170 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



2 leagues from Sandy Hook, on which, in a few houres, 4 men took 11 

 or 12 hundred' excellent good codd the last time they were out, and 

 most of y e vessells that goe to and from Virginia take good quantities. 

 That vessell is to goe from Newfound Land to gett fishermen, lines, 

 hookes, and other necessaryes for fishing : I doubt not but this coast 

 will afford fish in abundance. 



On y e east end of Long Island there were 12 or 13 whales taken before 

 y e end of March, and what since wee heare not ; here are dayly some 

 seen in the very harbour, sometimes within Nutt Island. Out of the 

 Pinnace, the other week, they struck two, but lost both, the iron broke 

 in one, the other broke the warpe. The Governour hath encouraged 

 some to follow this designe. Two shallops made for itt, but as yett wee 

 doe not heare of any they have gotten. 



A Perfect Description of Virginia : being, a full & true Relation of the pres- 

 ent State of the Plantation, their Health, Peace & Plenty : the number of 

 people, with their abundance of Cattell, Fowl, Fish, &c. With several 

 sorts of rich & good Commodities, which may there be had, either Naturally, 

 or by Art & Labor, &c. London. Printed for Richard Wodcnoth, at the 

 Star under Peter J s Church, in Cornhill, 1649. 



[Force's Historical Tracts, II, tract 8.] 



Now these are the several sorts & kinds of Beasts, Birds, Fish, in 

 Virginia. 

 Beasts great & small, as followeth : above 20 severall kinds. 



1. Lyons, "J But all these foure sorts are up in the higher parts of 



| the Countrey, on the hills & mountains, few to be seene 



2. Beares, I in the lower parts, where the English are; the Elkes 



3. Leopards, Tare as great as Oxen, their horns six foot wide, & have 



4. Elkes. J two Calves at a time ; the skins make good Buffe, & 



3 the flesh as good as Beefe. 



5. Deere. 



6. Foxes. 



7. Wilde Cats. 



8. Baconnes, as good meat as Lambe. 



9. Passonnes. This beas.t hath a bagge under her belly, into which 



she takes yer young ones, if at any time affrighted, & carries 

 them away. 



10. Two sorts of squirrels : One called a flying one, for that she spreads 



like a Batt, a certaine loose skin she hath, & so flyes a good 

 way. 



13. A Muske Bat, so called for his great sweetnesse& shape. 



14. Hares. 



15. Beavers. 



16. Otters. 



17. Doggs, But barke not, after the shape of a Wolfe, and Foxes 



smell not; Wolves but little, neither not fierce. 



18. Wolves. 



19. Martins, Poule Cats, Weesels, Minks: but these Vermine hurt not 

 Hens, Chickins, or Eggs, at any time. 



20. A little beast like a Conny, I he Foxes kill mauy of them. 



