184 REPORT OP COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 

 LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY. 



The fisheries of the Lower CHiesapeake, espec^ially those tributary to 

 Norfolk, Old I'oiiit Comfort, and Cape Charles, were the subjeet of 

 an inquiry conducted by the Avriter in December, 1890, and January, 

 1891. Special attention was given to the condition and methods of the 

 oyster fishery, the oyster sluickin.u- and canning trades, and the oyster- 

 planting industry in Norfolk and vicinity, and to the pound-net fishery 

 and oyster trade at Cape Charles. This region, viewed from a fishery 

 standpoint, is one of the most important in the United States; it main- 

 tains the most extensive oyster and seine fisheries and the largest fish 

 and oyster trades in Virginia, and the gill-net, pound-net, and other 

 fisheries are of considerable value. The oyster vessel fishery centering 

 at Norfolk and the oyster-jiacking industry of the place rank next to 

 those of Baltimore in importance. As it is not intended to publish 

 a special report embodying the results of this inquiry, a somewhat 

 detailed reference to the more important features of the fishing industry 

 may appropriately be made in this place. 



Next to Baltimore, Norfolk receives more oysters than any other 

 southern city. It is the headquarters of a large part of the extensive 

 fleets belonging in Norfolk, Yorktown, Cherrystone, and other customs 

 districts, and in the course of a season probably between 000 and 800 

 vessels land more or less of their catch there. The boat fisheries carried 

 on from the city are also important. The large area of oyster-ground 

 included in Hampton Roads and the James, Nansemond, Elizabeth, 

 Lynn Haven, and other rivers, is in great part tributary to Norfolk. 

 Numerous other sections on the western shore of the Chesapeake also 

 contribute their (^uota to the oyster trade of the city, notably the Back, 

 York, Piankatank, and Rappahannock rivers; and even parts of the 

 bay and ocean shores of the eastern peninsula depend on Norfolk for a 

 raark(!t. 



The James River is perhaps the most important oyster-ground in the 

 lower (Jhesapcakc. For about 20 miles above its mouth there are 

 large natunil beds or "rocks," which have been seriously depleted in 

 recent years. It is said that the beds would have been productive 

 for a much longer pericxl had the oystermen been obliged to return to 

 the water tlie small unmarketable oysters taken with the large stock. 

 Instead of culling the catch on the grounds, as should be required by 

 law, this was, and is, deferred until the shore is reached, and hundreds 

 of th(nisands of bushels of ycning oysters have thus been sacrifice*!, 

 although of late the practi(!e of piaking private beds with the smaller 

 oysters has been gaining favor, and is to be commended. At the ]nes- 

 ent time it is said that in every 25 bushels of oysters taken from tlio 

 natural beds, 20 l.nshcls are umnarketable. Fortunately the grounds 

 in this liver replenisli Iroin the spat with ])henomeual rapidity, other- 

 wise they nnist long ago have become practically barren of oysters. 

 Owing to (avovnlile conditions, the sui)i)ly in 1800 was very abundant, 



