The Chesapeake Bay Log canoe was long used by watermen on the Chesapeake Bay for tonging oysters. It is descended from the single log dugout canoe of the Native Americans. Chesapeake log canoes are unique in the fact that they were built from multiple logs joined together and hollowed out. As the demand for oysters grew greater thoughout the 19th century, waterman began to build larger canoes, using more logs. This evolution resulted in the Chesapeake Bay Bugeye. Towards the end of the 19th century, watermen began to race their canoes for pleasure. Soon, purpose-built racing canoes were being built. The tradition of Chesapeake log canoe races continues to this day.
