State Symbols/15

STATE SPORT. The equestrian sport of jousting
is the official sport of Maryland (Chapter 134, Acts
of 1962; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-
308).

STATE FOSSIL SHELL. In 1984, the shell of the
Ecphora quadricostata (Say), an extinct snail, was
designated the State fossil shell (Chapter 313, Acts
of 1984; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-
311). The Ecphora inhabited Chesapeake Bay and
other East Coast tidal waters 5 to 12 million years
ago. It is believed that an Ecphora shell found in St.
Mary's County c. 1685, was the first North Amer-
ican fossil illustrated in European scientific works.

STATE INSECT. The Baltimore Checkerspot
Butterfly {Euphydryas phaeton) is the official
arthropodic emblem of the State (Chapter 253,
Acts of 1973; Code State Government Article, sec.
13-301).

STATE BOAT. The skipjack was designated the
State Boat in 1985 (Chapter 788, Acts of 1985;
Code State Government Article, sec. 13-312).
Skipjacks, named after a leaping fish, are the last
working boats under sail in the United States. In
winter, they dredge oysters from the floor of Ches-
apeake Bay.