Many of us depend on our phones to be, well, more than phones. They are our computers, our maps, our calendars and our cameras. They can also be our gateway into citizen science. Beaches change over time. But traditional methods of monitoring shoreline erosion and recovery cycles, as well as long-term changes, can be both challenging and expensive. Scientists can’t be everywhere all the time. But, collectively, beachgoers witness shorelines pretty frequently. And many of them have cameras in their pocket. Read more here: https://www.capeandislands.org/local-news/2025-09-04/coastsnap-turns-beachgoers-into-citizen-scientists-to-track-shoreline-change?eNews (fb)

The catboat is one of the most distinctive boat designs to come out of New England. With its wide beam, shallow draft, and single gaff-rigged sail set far forward, it was perfectly suited to the shifting shoals and tidal flats of Cape Cod waters. The exact origin of the "catboat" name is uncertain, but it likely refers to a few possibilities: fishermen shooing stray cats away from their catch, the boats being as quick and agile as a cat, or a corruption of the Irish term "cot boat," which described similar shallow-draft working boats. Beginning in the mid-1800s, Pleasant Bay fishermen and oystermen relied on catboats to dredge shellfish, haul nets, and carry heavy loads while still being able to slip into narrow channels and beach easily. By the late 19th century, the catboat’s practicality gave way to popularity as a recreational craft. For many, the silhouette of a catboat under full sail is now synonymous with Cape Cod summers...and Pleasant Bay! (fb)