170 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AXD FISHERIES. 



2 lejignes fiom Sandy Hook, on wliicli, in a few houres, 4 men took 11 

 or 12" hundred excellent good codd the last time tbey were out, and 

 most of y® vessells that goe to amf from Virginia take good quantityes. 

 That vessell is to goe from I^ewfound Land to gett fishermen, lines, 

 hookes, and other uecessaryes for fishing : I doubt not but this coast 

 will afford fish in abundance. 



On y® east end of Long Island there were 12 or 13 whales taken before 

 y'' end of March, and what since wee heare not ; here are dayly some 

 seen in the very harbour, sometimes within Nutt Island. Out of the 

 Pinnace, the other week, they struck two, but lost both, the iron broke 

 in one, the other broke the waVpe. The Governour hath encouraged 

 some to follow this designe. Two shallops made for itt, but as yett wee 



doe not heare of any they have gotten, 



******* 



A Perfect Description of Virginia : heinf/, afnll & true Relation of tlie pres- 

 ent State of the Plantation, their Health, Peace (t Plenti/ : the nnmher of 

 people, with their abundance of Cattell, Fowl, Fish, itc. With several 

 sorts of rich & good Commodities, tohich may there be had, either Naturally, 

 or by Art if- Labor, &c. London. Printed for Richard Wodenoth, at the 

 Star under Peter'' s Church, in Cor nh ill, 1619. 



[Force's Historical Tracts, II, tract 8.] 



jS"ow these are the several sorts & kinds of Beasts, Birds, Fish, in 

 Yirginia. 

 Beasts great «& small, as followeth : abo\'e 20 severall kinds. 



1. Lyons, ") But all these foure sorts are up in the higher i^arta of 



I the Countrey, on the hills & mountains, few to be seene 



2. Beares, 1 in the lower parts, where the English are; the Elkes 



3. Leopards, fare as great as Oxen, their horns six foot wide, & have 



4. Bikes. I two Calves at a time; the skins make good Buffe, & 



3 the flesh as good as Beefe. 



5. Deere. 



6. Foxes. 



7. Wilde Cats. 



8. Kaconnes, as good meat as Lambe. 



9. Bassonnes. This beast hath a bagge under her belly, into which 



she takes yer young oueS; if at any time aifrighted, & carries 

 them away. 



10. Two sorts of squirrels : One called a flying one, for that she spreads 



like a Batt, a certaine loose skin she hath, & so flyes a good 

 way. 



13. A Muske Rat, so called for his great sweetnesse& shape. 



14. Hares. 



15. Beavers. 

 IG. Otters. 



17. Doggs, But barke not, after the shape of a Wolfe, and Foxes 



smell not; Wolves but little, neither not fierce. 



18. Wolves. 



19. Martins, Poule Cats, Weesels, Minks: but these Vermine hurt not 



Hens, Chickins, or Eggs, at any time. 



20. A little beast like a Connv, the Foxes kill many of them.- 



