Southern Tides August 2019

August 2019 all about the water

CREW

Publisher/Editor Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

The Bitter End Columnist Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill theoriginalcaptaingator@gmail.com

Around the Reef Columnist Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov

Ebb & Flow Columnist Trey Leggett info@southerntidesmagazine.com

Contributing Writer Lanier Forster info@southerntidesmagazine.com

Consulting Naturalist John "Crawfish" Crawford crawfish@uga.edu

Copyright © 2015-2019

All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission.

Southern Tides is a free magazine, published monthly, and can be found at multiple locations from St. Marys, Ga., to Beaufort, S.C. (912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com

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About the Cover: A black sea bass swims over live bottom in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, only about 25 miles off the Georgia Coast. See Around the Reef on page 11 to learn about recent research conducted aboard the Nancy Foster at the sanctuary.

NOAA

It was a large ship and so many passengers one could hardly find room. We were all packed together. Father and Edward and August Hacker, who went with us to America, did not suffer seasickness but the rest did. The girls suffered greatly of seasickness. Mother could not stand it in the mid-deck and forced her way to where she and father could be on deck, and this was good for her. The sea air relieved her asthmatic condition and heart pounding, and after coming to America had no further breathing trouble.

Hour after hour we stood on deck and watched flying dolphins, or we looked into the far distance hopefully to see another ship.

For two days we had a severe storm. Everything not properly secured and fastened, flew from one side to the other, especially the tin utensils of passengers, which create a terrible noise. One could hardly understand a word spoken to us. The waves broke over the deck. No one could be on deck during the storm. Even after the storm subsided, one could see the huge waves, which were “house high.” One moment we were in a deep valley, then on the crest of the wave. All description fails, one must personally experience this.

Excerpt from the memoir of Theodore Friedrich Christian Kohn, my second great-grandfather, describing his passage aboard a ship to America. The family emigrated in 1871, when Theodore was just 11.

I’ve recently done a lot of research on my family history and have managed to trace both maternal and paternal lines back multiple generations. Two lines of my family came to the American Colonies before the Revolution, and in fact my 5th great-grandfather, Roger Thompson Clements, fought in that war.

When you go back a couple hundred years, records are scarce. Census records prior to the Civil War didn’t list women or children by name, everything was handwritten, and it seems good penmanship wasn’t a requirement when hiring census-takers. Church records can be a wealth of information, except in the case of my 5th great-grandfather Gabriel Clark, who was expelled from the Quakers because he married a woman outside of the community. If she’d become a Quaker he could have returned to the “Meeting” but he then went on to join a militia group, around the time of the American Revolution, and that’s less forgivable. Regardless, that was the end of his (my) line in Quaker records.

Unless I can find journals, letters, other memoirs or family bibles that were passed down their lives will remain a mystery. This saddens me. When a fourth cousin on my mother’s side, who’s also researching our family, offered me a scanned copy of Theodore’s memoir describing his childhood in Germany and his journey to the U.S., I felt like I’d struck gold!

The memoir goes on to his arrival in New York. A case of smallpox was discovered aboard so they were quarantined for three days and all passengers were vaccinated. He writes of landing:

We came to the old “Castle Garden” where annually, thousands of immigrants land. Later, Castle Garden was razed, and Ellis Island became the landing port. We spent one night in Castle Garden lying on the floor or on benches until we boarded a train which took us westward.

“Westward” was to Chicago, where Theodore’s uncle had settled three years prior and was waiting for them to arrive. He writes:

We arrived in Chicago either on October 23 or 27th. We saw a picture of devastation. Everything burnt, turned to charcoal, or still smouldering. All around Union Depot on Canal Street, board shelters had been erected to serve as hotels, restaurants and saloons. Because Uncle did not meet us at the depot, we, too, had to stay in such a hotel.

The Great Chicago Fire was October 8 – 10, in 1871. To read a first-hand account of the aftermath of a historically significant event, written by my great-great-grandfather, brought an amazing sense of connection not only to him, but to the past, bringing it to life like no history book possibly could.

This research has made me conscious of what my descendants will have on hand to learn about the lives of myself, my siblings, and our children. Will we just be recorded names and numbers on census reports?

Grandfather Theodore started his memoir with this note to his children:

As to your request that I should write in detail about [my family], also about my own youth, I should first of all declare to you that I see no real purpose in it, nor do I have the desire nor the time for it. However, since you have the right for such a request, I cannot deny, and I cannot doubt that you would like to know more about our family than you have heard before.

