"How nice it was to return to my home town after 40 years and see the Chesapeake Bay decoy so perfectly represented. Equally impressive was finding that the Bay's fowling and carving culture lives on through the capable stewardship of Jeff Pelayo. It is a skill not easily acquired - handed down, swapped, read and researched - but it is imbued in Jeff, and places his Canvasback Gallery within a small number of gifted collectors on the east coast. Located at the old Easton marketplace, where canvasbacks once hung on wooden pegs across from his front store window on the side of the courthouse, one can almost sense the ghosts of the old baymen among Jeff's collectibles." R.K. Sawyer (Author, 'A History Of Coastal Texas Waterfowl Hunting'), Houston, Texas.
"Jeff Pelayo...is one of the leading authorities on decoy history, identification, appraising, and collecting from the Upper Chesapeake Bay and other regions. His passion is driven by sharing, preserving, and educating others about the "Golden Years" of the Waterman and how they made a living. His honesty has only attributed to developing a positive reputation and a stronger friendship." Nate Heess (Upper Bay Collector), Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.
"I haven't found a more authoritative voice on ducks and decoys and their history than Jeff Pelayo. Walking through his gallery/decoy shop is truly like walking into a page of Maryland history. Even better: Jeff will provide an interpretive background on ducks and decoys in Maryland -- on the hobby as a whole, or on the singular decoy you pick up off a shelf. A definite can't-miss stop along the Eastern Shore!" Dan Patrell (Maryland Life Magazine), Frederick, Maryland.
"I live on the west coast and thanks to Jeff, I started to collect Upper Chesapeake Bay Decoys. He is the most honest and knowledgeable dealer and person that I've had the pleasure to be associated with. Stop by Easton, Maryland and visit Jeff and his new shop, The Canvasback Gallery....you won't be disappointed. It's truly a destination." Rick Bianchi (Upper Bay Collector), Lodi, California.
"I have known, studied, traded and purchased decoys from Jeff Pelayo for many years and have marveled at how honest and free he is in sharing his vast knowledge about this great hobby. I also have traveled many times fron Indiana to visit Jeff and study his collection. A visit to The Canvasback Gallery is worth the trip from anywhere. You will not regret seeing the artifact display and then brouse the Gallery and hopefully take a memory home with the many items on display for purchase". David Moore (just4decoys.com), Crown Point, Indiana.
"I stopped by the Canvasback Gallery yesterday to pick up a Madison Mitchell goose I had recently purchased from Jeffrey. What a fantastic new space! A friend from work was with me and loved the whole concept and layout. She was especially taken with the "art" side. I have been slowly building a decoy collection and Jeffrey has been great to work with in both the purchasing aspect but especially advising and pointing me in the right direction with these wonderful birds". Nelson Streett, Baltimore, Maryland.
"Love your store! My wife Michele and I stopped into your store a couple weeks ago. It was nice speaking with you. We left with a great deal of admiration for your passion and it reminded me how lucky I was to have grown up in Centreville especially since I now live in the hussle and bussle of the western shore. We talked about growing up on the shore (even the short story of the little known hard biscuits that used to be a must for all Sunday dinners..."beatin biscuits" from Wye Mills)...hunting over primarily Gibson's as a kid...and first met you at the Cambridge store when I bought a Mitchell female baldpate. My interest is Havre de Grace area decoys. Best of luck and we will be back". Dave Anthony, Western Shore, Maryland.
Joe Dye, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Canvasback Drake, circa 1890
