Winter 1988-1989

Bugeue QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER of CALVERT MARINE MUSEUM OPENING OF NEW MUSEUM BUILDING DELAYED / / I t was the best programs after the I of times, it was building opens. I the worst of From about the mid- times." Charles Dickens dle of December, vari- expressed well the feel- ous offices of the ings of museum staff museum will be in dif- during the first weeks ferent stages of moving. in December 1988. It Membership and de- was with feelings of velopment will move relief and pleasure that from the North Annex the museum staff view- to the new building, as ed the anticipated well as education. The completion of the new administrative offices, exhibition building — including that of the after planning for this director, will be moved significant occasion for to the North Annex. some ten years. On the The museum library other hand, there was and archives will be anxiety during the final moved into the East An- weeks whether the CMM Photo by Paula Johnson nex, but these collec- building would be tions will be unavail- ready for the move. As able to the public for matters developed, delays in construction beyond the the coming year except under special advance arrangements. museum's control required the rescheduling of the closing Members visiting the museum during the next few months and moving from early December until early January. should enter the new building. Information on location of It is new planned to close the museum from Sunday, various activities will be available there. Access and parking January 1, 1989, until noon on Saturday, January 14. During will continue to be from Maryland Route 2 as you enter that period the staff will be involved in moving collections Solomons, but through the gate to the north of the old from the old building to the new; temporary exhibits will be museum building — follow the signs there and in the park- set up in the new building; the museum store will move ing area. Exit will be from a new gate on Lore Street. Infor- displays and stock; and museum offices will be relocated. mation may also be obtained by phone (301-326-2042) from When the new building opens on January 14, virtually all the museum. of its facilities should be available: the lobby, museum store, The spring issue of the Bugeye Times will carry more com- changing exhibit area, temporary exhibits, and auditorium plete information — with photographs — on the activities in — all on the first floor — as well as the upper level offices the new exhibition building and plans for visitors during the for membership and development. The educational facilities spring and summer months. Be assured that there will be as on the first floor and mezzanine, however, will not be fully many interesting activities as usual at the Calvert Marine open until February 1 (see below). Some minor construction Museum, although some may be in different locations than may still be in progress, but this should not affect visitors or (Continued on page 7) THE MUSEUM WILL BE CLOSED TO VISITORS DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY 1 THROUGH JANUARY 13, 1989. ON JANUARY 14 THE NEW EXHIBITION BUILDING WILL BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC Bugeye FOSSIL FACTS By Sandy Roberts An Extinct Angel Shark, Squatina occidentalis One of the rarest and most interesting gill clefts) would have been located on of fossil teeth found at Calvert Cliffs is the top if its head and a wide me that of Squat/na occidentalis, an extinct would have been in front of its b angel shark. It is a small, single cusped snout. Five partly lateral gill slits would Squatina dumerili tooth rarely exceeding a quarter of an have been located on each side of its Modern Atlantic Angel Shark inch in length. The erect, smooth crown neck in front of enlarged cloak-like pec- is pointed with sharp cutting edges, and toral fins. In spite of its batoid shape, for its size, stoutly built. The root is it probably swam like a true shark with relatively broad. On the outer face of a sculling motion of its tail. the crown the enamel extends down The angel shark received its unusual over the medial surface of the root, for- name when pious medieval observers ming a diagnostic characteristic. The in- saw its free-flowing pectorals as wings ner face of the crown lacks this enamel and its tapering body and tail as angelic Squatina dumeriii elongation. The inner face of the root robes. Later, it was called a "monk," (profile) is raised and extended to the rear. Teeth and finally dubbed a "bishop." One of both jaws are similar in appearance. Australian species, richly decorated 5quatf'na occidentalis (Latin for