How Dungeness Got Its Name
On April 30, 1792, Captain George Vancouver anchored Discovery near the spit. He named it Dungeness Spit after a famous headland (a narrow piece of land that projects from a coastline into the sea) on the south coast of Kent in England. He thought this new area closely resembled that of the English coastline feature. Vancouver was unaware that the area had already been named Punta de Santa Cruz two years earlier by the Spanish explorer Manuel Quimper. Vancouver’s name stuck.
Dungeness Crabbing Industry
Along the West Coast, Dungeness crabs are both a delicacy and an important part of the seafood industry. Annual harvesting along the entire Pacific Coast ranges from 35-55 million pounds, although annual conditions can force lower harvests. The crabs are caught in traps called “pots,” baited with herring, squid, and razor clams, with the average boat tending 250-300 pots in depths ranging from 30-300 feet. Citing its importance to the state’s economy, the Oregon State Legislature named the Dungeness crab as the state crustacean in 2009; only two other states, Maryland (blue crab) and Louisiana (freshwater crayfish), have designated a state shellfish. Seafood Watch has given the crab a sustainable seafood rating of ‘Best Choice.’