

MILNER REPORT OF THE TRIANA TRIP. 355 



Number of men to navigate these vessels . 1, 350 



Number of shad taken in good season, which lasts only 



about six weeks 22,500,000 



Number of herrings under similar circumstances 750, 000, 000 



Quantity of salt required to cure the fish, bushels 995, 000 



Number of barrels to contain the fish 995, 000 



" The Potomac Kiver can boast of the largest shad-fisheries in the 

 United States. The advantages of the herring-fisheries she divides 

 with some other rivers of the South, but it is equaled by none unless it 

 be the Susquehanna." 



The abundance of the rock-fish and its large size are also referred to. 

 The record of a seine-haul is given at Sycamore Landing about 1827, 

 where 450 were taken, averaging 60 pounds each. 



The same writer refers also to the sturgeon abounding in the Potomac 

 as far up as the foot of the first falls. A peculiar form of tackle thought 

 to be used only on this river for taking sturgeon is described. 



In Fleet's Journal, first printed in 1871, the following entry was made, 

 under date of June 25, 1632 : " We came to an anchor two leagues short 

 of the falls, [falls of the Potomac] This place without all question is 

 the most pleasant and healthful place in all this country, and most con- 

 venient for habitation ; the air temperate in summer, and not violent in 

 winter. It abounds with all manner of fish. The Indian in one night 

 commonly will catch thirty sturgeons in a place where the river is not 

 twelve fathoms broad." 



The statistics for the years 1874 and 1875 will afford an interesting 

 comparison with the foregoing. The seine-fisheries of the Potomac, 

 from Matthias Point northward, numbered about thirty-three seines dur- 

 ing the shad-season of 1874. Since the time the Gazetteer was compiled, 

 however, the drift-nets have come into the river and capture a great 

 many shad which would otherwise find their way to the seines. A few 

 pound-nets also have been established, and come in for a small share of 

 the fish. Still, withal, the fishing enterprise must be considered as much 

 diminished since the record given in the Gazetteer. 



The nets in operation during shad-fishing of 1874 were at the follow- 

 ing shores : 



Virginia : Caywood's, Windmill Point, Tumps, Gum, Arkendale, Clif- 

 ton, Freestone Point, Stony Point, High Point, White House, Ferry 

 Landing, Jackson City. 



Maryland : Maryland Point, Budd's Ferry, Stump Neck, Chapman's 

 Point, Pamunkey, Gut Landing, Greenway, Bryant's Point, Moxley 

 Point, Kent, Stick Landing. 



The total for the Alexandria, Washington, and Georgetown markets 

 for Potomac fish, as taken from the report of Mr. C. Ludington, inspect- 

 or of marine products for the Washington board of hearth, is 1,051,587 

 shad; 15,006,940 herring ; 340,387 hickory -jacks (Pomolobus mediocris) ; 

 616,791 bunches fish ; and 1,650 sturgeon. 



