a 
THE YORK 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 Manor, Cahoke, andeWhite 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 Matiapony Rivers. 
Product of the fisheries. 
Capital in- 
Number. 
vested. : 
Pounds of 
fish. Value. 
Men employed in fishing........-..-.--..+---- 426 || wasn escenca:s||scosw ease selacaissamcenese 
Boats otto tee teen eee e eee eeeeeceen ns ewenee eres 212 ||: °$2;020 00 os. jose accel eas eeseeeecey 
Apparatas se eceiseussvcerasvacecseastacanveuisl cedecd uses 4,020 00a. cn nccseccl voces woescsec 
Fishing houses and other shore property.....-|...-----.- CY) 
Products. 
Bad aetajs coc cc civan esau cc cuts vewawaedcetescces | aceesociwe| sewereccs ass 238, 950 $11, 947 50 
Prva 5 2 0 va va wa a stiwsSageceaweewsenehdecn|ceezaced alecectee aeee-{ 250, 000 2,500 00 
Sur g60n es. cccssesvcwsecccces cancsasasacwaeees|ssoesemardleammansesnes 51, 661 1, 549 83 
Other fresh-water fish........--.--.0-ceeecnesfeen eee cene[aneeeeneeeee 25, 000 2,000 00 
Total cose svsice cesses ce ne evewene exeecce sn | soereoxews 7, 365 00 565, 611 17, 997 33 
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. Upon 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 eight 
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 RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER. 
The sources of the Rappahannock 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 