with ornate denticles, even managed to western skate) is thought to have been reach the rank of "archbishop." about five feet long and to have weigh- Interestingly, the original tooth found ed about sixty pounds. It was probably of S. occidentalis from the Calvert For- a shallow-water dweller and a bottom mation at Plum Point was the first of its feeder using its needle sharp teeth to kind to be definitely recognized as feed upon fish and crustaceans. Skate- coming from the North American like, its eyes and large spiracles (vestige continent. Teeth of Squatina occidentalis (Extinct Angel Shark) ii SITTING IN ON THE FUTURE"-AN UPDATE Bugeye Tutted Quarterly Newsletter of the of the 198 seats "sold" to date. A gift Calvert Marine Museum The opening of the new exhibition and the building does not end the need for of $250 wi 11 entitle the donor to a com- Calvert Marine Society, Inc. funds to complete the work there. memorative plate on the back of one (ISSN 0887-651X) Funds are still needed to match part of of the seats as well as on a wall plaque a grant from the National Endowment designed and carved by LeRoy "Pep- Ralph E. Eshelman, Director for the Humanities being used to per" Langley; a gift of $100 will entitle Paul L. Berry, Editor fabricate and install the permanent ex- the donor to a commemorative plate on Other contributors to this issue: hibit, "Maritime Patuxent: A River and the wall plaque. In either case, the Layne Bergin its People," in the new Maritime History donor may have his or her (or a cou- Rita Adams Hall. Members visiting the new ple's) name on the plate, or the name Craig DeTample building will see evidence of the work of someone the donor wishes to honor The bugeye was the traditional sailing craft on this exhibit, expected to open or memorialize. of the Bay, and was built in all its glory at sometime in 1990. Further details on the "Sitting in on Solomons, the "Bugeye Capital of the The "Sitting in on the Future" cam- the Future" campaign and an order World." Membership dues are used to paign is designed to raise these mat- form may be obtained by a phone call fund special museum projects, programs, and printing of this newsletter. Address ching funds, and also to provide an op- or letter to the museum. comments and membership applications portunity for recognition of donors to: through a commemorative plate for a Calvert Marine Society, Inc. seat in the auditorium or on a donor list P.O. Box 97 on the wall of the auditorium. Since the Solomons, MD 20688 (301) 326-2042 campaign began in early June, over $37,000 have been raised, with over 100 W'wtoi 1988/1989 3 THE MENHADEN'S NURSEMAID By Janet Lembke y y X~* ome here!" our neighbor refrigerator overnight. My husband and menhaden after another from the net I Tom shouts as I leave the I have tugged many dead and dying and pitch them back, and we'll be V^^ trailer, bucket in hand, to menhaden from our nets, and I've sav- blessing the larger fish — blues, maybe haul the crabpots. He stands at water's ed them for crabpot bait—but not once — that snared themselves in pursuit of edge next door to extract fish from the has either of us seen this ghostly grub. a menhaden dinner. Some people sell gill nets he's just brought ashore from The crabpots wait a little longer, un- their menhaden as crabpot bait, but at an overnight stay on the river. The sun til I've checked the guide to nearshore two cents a pound, it takes a lot of is cresting the trees to the east. marine life. The book gives modest menhaden to make a dollar. Crabs can wait. I race across the help, indicating generally that the grub Though people don't eat them (at shallow drainage ditch that separates is a cymothoid, one of a large family least not yet), menhaden support fleets our yard from his. What will it be this of parasitic isopods. I'm not satisfied. of commercial trawlers that pull their time? Tom helps to satisfy my quen- I start asking questions, nets in river mouths and sounds for chless curiosity about the river by sav- "Sure," says another neighbor, "the precisely this species. The catch is pro- ing the oddities that sometimes tangle menhaden's nursemaid, that's what cessed for oil or ground into fertilizer themselves in his nets. He's shown me you're talking about." But he doesn't and chicken feed. It may be that a lookdown, a silvery fish with menhaden will soon make the a body as flat and narrow as a leap from chicken troughs to butter plate turned on its edge china plates; researchers now and with eyes set high above the experiment with mashing parts long, precipitous slope to its of menhaden to make surimi, mouth.

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