VIRGINIA 51 



Mountain.* The James rises in the Alleghany Moun- 

 tains under the name of the Fluviana, and receives a 

 considerable addition from the South Mountain, in the 

 Riviana. Off to the side, below Richmond, there is an- 

 other little fall near Petersburg, over the same granite 

 ledge. Both of these falls are very advantageous for 

 the fishery; for by these obstacles in the channel the 

 fish coming up-stream are hindered in their progress, 

 crowd together in vast numbers, and become an easy 

 prey. Early in the spring, and at times even in Feb- 

 ruary and March, herring and shad appear, which are 

 seen in the Delaware and the Hudson not before the 

 middle of April and in all May; there are other fish 

 also common to these rivers and to those of Virginia. 



The falls, incessantly churning the water and throw- 

 ing it up to the air, are thought to be the occasion of 

 the clouds, which are more frequent here, it is said, 

 than at other places where circumstances are dis- 

 similar; on this ground also it is claimed further that 

 Richmond is not so healthy as, from its situation in 

 other respects, it might well be supposed to be but is 

 very subject to autumn and intermittent fevers. But 

 these diseases being general along the coast the falls 

 of the river cannot be regarded as the especial occa- 



* Recently there have been set on foot plans to remove the 

 obstacles to inland navigation in the James River, and to 

 establish a connection between it and the Great Kenhaway 

 river, to the west of the mountains, these two streams being 

 separated by a land-passage of only 23 miles. In this way an 

 easy communication will be opened between the James and 

 the Ohio. And General Washington has also proposed a 

 further connecting of the Potowmack and the James, (pre- 

 sumably by means of the Shannandore). 



