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Show IhHan America's coastal waters long have provided a livelihood far those who know the sea. From Alaska's Cook Inlet to California's Drake Bay, from the barrier islands of Florida's gulf coast to the rocky shores and river mouths of Maine, tidal water fishermen have found the sea abundant. Few have been more blessed by its bounty than the Jersey Shore baymen. Their history teaches back nearly 400 years, nourished by the coastal waters of Tha Malady It, aw of stvaral r stored craft from tin townk past, h moored atlbckarton laaport. IriJ Ughttinma ml how hundrads of dwell Little Egg, Bamegat, and Absecom bays. With die opening last year of Tuckerton Seaport, a Maritime Village Museum, die baymen of Tuckerton who ply their clamming tongs and raking baskets from craft scarcely huger than towboats have reaffirmed their link to the sea. Tuckerton, N J., (pop. 3,500) known for "fowling and fishing" ever since visiting Quakers explored its waters, has a long history as a seaport. The towns namesake, Ebenezer Tucker, was a collector of custom tariffs with a commission, signed by George Washington, dating to 1791. Tuckenon Seaport's signature building is a tcpli-catTuckers Island Lighthouse erosion toppled the 1848 original into the sea in 1927. The new lighthouse houses hundreds of duck decoys made by die baymen a name Tuckenon's residents proudly gave themselves and still claim today who lived off the areas shellfish and marsh birds. The carvings, from red breasted mergansers to black bellied plovers, created for wealthy ry New York and Philadelphia families, are considered works of art today. The Ferrine Boatworks one of 13 structures in die maritime museum celebrates die areas boat builders. Carpenter Gus Henrichs still builds Tudcer-toa-'s 45-ac- re ed bay-me- ns 19th-centu- sneakboac fishingbeat unique for its low profile in die tall marsh grasses, used both as a craft for fowling and as a dammer 19th-centu- iy Although open for more than a year; die village is a woric in progress. Marjorie Halloway, 85, is thrilled about a tribute to her father's boatworks in a planned reconstruction ofdie Marine Railway." Tuckertons history was a lost story until now," Halloway says. "My father owned the marine railway on die canal Boats were placed on a large cradle on the canal and sent by rail from the canal to his shop to be rebuilt or repaired, then sent back up the cmaL This will all be brought back to life," she says. dacoyi nrw by tha Paul Spencer, 86, is excited about a Tuckenon Railroad station due's in the works. His father was a baggage master for the railroad, founded in 1871. Trains took passengers to Camden. It also earned dams and oysters harvested by the baymen. Passengers going to Philadelphia had to take a forty across the Delaware River became there was no bridge," Spencer recalls. They had to walk op a hill into Philadelphia. At 6, 1 remember sitting on the bp of the conductor and working the train's throttle." Parson's Clam and Oyster House has been recreated in the village. In its best year. Parsons shipped 9 bullion dams a week to Campbell Soip in Camden. Tiie Parson familys ancestors are still involved in the clam business. Buildings include a sea captaink house and the Sunny Brae saltbooc house, built in the 170Qs with clamshells and clay mortar. Seventeen mote buildings ate in die works all relating to fowling and decoy carving that followed. Tuckenon is also famous for its seafood eateries and has been called by some, Clam town, USA. "We must hang on to the baymens knowledge of the local waters and their trades to pass on to future generations. We must preserve the legacy of their craftsmanship," says John Gormley, director of Tuckerton Seaport. . Pat Johnson loves to talk about local history. Johnson, 49, grew up in Tuckerton, where her father owned the DeLrae Diner Though she lived for a while in New York, she returned seven years ago and now is president of the Tuckerton Historical Society and a reporter for die Todurta Latdr. "I think generations have' remained of a sense of family that goes back generations," Johnson wys- - "It a living sense of history with a strong sense of community spirit" hviv Kara TortonJU is tditar and publish auapapar in Rid Bank, N.J. tf a cbildras .1 |