While he certainly made it clear he saw no point in writing all that history down, he couldn’t possibly have foreseen the pleasure I took in reading it.

I would encourage each of you to consider doing something similar for your descendants. Our lives may not seem of great significance in the grand scheme of things but every life is interesting – and even more so to those who have some connection to us.

Reading about Theodore tending sheep as a small boy, learning English, working in a door factory at the age of 12, later going through Seminary and becoming a minister, and even later, mentioning the birth of my great-grandmother Dora, all those things fascinated me. Your stories of meeting your spouse, what you do for a living, taking your kid fishing for the first time, vacations, living through hurricanes – someday, a distant relative may read it and feel a stronger connection to their family, to their roots, and to history, than you can now imagine.

So write your story. It doesn’t have to be long. Theodore’s was less than 40 pages – but the echoes through time are huge!

See you out there!

Fire and Ice

Your drinks are warm, sandwiches soggy, your fish is nearly spoiled, and what was once cold ice is nothing but water now … your cooler (or cooler prep) has issues.

It’s no secret that in the Southern U.S. it gets HOT, and when it does we count on our coolers more than ever to do their jobs on our outdoor outings. Even with today’s innovative cooler designs, a little extra effort goes a long way toward ensuring that your adult beverages, food, and caught fish stay cold. Today we have a plethora of brand named cooler manufacturers that have come out with rotomolded polyethylene coolers that are supposedly the cure-all for melting ice. Although they are better than the styrofoam coolers of the past, they still need help on those hot summer days.

Let’s talk about prepping your cooler. I’ll take you step-by-step to getting that cooler ready for optimal performance on those hot summer outings.

Step One – Whether sitting in your truck, trunk, boat, yard, or garage, coolers get hot when not being used for their intended purpose. Get the cooler out of the sun and heat; better yet, find a place to keep it in your air-conditioned house, out of the heat entirely.

Step Two – The night before your outdoor activity, or early the morning of, place some ice from your freezer inside the cooler and

close the lid.

Step Three – Cool your drinks and food in the refrigerator overnight. Putting ice on warm items will make it melt faster.

Step Four – Having invested in some quality ice packs, place two or more frozen ice packs in your cooler (I use a 32-degree cooler pack and a 20-degree freezer pack in my 80-quart cooler).

Step Five – Load your consumables in the cooler.

Step Six – Pour in enough ice to fill half the cooler while covering your drinks completely.

Step Seven – Place bagged ice in the cooler to the top. Try to occupy all the space inside the cooler with your items, ice, and ice packs. Having too many air pockets initially promotes an excess of ice melt. Lastly, try to limit opening the cooler too much, or for too long.

I’ve heard many cooler manufacturer performance statements that assure their coolers can keep ice for anywhere from five to ten days. I contend that if your cooler isn’t prepped properly, you’ll have a hard time keeping ice for two days in our hot, sunny weather. Take that little bit of extra effort with your cooler and you’ll be surprised at how much better it performs.

Stay safe and tight lines.

Reprinted from a previous issue. Trey will be back next month!

Email: info@southerntidesmagazine.com

A round the Reef

It’s that time of year for our annual Nancy Foster Research Expedition at Gray’s Reef and we are up to our gills in excitement. For starters, the director of all of America’s national marine sanctuaries, John Armor, dove with Gray’s Reef scientists for the first time since becoming director in 2016. John got a close-up view of a big loggerhead sea turtle, swam with thousands of fish, and observed scientists working underwater.

Equally exciting, the staff at Gray’s Reef was thrilled to have our new superintendent, Stan Rogers, join the expedition this year. In his first week, Stan was able to participate in one of the most important activities of the year, which will help inform him as he takes on his lead role at the sanctuary. More about Stan will be coming in next month’s column.

The Nancy Foster Expedition is critical to ongoing study of the special place that is Gray’s Reef. This year’s expedition was no exception, as hundreds of dives were conducted during the 12-day mission (July 29-Aug. 9).

A range of exciting and innovative operations took place both in and out of the sanctuary’s research area (RA). The RA is designated for scientists to study the sanctuary’s unique underwater habitat without effects from human actions. It encompasses the southern third of the sanctuary, about eight square miles.

Each year the expedition utilizes NOAA Ship Nancy Foster, a large research vessel, as a science platform; hence the name. The projects explore questions related to fish abundance and distribution, the structural habitat of Gray’s Reef, invertebrate assessments, habitat mapping, algae diversity, and the microbial communities that live symbiotically with the reef’s resident corals.

