0027

Their Manner of Fishing in Virginia

They have likewise a notable way to catch fish in their rivers. For whereas they lack both iron and steel, they fasten unto their reeds or long rods the hollow tail of a certain fish like to a sea crab instead of a point, wherewith by night or day they strike fishes and take them up into their boats. They also know how to use the prickles and pricks of other fishes. They also make weirs, with setting up reeds or twigs in the water, which they so plant one within another that they grow still narrower and narrower, as appeareth by this figure. There was never seen among us so cunning a way to take fish withall, whereof sundry sorts found in their rivers are unlike unto ours, which are also of a very good taste. Doubtless it is a pleasant sight to see the people, sometimes wading and going, sometimes sailing in those rivers, which are shallow and not deep, free from all care of things which god of his bounty hath given unto them, yet without giving him any thanks according his desert, so savage is this people and deprived of the true knowledge of god. For they have none other than is mentioned before in this work.

Monday, 15-May-95 14:17:42 PDT