Evening star., 1936-02-22
FIRST PRESIDENT
WAS FISHERMAN
Diary DiscIoses His Interest
in Commercial Catches
in Potomac.

A common bond between George
Washington and local fishermen was
revealed today by Charles E. Jack
son, Deputy Commissioner of Fish
cries.
The current popularity of CONNER
eial shad fishing in the Potomac and
Tidal Basin recalled to Jackson that
the first President operated one OF
the first fisheries in the country at
his Mount Vernon estate. Washing
tons diary comments on shad catch
ing in much the same manner as
might fishermen of today-making
allowances for modes of expression
in vogue between 1748 and 1799.
MANY fish caught today" he wrote
on April 80, 1887. But then comes
the depressing information, doubt
lessly experienced by "shadders" of
1886: mo demand for them; sailing
them up"
A few days earlier he had written:
"The Shad began to run today, hav-
ing caught 100, 200 and 800 at a
draught."
The squire of Mount Vernon re-
ferred frequently to his fish house. a
building probably used for storage of
nets and equipment and for salting
his surplus catch. He seems to have
employed numerous persons for fish,
cry work.
"No Fish Today"
mo fish being caught today" he
wrote on May 5, 1913, It ordered the
Hogsheads, and everything else to be
secured and the People to repair to
their respective places and busi-
nesses."
The presence of bountiful supply
of fish in the Potomac during Wash
ington's time, when there was no pol
luton and only few engaged in the
industry, is evidenced by diary
entry of April IA, 1876. which reports
q cate, of $4,000 herring. Washing
ton, the fishery owner, complains at
one time of catching only 10000
fish during one night. No great hand
made of fishing" he wrote that day.
Other diary entries show he leased
fishing rights and privileges on his
Potomac shores and caught species
of fish long since exhausted. He
speaks of catching sturgeon, Sleeps
head and whitefish. There is no rec
ord of sheepshead being caught in
the Potomac since 1880, according to
Jackson. Practically no sturgeon are
taken in the upper reaches of the
Potomac today, statistics of 1888
showing 125 pounds, or only about
two or three fish, taken.
Disorderly Oysterman.
Washington's intimate accounts OF
his trials and tribulations as fish
cry manager would delight anglers of
today. On January 3, 1850, he evi-
IDENTIFY was annoyed by an unman-
nerly visitor in his waters, for he
wrote: "Hauld the Sein and got some
fish, but was near being disappointed
of my Boat by means of an Oyster
Man, who had lain at my landing and
plagued me a good deal by his dis
orderly behavior"
He fshed for sturgeon "from
breakfast to dinner" May 16, 1853,
but catchd none" Other sample OBJ
servations include:
April II, 1769-The Whitefish ran
plentifully at my Sein landing, hav-
ing catchd abt. 800 at one Hawl.
July II, 1773-Went down to
Colo Fairfax's White House to haul
the Sein, returned to Dinner.
April %, 1787-But poor success
In fishing today"
Washington was believed to have
marketed his fish in Baltimore,
though he probably disposed of some
at Georgetown and Alexandria, ac-
cording to Jackson. 1t is also thought
that he salted large quantities of fish
which were used in feeding his own
slaves and perhaps those of his
neighbors Fried fish is a great deli
cacy among colored folk.
Like Fishing as Sport.
In addition to commercial fishing,
the first President was interested in
fishing for sport and refers in his
diary to several expeditions with
friends and to an exceptionally large
catfish that he and neighbor
caught. On May 13, 1853, he noted:
went after Sturgeon and a-gun-
ming"
Washington listed among his equip
ment for trip in the Fall of 1874
fishing lines in canteens, madeira
and port wine. cherry bounce, and
oyl, mustard, vinegar, and spices of
all sorts"
Jackson's bureau wishes devoutly
that fishing in the Potomac was as
good as during Washington's time.
The shad run is decreasing Gin spite
Of everything we can do" it mourns,
attributing the decrease to heavy pol
luton of the Potomac by domestic