Kimberly Roberson, the research coordinator and unit dive supervisor for Gray’s Reef, serves as the chief scientist for this year’s mission. Along with Dr. Roldan Muñoz of NOAA Fisheries, Kim

collected ongoing data to study the Gray’s Reef’s community. They focused on two different subject areas: one being fish abundance, diversity and distribution, the other being habitat characteristics such as ledge height and width. Studying the community and structure of Gray’s Reef will help the sanctuary superintendent protect and preserve the abundant marine life that lives within its waters.

Since Gray’s Reef is referred to as a “live bottom reef” for its vast diversity of marine life, one study was especially crucial during these research efforts. Dr. Daniel Gleason and students from Georgia Southern University documented the abundance and diversity of the invertebrate communities and their populations within Gray’s Reef. Known as sessile benthic invertebrates, these animals cover the reef’s floors and ledges, leaving the sanctuary literally crawling with life. “Sessile” refers to organisms that are fixed in one place, “benthic” occurs on or near the bottom of a body of water, and “invertebrates” are creatures that do not have a backbone, like sponges, corals, and algae. Understanding the reef’s invertebrates is critical for more reasons than just being an important part of our reef’s natural food chain. For example, sponges and mussels filter the water within Gray’s Reef, while corals provide a secure place for eggs to hatch while fish hide from predators.

The Nancy Foster Expedition has helped scientists develop metrics to understand and enhance the natural resources of Gray’s Reef for future generations. We are very excited to utilize this year’s research to further guide us in our preservation and protection of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. We look forward to applying new discoveries to support and manage our sanctuary, while continuing to learn how we at Gray’s Reef play our part in this wonderous oceanic world.

For more information, email: michelle.riley@noaa.gov or call (912) 598-2345

Top of page: Dr. Roldan

Best of the Coast

It's time again to cast your vote for the best of the coast!

4th Annual Survey

This serves a dual purpose in promoting local businesses and giving readers a voice to express their appreciation. And it’s just plain fun!

So take the survey! All water-related topics and covering all areas from Beaufort, SC, to St. Marys, GA.

Results will be featured in the September, fourth anniversary issue of Southern Tides Magazine.

Please share with friends and family in the area!

Survey deadline is Friday, August 24, so get us your entries! To participate, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019BestCoast or email info@southerntidesmagazine.com for a survey form.

Categories Include:

Getting on the Water

Best Marina

Best Boat Ramp

Best Kayak Tour/Rental

Best Boat Rental

Best Dolphin Tour Best Eco Tour

Best Dive Company

Fishing

Best Bait House

Best Tackle Shop

Best Inshore Charter

Best Offshore Charter

Sailing

Best Sailing Club

Best Sailing Program

Best Regatta or Series

Boat Stuff

Best Boat Mechanic

Best Boat Service (Non-mechanic)

Best Boat Detailer

Best Boating Supply Store

Destinations

Best Boat Daytrip

Best Boat Weekend Trip

Best Lighthouse Best Beach Best Island

Food & Drink

Best Seafood Market

Best Seafood Restaurant

Best Dockside Dining/Bar

Other

Best NFP Organization

Best Dock Builder

Best Turtle Program

Best Coastal Advocate

Write In Your Suggestions

Area You're Voting In?

Do You Own a Boat? Power or Sail?

One vote per person. You must vote in at least 10 categories to be counted.

Taste of the Tides

Red Snapper with Lemon Butter, Avocado and Tomato

The red snapper mini-season was successful this year for many coastal anglers, and this tasty fish is readily available in local seafood markets as well. Using fresh and (mostly) healthy ingredients, this recipe adds favorite flavors of lemon and garlic without overpowering the flavor of the fish. Topping it with diced avocado and tomato gives it a mild but flavorful twist.

INGREDIENTS

2 red snapper filets

3 tbsp flour

Salt and pepper to taste

Olive oil

2 tbsp cilantro, diced (or parsley if not a cilantro fan)

1 clove fresh garlic, grated or minced

1 lemon

1/2 stick of butter cut into pats

1 small tomato, diced

1 avocado, diced

DIRECTIONS

Prep:

• Zest one lemon, then cut in half. Squeeze juice into small cup or bowl and remove seeds.

• Cut avocado in half and remove seed. Scoop meat out whole then dice.

