THE TORK AND RAPPAHANNOCK RIVERS. 



643 



been taken. Now, the haul-seines are abandoned, there being but four in the two rivers, and the 

 fishing is mainly with float-seines. The fish reach the market through West Point, Sweet Hall, 

 Lester Mauor, Cahoke, and White House, all stations on the York River Railroad, and thence 

 are sent chiefly to Richmond, and some to Baltimore and Philadelphia. Sturgeon go to Rich- 

 mond almost exclusively, and are known there as Charles City "bacon". 



Summary of the fisheries of the Mattapony and Pamunkey Rivers for 1880: 



Pamunkey and Mattapony liivers. 



The fish for market are taken almost exclusively in float-nets and stake-nets; formerly there 

 were a number of profitable seine hauls in both rivers, which are now abandoned. Four of the 

 old shores are sometimes hauled, but they hardly pay expenses. TJpon the two rivers one hundred 

 and seventy-five boats are occupied in fishing float-nets and twenty-five boats in stake-net fishing. 

 To each boat there is usually a man and a boy, and the cost of the outfits will average about $30. 



Besides the float and stake-nets, there are three weirs in the vicinity of West Point and e.'ght 

 fyke-nets. They are principally valuable for the fall and winter fishing. 



At the narrows of the rivers what are termed " hedgings" are numerous. They effectually 

 impede the further ascent of the fish, and as nearly all the shad that reach them are ripe they 

 must exert a very injurious influence upon the fisheries. 



A "hedging" is made by driving down forks at intervals of 6 to 8 feet across the stream from 

 one bank to the other. These support a continuous log or ridge-pole some 6 or 8 inches in diameter ; 

 resting upon this and pointing up the stream are poles 3 or 4 inches in diameter driven into the 

 mud and spaced at intervals of an inch. An opening about 3 feet in diameter is left at one point. 

 By the accumulation of leaves a tolerably tight dam is soon formed; the water is dammed back, 

 and a strong current discharged through the opening, presenting the only possible passage for the 

 ascent of the fish. At this opening stands a worthless, lazy contraband, or more worthless white, 

 "skim-net" in hand, and when he feels a fish strike the net lifts it out. Such devices as these 

 should be prohibited under the severest penalties. 



4. THE RAPPAUANNOGK RIVER. 



The sources of the Eiippahannock are on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge. Its mountain 

 tributaries formerly abounded in trout, which have, however, almost entirely disappeared from 

 most of the streams, being occasionally found in those above where the fishing laws have been 

 strictly observed. The readiness with which these fish have been restored to their streams by 



