THE INVASION OF THE POTOMAC 



By Henry Talbott, 

 washington, d. c. 



To those who have kiKnvn the Potomac well it has always 

 been one of the greatest of fishing streams. Strange to say, 

 the fishes for which it was once famous have now nearly 

 disappeared, and it is fished now for an alien st(^ck, for most 

 of its biting population has been imported. 



11ie following interesting extract from Captain John 

 Smith's narrative is evidence of the earlv date at which the 



Tliey afterwards went up tlie river as high as they could with their 

 boats and were received in some phices kindly, and in others in a hostile 

 manner. Up a small ri\er then called Quiyough, which I take to be 

 Potowmack Creek, was a mine like Antimony. In this the Indians dug, 

 and washing away the Dross in a clear P)rook, which ran by. they put 

 the Remainder in little Bags, and sold it all over the country, to deck 

 their Bodies, Faces, and Idols, which made them look like Blackamores 

 dusted over with Silver. Newport had carried some of these Bags 

 home, and assured them that they were found upon trial to contain half 

 silver. Being therefore very eager after this mine they obtained Guides 

 from Japazaws, King of Potowmack, who lived at the mouth of that little 

 River and went up to it ; liut all they got, proved of no value. Towards 

 the Falls of Potowmack, they met several parties of Indians in Canoes, 

 loaded with the Flesh of Bears, Deer, and other wild Beasts, which they 

 generou-sly imparted to them ; and in divers Places, they saw that abun- 

 dance of Fish, lying with tluir 1 leads aliove water, that their Barge 

 driving among them, for want of a net they . attempted to catch them 

 with a frying-Pan, But they found that a bad instrument to catch Fish. 



It is interesting to note that the antimony mine with whose 

 glitter the duskv dandies sihered their bronze bodies was not 

 on Quiyough. which is the present Acquia Creek, but on 

 Quantico. 10 miles above, then called Ochquayo River, and 

 navigable for their light draft sea vessels to Dumfries, five 

 miles above. And the mine a couple of miles beyond is not 



