Lee. — Fisheries in Virginia. 209 



The fin fisheries add much to the income of Virginians. 

 More than six thousand licensed nets are engaged in the 

 commercial industry of fishing, and but for these there 

 would be very few or no fish on the markets. As it is, we 

 have much complaint of the scarcity of fish and against the 

 numerous nets. Year after year these complaints come up, 

 yet the records of many years indicate that there is decrease 

 in but few varieties of our fish, while the total output is 

 constantly increasing. 



The demand for fish in Northern markets at high prices 

 induces the catcher to ship North instead of throughout the 

 state, and this unfortunate condition of scarcity in our own 

 markets is brought about by the demand of those who are 

 willing to pay higher prices, and not by scarcity of the fish. 

 While the rivers up the bay teem with commercial as well 

 as game fish, most of these go to Baltimore, Philadelphia 

 and New York. Those of the lower Bay and Hampton 

 Roads center around Norfolk and the Virginia peninsula, 

 Norfolk being the largest market for fin fish even as in 

 oysters. The commerce and trade derived from the water 

 delvers is a great asset to Norfolk and other marts on Hamp- 

 ton Roads. 



Periodically, efforts are made to scare the public on the 

 Pollution theory as effecting oysters. Years ago the Fed- 

 eral Government made a terrific crusade on this line, and 

 beggared many thousands of people in the industry, and 

 frightened the general public almost into fits. The 

 campaign, lasting several years, was finally decided before 

 Secretary Houston of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 who declared that the oyster had been greatly wronged. 

 Occasionally there bobs up some department of science 

 that wants to get into the limelight on the same subject 

 and the damage to localities and people is much before it 

 can be dissipated. With the exception of the waters at one 

 or two thickly populated sections of Virginia, our vast area 

 of tidal waters is free of pollution. From those isolated 

 spots alluded to no oysters are allowed to be taken, there- 

 fore the product of Virginia is certainly equal if not 

 superior to that of any Atlantic coast state. Competitors 

 North are usually the ones who agitate this pollution idea 

 for the Southern States, because they themselves have been 

 barred in the waters of their populous localities. 



