460 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



164. MIDDLESEX, LANCASTER, AND NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTIES. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. Middlesex County covers all the narrow peninsula lying between the 

 Rappahanuock and the Piankatank Rivers. It is 30 miles in length, with a mean breadth of about 

 5 miles. The surface is mostly level ; the soil varies from sandy loam to stiff clay, and is very 

 productive of corn, wheat, &c. The population in 1880 was 0,252. The Piaukatauk, which forms 

 the southern boundary of the county, was formerly the seat of very productive fisheries, and the 

 bed of the river was filled with natural deposits of oysters, but the introduction of pound-nets has 

 almost destroyed the former, while excessive tonging and unlawful dredging has ruined the 

 oyster beds. To some extent, however, the yield has been restored by plantings. The pound-nets 

 extend all the way from the mouth of the Piankatauk to Stingray Point. There are also a number 

 of them in the Rappahaunock, the larger proportion being on the north shore, as experience shows 

 that the greater run of fish is on that side. The oyster beds of the Rappahaunock give employ- 

 ment to a considerable number of tongers, and the numerous creeks and coves that drain into 

 both the Rappahanuock and Piankatauk are filled to their utmost capacity with planted oysters. 



The following summary will be of interest: Number of men engaged in the river and shore 

 fisheries, 52; annual product river and shore fisheries, 105,000 pounds, chiefly shad, valued at 

 $4,470. The number of men engaged in the oyster fisheries is 998; capital invested, $13,000. The 

 product and value of the oyster fisheries cannot be given for the county separately. The men- 

 haden fisheries give employment to 46 men, and have $15,000 invested in boats and fixtures. The 

 product is 10,000,000 fish annually. For the conversion of these into oil and guano there are 

 several kettle factories between the mouth of the Piaukatauk and the Rappahannock. The guano 

 product in these kettle factories goes almost entirely to supply the local demand; but the process 

 of manipulation is so imperfect that a very inferior article is produced. 



LANCASTER COUNTY. Lancaster County lies on the north bank of the Rappahannock River 

 and has the Chesapeake Bay for a portion of its eastern boundary. The surface is mostly 

 level. The soil, which is a sandy loam, is naturally unproductive, by liberal applications of fish 

 chum is made to yield very fine crops. The county is drained by many creeks. The Moratico, 

 Deep, Mud, Carter's, and Musquito Creeks, and the Corrotoma River are tributaries of the Rap- 

 pahannock; while the Antipoison, Tabb's, Dwyer's, ludian, and Little Bay are tributaries of 

 Chesapeake Bay. They all furnish favorable planting grounds for oysters, and are stocked to 

 their fullest capacity. As might be expected, a large proportion of the people engage in occupa- 

 tions connected with the water. Out of a total population of 6,145, there are 42 in the river and 

 shore fisheries, 1,040 in the oyster fisheries, and 46 in the menhaden fisheries. The total product 

 of the river and shore fisheries is 166,000 pounds, having a value of $3,528 ; that of the menhaden 

 fisheries is 1,000 tons of fertilizers and 18,000 gallons of oil, possessing a value of $23,200. Most 

 of the menhaden are taken in purse-nets fished by sailing vessels ; there were seven menhaden 

 factories in operation in 1880, the largest being that of Bussels & Co., situated in Carter's Creek. 



NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY. Northumberland County is one of the five counties constitut- 

 ing the "Northern Neck'' of Virginia, and has the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay for its 

 eastern boundary. It is 30 miles long and about 12 miles wide. The surface is mostly level, and 

 the soil on the streams is a sandy loam, with clay subsoil, and is well adapted to wheat. As the 

 county has no large fresh-water streams there is a total absence of shad fisheries, but quite a 

 number of salt-water species, such as trout, tailors, rock, and perch, are taken iu some of the 

 many salt-water creeks that indent the coast line of the county. These fish, which are captured 

 in small haul seines, pounds, or gill-nets, are either consumed iu the vicinity or find their way to 



