The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-03
James-Rsver Fishing ina77s,

1
communication, showing how successial
the fishing was in upper James rivcrtn the
last century, before 1t was obstructed> py
dams. The reader OF the present day VIII
be surprised to learn how many fish were
the.a caught more than hundred mics
above Richmond. But fish Goth shati ana
| rock) were then caught In both Jackson,s
and Cowpasture rivers and In osher t 'i'''.
taries of the James. They were caugn1t, 10
North river at Lexington, and freely IN
Jackson's river near, the Warm springs, In
| Bath county. @s5'ts
We see how much the inhabitants on
these streams have lost by the damming OF
the rivers. In the letter below 1t is stated
that two fisheries; then owned by Colonel
| WILLIAM CABELL,. of Union HUI, supplied
seventy families with fish in fishing season.
The artificial Matching Of fish matches nine
ty-five per cent. OF the spawn OF fish, while
naturally only five per cent: Is Matched. thus ~
the multiplication OF fish under the artit I'll
cial system must be immense over all prece-
dent. II Is true the perils to tsh are
greatly increased by the increase OF popu-
lation and the multiplication OF traps and
seincs and all modes Of capture, but the
multiplication OF 'fsh must be immensely, in
excess OF the increase of perils to which
they are exposed. When we consider how
many fish were in other days caught by resi-
dents upon the upper divisions OF rivers
and their tributaries when dams =. did
lot obstruct the. run Of fish, are we not
called upon for the public good to
provide the means. for tishto get over the
dams and again find their way to the rapid,
pure and lovely waters Of the interior, in
which they so much delight and which are
so favorable to their thrift and multiplica-
ton? For food, fish are clearly indicated as
healthy and natural at different seasons OF
the year. They may. with proper en-
couragement to pisciculture, become most
important part Of the subsistence of the
community. It is estimated that in waters
properly stocked by the aid Of fish-culture
an acre OF water is more valuable for its
yield for the general subsistence than an
acre Of land. ai. r., - "'
The bill for the protection of fish and
game has passed the House Of Delegates,
and, We hope, will also pass the Senate.
NELSON COUNTY, Va, January 80, 1877.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:
of the value Of the fisheries on james river
before the building OF the dams, and with
| the hope that the information may tend to
stimulate our Legislature in the matter
| of fish-ladders, &C., send youa few ex-
tracts from the. diary Of Colonel William
Cabell, the elder, OF :" Union Hill" Rock
fish were caught in traps, the month OF
| October being the 't.height Of the season."
Shad were caught with seine, from the
latter part Of March to the middle Of May,
| or little later. The diary gives very little
idea OF the aunber Of fish caught. AS a
rule it gives the, day; on which the
fishing commenced and ended, and
sometimes makes a = note OF the
number caught or the weight Of one OF un-
usual size. In the year 1769 rockfsh were
caught as early as the middle OF September,
and on October oath, 1769, there is this
entry: "For several nights past caught 100
and large odd: rockfsh each night in our
traps" "September Is, 1774: Caught a
rockfsh q feet long, weighing 100 pounds,
good weight" "October 8, 1873: Caught
"a rockfsh in our traps, one weighing 10
pounds" (This was the commencement Of
the season.) He mentions catching rockfsh
weighing from 10 pounds up, and on "No-
yen1ber 5, 1892, caught rocktish in my
Swift-Island trap weighing 16 pounds"
This is the beaviestweisht given, though in
another place he mentions catching one
weighing u pounds, md one much larger,
which was not weighed. These rock
fish were caught in James river, about one
hundred and five miles above Richmond.
His shad-fisheries were at Swift Island,
one hundred and two miles from Rich
mond, and his upper fishery one hundred
and seven miles about one mile below the
mouth Of Tye riyer).. These fisheries were
rented out to companies, or gangs OF tive
one company to fish every Monday night,
another every Tuesday night, &C.. no com
pany or gang fishing oftener than one night
IN week. Sample contract: "John Mays,
James Mays, James Edmonds, John
Layne, and Elijah Mays to have my seine
and fishing-place on Woods Island" (the
upper fishery "every Tuesday night du-
ring the present season (178l) OF catching
fish, for which they are to deliver me one
hall of the fish caught, at nv landing oppo-
site the fshing-place; to be careful OF the
seine and keep 1t in order. And
if they fail to fish when the weather
and river will permit, they are to be answer-
able to me for their neglect, by paying me
for one half the fish, at the customary price,
which are usually caught. At the end OF
the season to deliver up the seine in good
order.''. Signed John Mays; &c. i -.
In this way his two fisheries supplied
seventy men and their families each week
with fish, and when we, consider the
number caught we can easily under
stand their great value to this section.
The season in 1856 was very late,
but take, it as !. an average !" April
Il, 1856, caught 1870 shad at Swift Island,
the first this season; April 16, 1875, caught
$50 shad at Swift Island; April IT., 1885,
caught 500 shad at my upper fishery; April
IS, 1855, caught $50 shad at my upper
fishery; April IS, 17S6, caught 1882 shad al
Swift Island; April.19, 1856, caught ] POO
shad at my upper fishery; April
10, 17sG, caught 1904 II shad a!
Swift Island, or 1904 shad in one
night" They sold for from two pence
to four pence each; but many were given
away. The year 1877 he mentions as ga
most excellent season for fshing"; but
very few figures are given. g March %,
1851, caught 800 shad at Swift Island, the
first this season." and sEApril 8, 1857, caught
shad at my upper fishery weighing 81
| pounds, good weight" 1t is unnecessary
to give more figures, as those already given,
I think. will give a fair idea Of the number
and value OF the fish caught.
! In the year Its shad sold for two pence
each; in I778, one shilling; in Ito, three
| R,o .hg,r affor tho 9ovo1,,f ;op thor