Being on the migrational flyway for ducks and geese, the upper Chesapeake Bay has long been a center for waterfowl hunting. Where there is hunting, there are, of course, decoys. The area around Havre de Grace, Maryland has produced some of the most prolific decoy makers in America. Usually born of the necessity of the hunt, their decoys have become highly collectable. In Upper Chesapeake Bay Decoys and Their Makers, David and Joan Hagan share their talent for photography with the reader. They illustrate the art of the decoy makers in this area with beautiful images of the birds they have formed. Usually their decoys are accompanied by the portraits of the artists and recollections and reflections on their art and experiences. Over eighty decoy makers are represented in Upper Chesapeake Bay Decoys and Their Makers. Many of them are still alive and active in their work. The decoys illustrated range from early decoys, faded and worn smooth with use, to recent decoys which go directly from the artist to the collector without ever touching the water. All of them show the skill of the artist and evoke the appreciation that has made the decoy a central theme in American folk art.

Part documentary, part nostalgic history, and part informational catalogue, Waterfowling on the Chesapeake, 1819–1936 explores a century of hunting on the Chesapeake Bay and its major tributaries—from the heyday of gun clubs and market shooting to the rise of conservation law. Drawing on oral histories and period documents and artifacts, C. John Sullivan, a longtime collector of decoys and hunting paraphernalia and a frequent guest curator of exhibits, looks at the effects of technological change, the relationship between hunter and dog, the recognition of decoys as folk art, and the history of hunting. He also introduces us to famous and lesser-known carvers and others who share an enthusiasm for this feature of Chesapeake cultural history and life.

Bird decoys of the American Mid-Atlantic region shown in clear photographs and historical facts that help date hand-made decoys of antique and modern origin. There is an explanation of how weights are used, how condition affects value, suggestions on repairing decoys, a complete list of makers, and recommended reading.

The decoy and waterfowling history of this important region along the south Atlantic coast is thoroughly presented in this comprehensive study. Decoys of the eastern shore of Virginia and North Carolina are among the most collectible in the decoy market today. Much of the history of east coast gunning clubs began in this area. Henry Fleckenstein has combined information about decoys from this region and the South Carolina coast with his excellent photographs to produce an invaluable volume which each decoy collector and historian of the south Atlantic region will want on his shelf. All the major makers of decoys here and makers from other areas whose decoys were used here are listed with pertinent biographical data and interesting stories. 559 black and white and 64 color plates beautifully illustrate the text.

Carroll's Island is one of many places along the Chesapeake Bay where vibrant stories of dogs, decoys, guns and waterfowl resonate up from the shoreline. The stories from Carroll's Island Ducking Club, which was founded in the mid-nineteenth century, offer special insights about the Chesapeake Bay's waterfowling heritage. In this warm, informative book, C. John Sullivan Jr., one of the nation's