• Peel and grate or mince garlic.

• Dice tomatoes

• Dice cilantro (for stronger flavor, do not remove stems)

Cook:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Pat fish dry with paper towel, then lightly coat with flour; salt and pepper to taste. When oil is hot, cook filets until light golden brown, then remove from heat and keep warm.

• Remove excess oil, leaving just enough to sauté garlic. Add garlic; when lightly browned, add lemon zest, cilantro and lemon juice, stirring after each addition.

• When pan is deglazed and cilantro has wilted, plate fish, then quickly add butter pats to skillet, stirring gently. As soon as the butter is melted, drizzle contents of pan over fish filets.

• Top with diced avocado and tomato and serve immediately.

What's in a Name?

Choosing a name for your boat, while maybe not quite as significant as choosing a name for your child or a new pet, is still a momentous decision. The name you choose identifies not only your boat, but also you by extension, and should not be taken lightly.

For those who travel aboard frequently, the name of their boat is often how they’re referred to by others. By other boaters: “That couple on Out to Lunch are here. I hope they brought rum!” By marinas: “Put Aquaholic on the facedock, that guy can’t dock without hitting something.” By bridge operators and the Coast Guard: “Motor vessel Hot Pursuit, reduce your speed, this is a no wake zone!”

When choosing a name, there are several factors to consider. First and most important is that it’s easy to understand on the radio – not just to make things simple for others, but in case of emergency. If you’re caught in a sudden storm and taking on water, do you really want to waste time trying to make Entspannte Tage (German for Lazy Days) clear to your would-be rescuer?

Which is also the reason it’s important to have a name in the first place. Hailing the coast guard with, “We’re the white, 21-foot center console,” doesn’t provide much clarification.

Beyond safety and practical matters, there’s the fun aspect of choosing a name. Some people choose names that reflect their

personality, such as Feelin’ Nauti, or my personal favorite, Irish Hurricane. Some names reflect their outlook on life, such as Freedom, some that speak to the intended purpose of the boat, such as Therapy, some choose names that have some deeper meaning and a host of other reasons. Shrimpers traditionally name their boats after a female family member. Fisherman seem fond of using the word “reel” in naming their boats. Word play is also a common tactic in selecting a name – Knot on Call, Seas the Day, Happy Ours, to name a few. My friends Danny and Liz North recently bought a boat named Fine n' Dandy. They're considering changing it to Fine n' Danny. Love it!

Whatever you choose to name your precious watercraft, be certain. Legend has it, changing the name of your boat is bad luck, especially if you fail to observe several strict steps: remove all traces of the previous name, conduct a de-naming ceremony, apply the new name, and offer a boozy sacrifice to the Gods in the form of a bottle of champagne or rum. Skimping on this last step is ill-advised. Failure to complete these steps, thoroughly and promptly, puts you and your vessel are risk of incurring the wrath of Poseidon and Neptune and dozens of other watery deities.

Give it some thought, try it out on friends, consider how it will sound over VHF radio, and what it says about you and your boat, and have fun choosing the perfect name!

Names that make you go, hmmmmm ...

What does it mean? We looked online and learned it's an area in Hawaii. But is there a deeper meaning?

It's All Greek to Me!

Clearly Gaelic. We looked it up; it means "despite" in Irish, or "in spite of" in Scottish.

Marys Boat Services

Our favorite outlaws ...

Everyone's a pirate at heart!

While the meaning of the words are clear, the story behind them makes us wonder!

Rum and boaters have a long history togther, from rum runners during Prohibition to the British Navy's daily ration for each sailor.

Word play done right!

Whether the owner is a pilot or lives at a much higher elevation, this works!

Photo by John S. Ramsey, St. Marys Boat Services

Most interesting:

In Hawaiian mythology, Aumakua is a family God, often a deified ancestor.

Photo by John S. Ramsey, St. Marys Boat Services

Lastly, the ironic ...

Fading, but still hanging on!

Photo by John S. Ramsey, St. Marys Boat Services

Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning a critical or opportune moment for a decision or action.

These are just a few examples of boat names we've found in the Coastal Empire. Have you come across any that made you look twice? Proud of your own boat's name? Send us photos and we'll compile them into another feature to share with readers in a future issue!

Include your name and where the photo was taken, send to info@southerntidesmagazine.com, subject line "boat name." Happy Boating!

