184 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY. 
The fisheries of the Lower Chesapeake, especially those tributary to 
Norfolk, Old Point Comfort, and Cape Charles, were the subject of 
an inquiry condueted by the writer in December, 1890, and January, 
1891. Special attention was given to the condition and methods of the 
oyster fishery, the oyster shucking and canning trades, and the oyster- 
planting industry in Norfolk and vicinity, and to the pound-net fishery 
and oyster trade at Cape Charles. This region, viewed from a fishery 
standpoint, is one of the most important in the United States; 1t main- 
tains the most extensive oyster and seine fisheries and the largest fish 
and oyster trades in Virginia, and the gill-net, pound-net, and other 
fisheries are of considerable value. The oyster vessel fishery centering 
at Norfolk and the oyster-packing industry of the place rank next to 
those of Baltimore in importance. As it is not intended to publish 
a special report embodying the results of this inquiry, a somewhat 
detailed reference to the more important features of the fishing industry 
may appropriately be made in this place. 
Next to Baltimore, Norfolk receives more oysters than any other 
southern city. It is the headquarters of a large part of the extensive 
fleets belonging in Norfolk, Yorktown, Cherrystone, and other customs 
districts, and in the course of a season probably between 600 and 800 
vessels land more or less of their catch there. The boat fisheries carned 
on from the city are also important. The large area of oyster-ground 
included in Hampton Roads and the James, Nansemond, Elizabeth, 
Lynn Haven, and other rivers, is in great part tributary to Norfolk. 
Numerous other sections on the western shore of the Chesapeake also 
contribute their quota to the oyster trade of the city, notably the Back, 
York, Piankatank, and Rappahannock rivers; and even parts of the 
bay and ocean shores of the eastern peninsula depend on Norfolk for a 
market. 
The James River is perhaps the most important oyster-ground in the 
lower Chesapeake. For about 20 miles.above its mouth there are 
large natural beds or “rocks,” which have been seriously depleted in 
recent years. It is said that the beds would have been productive 
for a much longer period had the oystermen been obliged to return to 
the water the small unmarketable oysters taken with the large stock. 
Instead of culling the catch on the grounds, as should be required by 
law, this was, and is, deferred until the shore is reached, and hundreds 
of thousands of bushels of young oysters have thus been sacrificed, 
although of late the practice of making private beds with the smaller 
oysters has been gaining favor, and is to be commended. Atthe pres- 
ent time it is said that in every 25 bushels of oysters taken from the 
natural beds, 20 bushels are unmarketable. Fortunately the grounds 
in this river replenish from the spat with phenomenal rapidity, other- 
wise they must long ago have become practically barren of oysters. 
Owing to favorable conditions, the supply in 1890 was very abundant, 
