his town.
“These scientists are either the smartest dumb people or the dumbest smart people you’ll ever meet.”
He explained to us how government regulation has slowly pushed most Maryland waterman out of business. In the name of preservation, the government prevents Steve from working the oyster bars (which is necessary for keeping them healthy), crabbing more than 8 barrels a day and fishing more than 2 days out of the month in the winter. Yet while the waterman are blamed for the bad state of the water, vacation and retirement home construction (promoted by the government) has destroyed marsh weeds and contaminated the water (docks leach arsenic into the water and chlorinated swimming pools are pumped overboard).
“Everyone is moving away. Families can’t afford to live here any more. There are no jobs and high living costs.There aren’t even enough kids in town to make up a baseball team anymore.”
After Steve finished talking, we knew we had to document this story.
The next morning we boarded his boat at 4 am and spent the morning with him and his son Travis on the water. The Last Waterman of Wittman is the result.
We created this short film to help Steve and the MD waterman’s association advocate for change. But just as important to us was to create a document of Steve’s last days crabbing with his son.
Facebook comments:
Jamie
January 12, 2012 at 1:03 pm //
I personally know the Jones family. Steve is a hard worker and great guy!!! Great video
Larry Biersack
January 16, 2012 at 11:31 am //
my husband larry was a crabber out of new jersey. He crabber for over 25 years. He loved the life and loved the water. Than it got so crowed and so many laws passed by the state. That he sold every thing he had over the 25 years. He even built his own crab pots. And moved to western pa. to get away from all the people. He sits and thinks about the water and the life he had on the water. And all the reasons why he had to leave his crabbing bussiness.Life on the water for the crabber just aint the same.
Steve
January 25, 2012 at 4:01 pm //
Annie and Ethan, thank you for creating this compelling piece and drawing attention to the difficult issues that Chesapeake Bay watermen face today. Steve Jones has a lot of great points, especially about the negative impact of our growing population of 17 million people in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which drains water from 64,000 square in six states and the District of Columbia. Our bay is the largest estuary in the United States and among the most ecologically productive on Earth, but it’s under enormous pressure from human activity and climate change. Fortunately for all of us, there are some truly outstanding scientists, administrators, and volunteers working to bring the Chesapeake Bay back from the brink of an environmental catastrophe we all helped create. I encourage everyone who reads this to visit http://www.chesapeakebay.net where you’ll find a wealth of information about the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, including work that’s being done toward rebuilding an economic future for our iconic watermen.
Ruth Fluharty
January 29, 2012 at 4:00 pm //
Steve is my youngest Son of 3. The only one working the water although his oldest brother would like to but found a “land job”.
Steve supplements his income by welding and also has a two hundred ton Captains license, I’m very proud of him and so happy that he is able so far to carry on a family tradition.
Tom Messer of Greensburg Pa
May 4, 2012 at 8:19 am //
I have worked with Steve Jones the past monoth and a half. I got to know him,his wife, and thier son, and he is as true blue as the crabs he catches.I think the things he said in your article about the water,and the things around Poplar Island are right. I feel that i have been blessed, to have gotten to meet and know Steve, and his family, and friends. I hope in the years to come i can still stay in touch with him and his friends.
brett blaney
May 17, 2012 at 10:38 am //
that’s sad. as a child and later solder stationed @ ft. meade md. i vacationed @ grandparent’s home sewell’s pt. rd. whittman md. crab’s were plentifull, and fun to catch. that was 70′s as a child, 80′s as a solder. loved to crab, still do in fla. best crab’s are indeed md. crabs! good luck!~