Mama Sea Turtle Doing Her Part

Georgia, the state, has shattered its nesting record for loggerhead sea turtles with more than 3,780 nests (the previous high: 3,289 in 2016). And the season isn’t over.

Georgia, the mama loggerhead, deserves some credit for reaching this milestone.

Georgia’s nests have been logged through genetic research with the University of Georgia. Using one egg collected from every clutch, UGA extracts maternal DNA that can be used to identify the female that made the nest. This enables scientists to determine how often and where she nests. Data from all nests is extrapolated to estimate the size of the loggerhead population and survival rates.

But Georgia has played an even more significant role in helping researchers understand more about her species' biology. In 2005 she was fitted with radio and sonic transmitters in a study aimed at understanding the movements of female loggerheads.

She went on to lay four nests on Sapelo and Blackbeard islands that season and has returned six times since, contributing a total of 30 nests.

In between laying eggs – a clutch about every 12 days –Georgia often relaxes near the ballast rock pile at the north end of Blackbeard. Yet as soon as she finishes nesting, she’s off to the Virginia coast for the rest of the summer. When the weather cools, she swims south to the edge of the Gulf Stream off North Carolina for winter.

Although her satellite transmitter played out after about a year, researchers have followed Georgia through genetic tracking from her nests. She nests about every two to three years, always on Sapelo or Blackbeard.

After nesting in 2018, however, Georgia returned to nest again this year, which is highly unusual for sea turtles because of the extreme amount of energy expended during nesting.

Or maybe it’s just another example of this loggerhead doing more than her share.

Follow nesting and hatching daily at seaturtle.org.

Red Snapper Mini-Season Report

Using the MyFishCount app, anglers who participated in the July red snapper mini-season were able to upload data about their catches. This data helps provide fisheries managers with better data. A preliminary report was released on August 5 with the following results.

Report Highlights

• Largest red snapper: 38 inches

• Heaviest red snapper: 29.8 pounds

• Smallest red snapper: 8 inches

• Largest fish reported: 40-inch cobia

• Smallest fish reported: 8-inch black sea bass

• Other species caught included scamp grouper, dolphin, black sea bass, banded rudderfish, black grouper and red porgy.

Kept and Released

• The majority of fish released were under 20 inches (14 and 16 inches being most prevalent).

• The sizes most frequently kept were 20-inch and 34-inch fish Data on the size of fish released as well as those kept are equally important.

Reasons for Release

This pie chart shows reasons for releasing red snapper as reported through the MyFishCount app. Anglers this season indicated that most fish were released because the angler was "over bag limit."

Location Data

MyFishCount data indicated several popular ports in Northeast Florida that are "hot spots" for red snapper fishing.

Boater Safety Course

Presented by the Georgia DNR and Chatham County Marine Patrol

This is a Georgia approved class, required for anyone born after January 1, 1998 to operate any vessel on Georgia waters. The course is instructed by CCMP and GA DNR Resource Rangers. It covers all required equipment and Georgia boating laws. All students must pass an exam and provide their social security number to receive the ID card.

Point of origin and relative number of trips taken, with catches of red snapper during the red snapper miniseason.

Release Treatment

This chart shows the release treatment of red snapper based on depth. Anglers releasing fish in water depths of 91-100 feet used venting tools and those releasing fish in depths of 151-300 feed used descending devices. To learn more about barotrauma, visit MyFishCount/ BestPractices.

p.m. (912) 264-7237

Anglers are encouraged to use the MyFishCount app to report fishing activity throughout the year. The project offers the opportunity to create their own personal fishing logs while demonstrating the effectiveness of using mobile applications for recreational reporting. Over 1,350 users have reported information on over 3,000 fish through the MyFishCount pilot project. Recreational anglers are needed to continue to demonstrate the value of this reporting tool and make a difference in collection of fishery data. To create an account visit myfishcount.com, the App Store or Google Play.

BOAT SAFETY

Electrical shock Hazards

For More Boating Safety Information, Visit: DiscoverBoating.Com

When using power tools, ensure connected to GFCI outlets

case of in-water repairs, disconnect all power, including on nearby boats

ELECTRICITY FACT SHEET

Electricity kills swimmers, boaters and people in marinas every year. These deaths occur because of boat and marina wiring problems, component failures, or the use of improperly wired household appliances run by AC shore power. Virtually all of these accidents are avoidable.

