Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-10
FISH AND FISHERIES.
The CATCH or CRABS AND CLANS IN
VIRGINIA A BIG BUSINESS.
ussssr ~ EnsrappinG the Finnv Tribe
vsrseus Nets Ussd-- ssanhndsn Fish
Nc and the 0ll-Makspx Process


TArrAnAxxocx, Va. April s.--The great
oystor industry OF the State has been ex-
hAustsvely treated In various commun,ca-
tions. and especially in very able and
lengthy message from the Governor. THIS
message Of the Governor is especially con-
spicnous for thorough knowledge and q
laborious research into all the details OF
the industry, which. had they been carried
out BY proper legislation. would have
yielded very large revenue to the State.
Governor McKinney's prudence, eau,
ton, and diplomats skillin the settlement
OF the debt question. together with ms
thorough practical recommendations upon
the oyster question. shows him TO DO Q
statesman Of the highest order. and should
write bis name in the temple OF fame high
above that of any one who has filled the
executive chair. But IL is not my object
70 praise the Governor-this is unneces-
tary-- but TO treat of fish and fisheries. Be
fore discussing this question, however. we
will advert to the crab and clam industry.
GRABBING.
The catch OF crabs in the waters OF Viz
ginia Is very large business. While not
90 many persons are engaged IN 1t, 1t pays
much better without the exposure and
The mode of catching them Is very simple:
A barrel is procured and q number OF
auger-holes are bored in the sides TO give
free passage to the water. One hole. about
three or four inches in diameter, Is cut, TO
which Is attached funnel-shaped cioth,
or what is more easily obtainaoie, q
stocking with the foot of. The bait is
suspended inside, and the barrel Is weight
cd to the bottom The crab enters through
k.to m
bait. The stocking closes as soon as he
goes through, and he has no way OF egress;;
Nearly q barrel full Is caught In day and
In Session Acts ls77-'7s eide, Fish Com
missioner Wilk,nss report TO the Legisia-
fure. He saws: "While there are not 80
many persons engaged in the crab ind1s-
try as In Clustering. it IS much more pront-
able. A very large business Is done IN IN
canning of crabs, and vast quantities OF
these canned goods are shippeo even "eS'
OF the Mississippi"
The clam industry is another of con-
siderable magnitude. These shell hsh are
caught along the borders of salt water,
md are esteemed great delicacy tor soup
and baking. The clam-bake of New DER
sey is regarded as par excellence ABOVE
any other dish.
FISHING IN VIRGINIA WATERS.
This has been source of large revenue
and occupied large part OF her popuia-
ton. The area extends over much larger
surface than oystering, comprising tne eh-
tent of the rivers 10 their fails, ana even
above and all along the bay.
Various devices are resorted TO to en-
trap them, such as purse-nets, hke-nets,
trot-lines, haul-seines, stake-nets, nost-
nets, wain-stop nets. &c:
,ine purse-net is used in the bay and near
the mouths of the rivers by the fish-fac-
tories for catching the menhaden, from
which is extracted valuable OIL. winch 10
barreled and shipped to the cities In the
crude state, and the scrap which remains
is bulked and sold rs fertilizer.
Each factory will have from two TO SIX
vessels employed. These vessels sail out In
the bay or mouths of the rivers in quest OF
the fish, which are frequently seen In large
schools. A man at the masthead with q
good glass can see q school distance OF
seven miles from the color OF the water;
As soon as the school Is discovered all sail
is made for it. When the vessel comes up
with II boat is sent out with the seine,
which is laid around the school, or as much
of it as possible. and the ends brought to-
rether. There are loops on the bottom
line. through which there Is cord. ms
il then drawn together. closing the
bottom and sides. Hence the name
purse-net, from its RESEMBLANCE 70
the old style OF pocket-purse. Two boats
are generally used, as 1t facilitates matters:
The vessel then attaches its haiiyard ana
HOSTS the seine sufficiently TO scoop the
fish out. A good draft usually loads the
vessel when II makes sail immediately Tor
the factory. Besides the manhaden. many
of the finest food fish are caught, wnlch
accompany these schools and prey upon
them. These are boxed and shipped TO
market and add greatly 10 the pront.
When the fish reach the factory they are
are boiled until soft, and then put into
screw-presses similar to clder-presses,
though larger, where the oil Is extracted
and barrelled and the shapeless mass IS
then shovelled into wheelbarrows and
thrown into bulk which constitutes the
fertilizer, fish scrap. This business has
been very profitable where properly man.
aged.
THE POUND NET.
This is used along the bay and rivers as
far as saltwater extends; poles are driven
into the bottom firmly, extending out zoe
10 400 wards TO where the water Is = or III
feet deep; TO these poles Is attached net
reading from the surface Of the water tC
the bottom: this extends out to the trap
which il made very much like the old-5tylt
weir and surrounded by the me-. These
nets catch all kinds of ish, crabs, terra
pins. &C., but at this season chiefly shao
md herring; Of the latter frequently a.
many as 10000 TO 10000.
fIKE-NETs
are very much used, being simpler an6
less expensive. They are similar in ap
pearance TO the purse-net when closed
about FIVE feet high in front, dlminishin!
70 point at the end. round hoop Is IN
H. in u
every two or three feet. The nets ar
about twelve feet long. A net is als'
drawn across the opening OF each hool
and O square hole of eight inches In tn
centre. The holes diminish in size to tn
end of the net, and when fshed the net
are taken up and fish are found in tn
small end. They have a straight net OF
each side, which are supported by pole
and are called wings. They are used II
shallower water than the pound and highe
up the streams. The success with thes
nets is scarcely less than the pound wher
the difference in cost is considered.
TRoT LINES.
This device consists of half-inch line il
diameter and 700 to 800 yards long. IL
this is attached 700 or 800 hooks. three fee
apart and to lines two feet long. Thes
hooks are baited with menhaden or cat
6sh. This line is stretched across tn
channel Of the river with a heavy weigh
1t each end and q bouy which floats oil
the surface or o pole with brush end. 8
that the end Of the line can be readil,
found. These lines are fshed all the win
ter except when ice prevents. They ar
taken up at one end and passed along owe
che Prov of the boat, fshed AMI rebaited
They will sometimes catch 800 TO so
pounds rock, perch, and catfish. Rocl
often brings Is to 20 cents per pound
perch, u to 10 cents. so that it will b
seen that this is very profitable.
HAUL sEIEEs.
These are not in such general use as fol-
merry. but are very profitable in some acc
tions, especially in the vicinity of Norfol
and on the upper parts of soIae OF on
rivers.
There have been some notable shore!
especially on the RappahannOck and Potc
mac rivers White Point on the latter
now Colonial Beach. was famous in il
day. Az many asia million Of herring wer
landed at one haul besides other Ash. Thi
shore kept two vessels regularly, and FIRE
Quently I've or six, running fish to Alexar
dria and Washington through the season
and these did not include the herring
A