A Maryland Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus, caught in a hand net.

The sex of a blue crab is determined by the shape of the "apron". The male apron, shown here, is shaped like a rocket. Females have either a "V" shape (immature) or a very wide apron with a small tip (mature.)

The beach at Sandy Point State Park.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge as seen from behind Sandy Point State Park.

NOAA Ship RAINIER returning to home from field season. The ship is in the locks between Puget Sound and Lake Union.

Boca de Quadra - cirrus clouds reflecting on still waters

Boca de Quadra - an early dusting of snow on the surrounding mountains

Boca de Quadra

The tide gage installation at Cherry Point

Performing maintenance on the tide gage installation at Cherry Point. Removing marine growth.

Friday Harbor area on the east side of San Juan Island

The tide staff at Skamokawa - a ghost town on the Lower Columbia River

The tide house at Skamokawa - a ghost town on the Lower Columbia River

An old church at the bridge at Skamokawa - a ghost town on the Lower Columbia River.

The tide house on the pier at Port Angeles

Inspecting the Cherry Point tide gage orifices.

Inspecting the Cherry Point tide gage orifices.

Orifice of A.I. &NXG tide gage installation at Cherry Point.

Interior of tide house showing A.I. &NXG tide gage installation at Cherry Point.

The tide house which houses an A.I.&NXG tide gage installation.

The tide house which houses an A.I.&NXG tide gage installation.

The Northwest Seafoods Company Pier. Near the location of first Coast Survey in Washington in the early 1850's.

Performing reconnaissance for tide gage installation on the Olympic Fish Company pier.

Performing reconnaissance for tide gage installation on the Olympic Fish Company

Rustic appearing Northwest Seafoods Company Pier.

Rustic appearing Northwest Seafoods Company Pier.

The tide gage installation on the Northwest Seafoods Company Pier.

Andy Allen measuring distance from mark on tide staff to location on pier top. Longview is close to the end of tidal influence in the Columbia River, being 66 miles upstream from the Pacific Ocean.

Andy Allen measuring distance from mark on tide staff to location on pier top. K. Fuhs is diver in water helping keep the tape vertical.

Highway 433 Bridge over the Columbia River at Longview

Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, on a piling

A Maryland Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus, seeking shelter under a rocky ledge.

Female blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) on the beach. Females can be distinguished by the right red tips on their claws.

Female blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) at water's edge. Females can be distinguished by the right red tips on their claws. Note impressions in sand made by crab when ambulating.

Female blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) on beach. Females can be distinguished by the right red tips on their claws. Note impressions in sand made by crab when ambulating.

A mature female blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), known colloquially as a "sook." Note the apron, shaped like the Capitol building, and the red-tipped claws.

A mature female blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), known colloquially as a "sook." Note the apron, shaped like the Capitol building, and the red-tipped claws.

An immature female blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Sex and maturity determined by the "V"-shaped apron.

An immature female blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Sex and maturity determined by the "V"-shaped apron.

Stump of a large tree still standing though roots exposed and outstretched. At the mouth of Dividing Creek on Wye Island. This gives an indication of the extent of erosion in this area.

Stump of a large tree still standing though roots exposed and outstretched. At the mouth of Dividing Creek on Wye Island. This gives an indication of the extent of erosion in this area.

Like most areas in Chesapeake Bay, Wye Island suffers from the scourge of erosion as waves beat against the shoreline.

Like most areas in Chesapeake Bay, Wye Island suffers from the scourge of erosion as waves beat against the shoreline.

Dead trees provide evidence of erosion problems on Wye Island.

A large tree has a tenacious, if tenuous, hold on an eroding bank along Solo Creek, Wye Island.

View of the Wye Island Natural Resources Area from the Wye River. Preserved from development, most of the island is still in agricultural use.

Rock revetment is used along one part of Wye Island to prevent further erosion.

Sun setting over the St. Mary's River after the 1999 Governor's Cup sailboat race.

Mt. Cleveland in the Four Mountain Islands

Mt. Carlyle in the Four Mountain Islands