While AC elecrical power is potentially deadly in any location, it is especially dangerous in and near water. An electric shock can come from faulty boat or marina wiring in contact with water, concrete or metal docks. Electricity may be present on metalic objects such as marina electrical equimpement and shore power connectors, or even in the water. Contact with electrically energized equipment may result in painful shock, burns, muscle contraction or paralysis, loss of breathing and even stoppage of the heart. Electricity may be present in water anywhere boats are connected to water, or if marina wiring is defective.

Electricity in water at low levels will paralyze swimmers to the point they lose muscle control, cannot swim and instantly drown, commonly known as electric shock drowning. At higher levels the electrical field can be strong enough to cause electrocution by cardiac arrest. The risk of electric shock drowning or electrocution is greater in fresh water.

Electricity cannot be detected without the use of test equipment. Proper training, techniques and specialized test equipment are required to detect electricity in the water.

SAFETY CHECKLIST

WHEN CONNECTING TO SHORE POWER:

Dock only at reputable marinas

If you have any concerns, don't connect to shore power

Shore power cords must be clean and dry

Keep shore power inlet covers closed when not in use

Do not handle shore power cords while barefoot

Make certain there are no swimmers in the water nearby

Shut off the boat's main AC breaker and dock breaker

Check the boat's polarity alarm/light

WHEN DISCONNECTING FROM SHORE POWER:

Shut off the boat's main AC breaker

Turn off the dock breaker

Disconnect the dock end of the cord (always do first)

Disconnect the cord at the boat receptacle

Clean and dry the cord and store in a dry location

ONCE-A-YEAR TASKS FOR AN ELECTRICIAN:

Verify integrity of entire AC shore power grounding system

Verify galvanic isolaters meet ABYC standards

Inspect cords, adaptors, and receptacles for damage

Operate electrical system at full load and check for AC system leakage and shoreside ground system

Pilot Whale Stranding on St. Simons Island

and soon news of the stranding circulated worldwide.

Yet what was a headline for most is vivid memory for Lentini. “It’s something I never expected to experience,” he said.

Of the three adult males that died, initial necropsy findings revealed no obvious signs of human interaction that might have caused or contributed to their stranding. Some mild signs of disease were noted, but such findings are common in wild, adult animals. Further analysis is pending.

At least 47 whales were photographed swimming from St. Simons toward deeper water the following day on July 17. The group was monitored through early that afternoon by the National Marine Mammal Foundation, a partner with DNR in dolphin research. DNR also checked area beaches, marshes and waterways by helicopter, but no other stranded animals were found.

On July 21, a pod of pilot whales was seen offshore of Florida, 140 miles away. A video by a charter angler showed a dorsal fin that looked similar to the fin of one of the St. Simons whales, but that identification is uncertain.

The last known mass stranding of pilot whales in Georgia was in February 1977, when 15 stranded and died on Cumberland Island near the Florida line, according to a search of records by DNR and The Brunswick News. They were part of a larger mass stranding that left more than 150 whales dead from Mayport, Fla., to Rockville, S.C. In May 1962, 17 pilot whales stranded and died at the southern tip of St. Simons. The causes of the 1962 and 1977 strandings was not determined. Among cetaceans – the order of marine mammals including whales, dolphins and porpoises – pilot whales are the most common species known to strand in mass numbers.

S

cores of beachgoers, lifeguards, local officials and DNR staff will not soon forget July 16.

Thanks to their work and a rising tide, a mass stranding of shortfinned pilot whales that began about 6 p.m. on St. Simons Island’s East Beach ended with most of the pod of some 50 whales swimming back to sea. At least 20 stranded, only three died.

Senior wildlife biologist Clay George, who coordinates DNR’s work with marine mammals, helped lead the response that long, chaotic evening.

Glynn County beach manager Shawn Lentini said lifeguards first spotted the pod just after 5 p.m. near Gould’s Inlet, at the north end of East Beach. They thought the whales were heading out to sea.

But less than 45 minutes later, the lifeguards noticed people gathered in the surf just south of the Coast Guard Station. The whales were swimming into shore. Lentini phoned DNR game warden 1st Class Jay Bright, a longtime friend.

Bright’s advice: Try to keep the whales in the water, but watch their tails, be careful and don’t let people put themselves in danger.

Lifeguards and beachgoers began trying to push stranded whales – massive animals weighing more than a ton – into deeper water and keep others from the shallows, with Lentini keeping an eye on the group’s safety. The incoming tide was key, he said. “Had it been low tide, I don’t think we would have been able to save any.”

