BOO & BUBBY POWLEY PROFILE

The Powley brothers are the epitome of the Eastern Shore waterman. Fourth generation watermen who've been out on the Chesapeake Bay since they "could see over the boat," they work the water because it's what they know, and what they love. Yet their way of life, while never an easy one, is growing increasingly difficult with each passing year. Restrictions on the amount of fish they can take out of the water, the tough economic climate, and the lack of workers to pick crab have all contributed to a steep decline in the profitability of fishing, crabbing and oystering in the area. Boo and Bubby are determined to continue working the water, but times are tough for these inveterate watermen.

Like many dyed-in-the-wool watermen, the Powleys aren't afraid to call it how they see it -- and they're not too happy with what they're seeing, especially with the regulation being imposed on them by people who, as the Powley brothers view it, have no real understanding of the water. (Or, as Boo says of one regulator the brothers have encountered, "I probably run more salt water in my socks than he's sailed across.") The water is in danger, they concede, but not from them; they believe that attempts to restore the ecosystem of the bay by regulating watermen are misguided, and that greater efforts should be made to control pollution from industry and farm runoff instead. All they want is to be left alone to do their jobs, but instead their livelihood is being restricted to such a degree that it may soon cease to exist; "You're savin' the resource, but you're gonna do away with me," Boo says.

Boo and Bubby are doing everything they can to stay on the water, but their children will not be following them into the business, and might not even be staying in town, given real estate prices. The Powleys have been in the area and on the water for four generations, and it looks like that tradition stops with Boo and Bubby.

But don't write these American Characters off yet, because if there is one thing watermen know, it's how to stay afloat in tough times.