236 PREHISTORIC FISHING. 



I returned the manuscript, expressing the desire to be furnished by him with an 

 abstract of it. He very obligingly complied with my request, and communicated 

 to me the following data : 



" The region about to be considered was occupied by the Wicomico or Yoa- 

 comico Indians prior to 1633. At this time they sold their lands to Lord Balti- 

 more, and, drifting northward, thereafter lost their tribal identity. These 

 Indians are said to have been of a pacific disposition, and were chiefly devoted 

 to agriculture, hunting, and fishing. All that is known about them is found in 

 Father Andrew White's ' Relatio Itinineris in Marylandiam.' 



" The shell-mounds and shell-fields of the Potomac region are both numerous 

 and of large extent. They were first observed on Nanjemoy Creek, where the 

 water is of a brackish character. Thence they are found at frequent intervals on 

 both sides of the Potomac. The most interesting, however, are located at Pope's 

 Creek, fifty-eight miles south of Washington. The deposits at this place are 

 two in number, the larger being situated on the northern side of the creek, near 

 its junction with the Potomac. This mound rests on a high bank which faces 

 the creek on the south and also extends northward parallel with the Potomac. 

 It spreads over several acres of ground, and is partially concealed by an over- 

 lying stratum of earth. The shells vary in depth from one to seven and a half 

 feet. They are mostly those of the common oyster (Ostrea virginiana), still found 

 in this vicinity. Among them are also occasionally found shells of the qua- 

 haug or hard-shell clam (Venus mercenaria), and carapaces of the tortoise. 

 The shells themselves, while showing traces of approaching disintegration, are 

 still in a sound condition, excepting, however, those near the substratum, where 

 time and enormous pressure have conduced to their decomposition. 



" Only a few fragments of bones have thus far been observed. 



" Pits containing ashes and charcoal are occasionally met with in the southern 

 margin of the mound, where the shells have been removed for lime-making. 

 The shells do not appear to have been much broken during the process of open- 

 ing, probably because the mollusks were cooked in the fire prior to opening. 



" Stone implements of a rude character are quite frequent. They consist 

 mostly of hammer-stones, axes, celts, broken arrow and spear-points, and net- 

 sinkers. Fragments of plain and ornamented pottery are also found in all parts 

 of the deposit. 



" The southern mound is much smaller than the one just mentioned. It is 

 eleven feet in height, but its superficial extent cannot be determined with accuracy, 

 inasmuch as the shells are mostly concealed by earth and vegetation. These 

 shells are also of the common oyster. The implements, although similar in 

 character, are not so numerous as in the other mound. 



" The shell-fields which exist south of this place, are of great extent, and 



