1942 Map of Kedges Straits

About this map

The maritime landscape of the lower Chesapeake Bay is defined here by the shifting marshlands and vital navigational aids that guided Maryland watermen during the early 1940s. Centered on South Marsh Island and the northern reaches of Smith Island, the map reveals an intricate network of tidal guts and ridges, such as Noah Ridge and Joes Ridge Creek, which dictated the movement of local fishing and crabbing fleets. This period precedes significant coastal erosion, showing a larger landmass at Holland Island than remains today.