DNR staff arrived within minutes and began managing the rescue effort. The watching crowd grew to hundreds, the media followed,

PILOT WHALES ARE …

▶

Dolphins as are killer whales, the only dolphin larger than pilot whales.

Either short- or long-finned. Both species are found globally in tropical and temperate oceans. Along the southeastern Atlantic, they live off the edge of the continental shelf, or some 100 miles off Georgia’s shores. ▶ Characterized by rounded heads and strongly curved dorsal fins. ▶

▶

Very social and usually found in groups, or pods. ▶ About 2,200-6,600 pounds and 12-25 feet long.

Below: These pilot whales, photographed in the waters off Guam are "spy-hopping."

Photo by Adam U, NOAA

For more information about pilot whales visit: bit.ly/pilot_whales

Bottom: Pilot whales are found all over the world in tropical waters.

Photo by Adam Li, NOAA

T he Bitter End

Swan Song

Iam sure many of you are wondering at the odd title of this column. You’ve likely heard this old expression, but are perhaps not sure where it comes from. Originating in the ancient Greek culture and dating back to the 6th to 9th centuries B.C., to say it has lengthy roots is an understatement. It refers to the last song a swan makes before its death, after having spent most of its life mute, or nearly so.

In today’s society the term is used in reference to death, retirement or a final act. How does it apply here? First off, I am not dying. Or at least I hope that’s not the case. However, this will be my final article as your The Bitter End columnist for Southern Tides.

In no way is this due to any mitigating factors other than time management for myself.

Amy has been outstanding [saintly, I'd say] in her patience with my tardiness in submitting these columns (including this one). I have been fortunate enough to write for y’all since the earliest days of Southern Tides, though by no stretch of the imagination do I consider myself an accomplished writer. However, I hope that you, the readers, have been entertained and educated to some extent.

Lest I digress, typically at least five months of my life each year is chaotic at best, often working seven days a week for months at a time. As winter rolls around I try to go home for a couple of months to decompress. What this mean for the magazine is a contributor who is perpetually late. So, this is my final song. But before I take my leave, I’d like to offer a few parting thoughts.

Boat with class and compassion. What does this mean? Boating with class means simple things, like not cutting people off, paying attention to what’s going on around you. Boating with compassion? Lending a hand when another boater is experiencing problems, and not disregarding or looking down on others whose boat may not be to the same standard as yours. Remember your initial love and enthusiasm for being on the water.

When given the chance to learn or to educate others, do so. As Albert Einstein said, once you stop learning, you start dying. As a professional mariner I constantly try to learn and to mentor new mates or aspiring captains. As a former contractor I’ve often had workers tell me, “I’ve been doing it like this, that, or the other for years.” My response most often was “You’ve been doing it wrong for that many years.” There’s always room for improvement. Every time I leave and return to the dock I’m learning things and critiquing myself.

To all of you who’ve been reading The Bitter End column these last four years, thank you. One of the best feelings is to have someone come up and tell me how much they enjoy my writing, especially when I don’t consider myself a writer. So again, thank you all, so, so much.

Amy, thank you for having faith in and patience with me. As you know I’ve struggled each month, first to find something to write about and then send it to you in a timely manner. I hope to be a contributing writer at least once annually or a couple times a year. As you know, I stand ready to help in any capacity that time and ability allows. Oh yeah, do you have a picture of a swan? Ha! Once again you can see how prepared I am!

Even though you won’t see me in these pages every month, I’ll still See You On The Water!

[Editor’s Note: I suppose it would be both impractical and unseemly to stand over you with a weapon and force you to write a column, so until I can come up with a less lethal and more persuasive method of compelling you, I’ll have to accept this. But let me be very clear, I am NOT happy with this decision, Gator! You will be sorely missed. Best of luck to you in all your endeavors. You know the door is always open when you want to come back! It's been a pleasure working with you these past four years. Thank you for your efforts and for sharing your wisdom, experience and humor with our readers - and with me!And for the record, I’ve never known you to be mute … ]

WILMINGTON ISLAND This wonderful four BR/3B home is waiting for your family. Located on popular Wilmington Island. It is close to all schools and shopping. Two master suites on the first floor and both are overlooking a private backyard and screened porch. Updated kitchen and baths. Hardwood floors throughout the home. Newer HVAC systems and water heater. Sprinkler system was added for a lush yard. Additional lot located on the marsh for additional privacy and extra space. Have anyone that likes to build forts? This yard gives you plenty of room to do that. Convenient access to the beach or Historic District. Wonderful quiet neighborhood. $475,000

