Friday, May 20, 2011

1960s tourism brochure for Virginia's Eastern Shore

You don't see too many travel brochures that feature a drawing of two people holding up a ridiculously large fish by the gills.

But that's what we have with this "Guide to Virginia's Eastern Shore." Two people holding a big fish. And not looking the slightest bit dismayed about what they're doing.

I'm guessing this fold-out brochure dates from the middle to late 1960s. It has to be after 1964, because it references the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in April 1964. And it has to be before 1972, because it references dolphin hunting.

Inside the brochure are more pictures of people with large fish. The sport fishing industry of the Eastern Shore is touted highly throughout, with references to black drum, cobia, flounder, trout, blue fish, croaker, sea trout, sea bass, tautog, dolphins1, tuna, albacore, wahoo, king mackerel and striped bass.

The great harvests of crabs and oysters are also touted in the brochure. As is the duck and goose hunting. Basically, you can come to the Eastern Shore to kill things.

Other attractions highlighted include NASA's Wallops Flight Facility; the home of famous pony "Misty" on Chincoteague Island; the town of Oyster; and the Custis tombs.

Footnotes
1. It appears that dolphin hunting was not illegal in the United States until Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972.
2. Misty died in 1972. Her body has been preserved and can be seen at the Beebe Ranch.

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