Throwback Thursday – Virginia Oyster Tongers
We came across these great watermen images the other day in our historic archive. These photos were originally published in the Richmond News Leader for a story about Virginia watermen that ran October 26, 1940. At that time, the oysters would be purchased from the tongers for 20 cents a bushel.
Oyster tongers on the water.
Packing plant in Hampton, VA
Tongers at the “buy boat” which would purchase an average of 1000 bushels per day.
After a long day of work, the men would gather on the boats to talk, play cards and sing.