Don Kelly's Ozello Shrimper | Recreational Shrimping Equipment and Information

For those of you that know me personally, you know that I live in France.  I moved here about three years ago.  So, when I find a connection between where I am now and where I was before, I can't help but share it.

Evidently, recreational shrimping in Florida originated in France.  According to this article in the Carrol Herald dated January 20th, 1896 - the shrimping "fad" became popular in Florida after being imported from the beaches of France.  Declared the "invention of the age", it quickly caught on among all tourists who came to the state.

The article goes into much more detail about the efforts needed back in the day.  Apparently it was a daytime activity that required carrying women across the water on low tide to prevent them from getting their dresses wet.

Having family on the English Channel (La Manche) in Normandy, France, I can see the similarities between the push nets of France's West Coast and the trend in Florida quite clearly.  The British have even picked it up on the East Coast of their island.  Still, I don't know if I could attribute it all to the French.

That said, the other great shrimping community of the U.S. sure does have a lot of French history, doesn't it? 

Google News archives are truly amazing!