November 2, 2005

Mr. Sam Boston

Office of the Board of County Commissioners for Somerset County

11916 Somerset Ave

Princess Anne, MD 21853

Dear Mr. Boston:

I am writing to urgently request that the Board of County Commissioners reconsider the surplus property sale of the 3.2 acre Tylerton Harbor on Smith Island.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has operated an educational facility in Tylerton, Maryland for 27 years. During this time, the people of Smith Island have opened their hearts and homes, and shared their culture with the CBF community. Approximately 32,000 field trip participants — both students and adults — CF staff, and trustees have visited Tylerton to learn about the Chesapeake Bay and the citizens who draw their living from it. We all agree that Smith Islanders are among the best stewards of the Chesapeake and that theirs is a deep rooted culture revolving around the daily harvesting of the Chesapeake’s waters. We have watched and even worked with the men when they leave the harbor very early in the morning and return in the afternoon with their catch. We appreciate both the economic backbone harvesting seafood provides for all fifty-two permanent residents of Tylerton and also the valuable food they provide to Marylanders and beyond.

CBF’s field trip participants include important decision makers: U.S. Senators and Congressmen, Presidential staffers, State legislators, other dignitaries, and VIPs. As they walk the streets and docks of Tylerton, they meet Smith Islanders, who patiently answer their many questions. Somerset County could not ask for better ambassadors. Without the personal connection of seeing a waterman’s soft crab operation in full swing and talking with local men and women about the crabbing and oystering, our participants might not so completely learn to love the science and the people. I believe that without first hand experience with Smith Islanders, CF field trips could not be as successful as they are, and, perhaps more importantly, investments in saving the Bay could decrease.

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CBF’s economic impact to Somerset County is not insignificant. To conduct our business, we purchase everything from supplies at the local hardware stores to groceries, meals at restaurants, boats, engines, contractor services, and rides on the local ferry. In addition to our educational facility on Smith Island we have facilities on Tangier and Fox Island that use Crisfield as the port of call and make comparable economic investments in the County. Many of our full and part time staff are full-time residents of Somerset County.

However, the real economic impacts are the residents of Smith Island and other surrounding commercial fishing villages. Of course they contribute to the economy just like dl the other businesses in Somerset County. But they contribute much more than that. Crisfield is enjoying a renewed economic growth. I’d venture to say the attraction for many of the people moving to the area is this rich culture.

With all the other hardships faced by the residents on Tylerton, to take their harbor way could be an insurmountable obstacle to their way of life and an end to this rich culture. This scenario has played out in many of the upper Bay traditional fishing communities. I urge you not to sell the harbor and to continue to provide the fishermen of Tylerton with docking space.

Thank you.

William C. Baker