Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs and the Chesapeake Bay Book

I had long taken the Chesapeake Bay for granted until my grandparents began talking in earnest about selling their boat. On a trip down there this summer, they recommended this book as a way of coming closer to the bay. As the title indicates, Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs and the Chesapeake Bay sets forth a rich and nuanced view of the Chesapeake crabbing trade, from the little beasties themselves to the government policies (as of 1976) that affect the trade.

If you'll pardon the cliche, Warner provides a rare window into a world most apparent to outsiders as bobbing buoys, supermarket crab (canned, lump, and fresh), and the occasional crab-cracking summer feast. This window is remarkably clear thanks to Warner's ability to discuss the crabbing world in a voice equally comfortable with conservation policy, the intricate details of various crabbing crafts, the thick dialect of the watermen, and the occasional laugh-out-loud line regarding, for instance, crab mating habits.

Because this versatility necessarily involves several specialized vocabularies, don't be afraid to break out the dictionary--but definitely read Beautiful Swimmers if you have the slightest interest in (1) the Chesapeake, (2) crabs, (3) food policy, or (4) a fun read.