RICHMOND HILL

This beautiful three BR/2B home is located on a lagoon. It has a wonderful open floorplan open to DR and kitchen. Wood burning fireplace and soaring ceilings. Stainless appliances. The master bedroom is huge with plenty of room for extra sitting area. Large walk in closet. Sprinkler system and tons of storage. The amenities are easily accessible. Walking trails, community pool and playground. Everything your family could desire in the Main Street subdivision of Richmond Hill. The schools are just down the road. $189,900

DUTCH ISLAND

This wonderful 5 BD, 3.5 BA family home is ready for you. From the open floorplan with lots of entertaining areas to the back deck overlooking the tidal lagoon, everyone has a space. This is a true 5 BR home with 3.5 baths. Split floorplan and master is on the first floor along with two other bedrooms. Living Room with FP and builtins and Dining Room welcome you as you enter. The family room and kitchen are open to each other and the back deck. Oversized two car garage is deep enough for storage and cabinets. This community is so perfect for your family. Lots of amenities. Gated community but close to all shopping and schools. Don’t miss the crab trap right out your back door. $499,000

WHITEMARSH ISLAND

The Marshes subdivision

This 3BD 3BA is a wonderful place to call home. Large open rooms with two bedrooms on the first floor, great room and family room off of kitchen. Add a screened porch and deck to enhance the amazing marsh views. The second floor has a large bonus room, third bedroom and a bath. Lots of amenities to include a community pool, community dock, and common areas. $359,000

BURNSIDE ISLAND

This 4 BD, 3 BA home boasts one of the largest non estate lots on the island. Over an acre. Lots of beautiful camellias and mature flowering vegetation. Very open GR and a beautiful fireplace. Sun Room off the GR. Three BRs, 2 B on the first floor. Bonus is fourth BR and has its own private bath. Kitchen has eat in area with exposed brick. Gas stove. Plenty of outdoor storage. Lovely Pergola over a large outdoor deck area. Oyster Party Haven. This is a family home, ready for your personal updating. Great island living. Golf cart approved community. Optional Assoc. with annual picnic and golf cart parades. $369,000

DOWNTOWN

This is the one for you. Whether you are attending SCAD and want to have plenty of room for you and your roommates, or you want a great home within walking distance of all the wonderful things to do downtown. First floor has LR, DR, updated kitchen, 1/2 bath and a huge storage laundry room. Second floor has a trunk room, two front bedrooms and a hall bath and a great new master en suite with large closet. Not to be outdone, the outside has a wonderful patio, fenced yard, off street parking and more storage space. Hardwood floors. Lots of natural light. Potentially great income producer. $369,900

BURNSIDE ISLAND

OMG!! 4BRs, 3BAs. That is all you can say about these views over the marsh and Vernon River. The sunsets alone are breathtaking. This traditional Low Country home is located on 2.8 acres and has views out of every window. Inground pool and screened porch overlooking the view as well. This estate is perfect for the discerning owner with privacy and lots of potential for gardens or a fam ily compound. Burnside Island is a unique island with single family homes and lots of walking, rid ing, etc. Golf cart approved island. Owner may ap ply for membership in the Burnside Island Yacht Club on the Intracoastal Waterway.

MIDTOWN

Wow!! No lots like this in Parkside. 4 total lots with amazing outdoor space. This charming bungalow will draw you in and make you want to settle in for life. Two bedrooms and bath down and a fantastic master suite and sitting area with bath on second floor. Hardwood floors and contemporary kitchen. There are two outdoor screened areas. Detached single car garage with lots of extra storage. Parkside is such a welcoming community with lots of friendly neighbors. Walk to Daffin Park for the dog park, watching games or enjoy the Banana games and fireworks. Ready for you now. $355,000

ISLE OF HOPE

This wonderful 2 BD 2.5 BA home was originally the location of a dairy farm. Two buildings for living. One two story with a wonderful master suite upstairs with new bath and large closet. Separate “bunkhouse” has full bath, bedroom, kitchen and living area. They are joined by a cozy courtyard and expansive deck perfect for back yard enthusiasts. Large detached workshop and several outdoor storage buildings. Welcome to Isle of Hope! Walk everywhere. To the marina, to the community pool, along Bluff Drive with views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The community is one the few golf cart approved areas. This special historic home is for the lover of beautiful and unique properties. Perfect for second residence or investment. $375,000