THE JAMES EIVEE, VIRGINA. 639 



The following is a summary of the statistics of the fisheries of the James River in 1880 : 



EABLY HISTORY OF JAMES RIVER FISHERIES. The following historical data are here repro- 

 duced through the kindness of Mr. Alexander Brown, of Norwood, Va. 



In 1743 old Dr. William Cabell bought a seine to catch fish, 6 feet deep in the middle, 4 feet 

 deep at the staves or ends, well leaded and corked, about 15 fathoms long, and 100 weight of f-inch 

 white cord. 



[From the diary of Col. William Cabell, of "Union Hill," Nelson County, Virginia.] 



1769. 



October 3 : Made up our fish dam, Bet trap, and caught several rocktish, tho' Mr. Hughes caught rooks a fort- 

 night sooner. October 24 : For several nights past caught 100 and large odd rockfish each night in OUT traps. October 



25: Caught 2 fine carp in our traps. 



1TTO. 



April 10: Caught the first shad for this season. 



November 23: Rented Jos. Cabell Ray's fishing place for 4 the next season. 

 December 18 : By Jos. Cabell 5 for the rent of Ray's fishing place for 1770. 



1771. 



April 10: Begun to catch shad. 



May 6: Humphrey to fish Thursday night. Mr. Nightingale to fish to-morrow fortnight. 



1773. 



June 7: By Abram Warwick a half Joe, which weighed 45 shillings, out of which I am to apply 10 shillings to his 

 credit fcr a night fishing. 



October 7: Rented John Depriest Ray's fishery as long as I have a right to it; so that it does not exceed nine 

 years, to commence from the 25th Dec. next at 10 12. 6<J. a year, the first payment to he made the 10th of June 



next and the like sum annually. 



1774. 



July 19: By Col. Nevil 7s. Gd. for a night's fishing. 

 September 13 : Caught a rockfish in one of my traps which was 2} feet long and weighed 10J pounds. 



1775. 



March 11: Caught 17 white shad, 11 of which at one haul. 



April 16: Caught a shad which weighed 7} pounds good weight. 



May 15: Let Mrs. Prichard have 25 shad for her husband's mending my scein. 



July 15: By Capt. Dawson, 14. 2d. in full for 85 shad, at 2<J. and 2. 6d. for Elliot Roberts for the Bostonians. 



1776. 



July 15 : Sent by Mrs. Prichard 16} Ibs. of twine to begin to knit me a seine. 



1777. 



March 30 : At night caught shad for the first, being the first night that we began to fish. The river very low, 

 scarcely a six hh'd tide, and has been so chiefly since Christmas. The dryest winter and spring, I believe, ever known. 



March 21 : Caught the first shad this season. 



1778. 



