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CLAY ISLAND SCALLOP & LOBSTER BAKE

Following the completion of a very successful Spring '99 meeting at the Oak Island Inn on Nova Scotia, our host Mike Dadswell and representatives from the Great Maritime Scallop Trading Company of Chester, shuttled NEERSians to the nearby Clay Island for a scallop and lobster bake.

Mike Dadswell aboard the S.S. Gannet.

While awaiting the arrival of the balance of the conference attendees, Fred Short grew impatient and it was suggested that Fred go fly a kite. True to form, Fred accomodated our request and flew his stunt kite.

Meanwhile, back at the beach, Mike had several ground fires ablaze for boiling water to steam the lobsters. Here Mike can be seen tending those juicy ocean scallops wrapped in bacon!

Here is a panorama of the Clay Island. The bakeout is located on the a small coastal barrier beach with sand dune system. The higher elevations in the background are glacial till supporting spruce. In the middle of the image, behind the beach is a small Typha angustifolia wetland. Outstanding (as always) to the right, is Fred in kite flying mode.

At long last the lobsters were cooked to perfection, served with melted butter in a soft-drink cup.

With our bellies full and the sun shining at least, many set off for a stroll around the western shore in search of fossils. Numerous stones were found bearing brachiopods. Alas, tomorrow we will leave this idyllic island to return the shores of New England but not without further adventure. The bus breakdowns in the morning, not far from the ferry. Deploying the age old Yankee ingenuity, posters from the conference are converted in HELP signs. Many people including a Taxi driver stopped to transport our stranded colleagues to the ferry with minutes to spare.

Our hats off to Mike Dadswell and the staff from the Great Maritime Scallop Trading Company.

The return ferry trip was delightful, a bright sunny day and calm seas. Whales and dophins were spotted, pelagic birds were few in number. A few had the fortune to see puffins. The highlight of the trip were the numerous neotropical migrants that landed on deck, chairs and people. Bob Buchsbaum ran around the deck attempting to obtain closeups of warblers.