be
disappointed there likewise as there is no landing on this side of
river that rents for more than one half of what you expect for
that, and that on the other side opposite to you (equally good they
say) to be had at L15 Maryland currency....

But growing along with this practice was sentiment favoring fishing
places open to the general public. When an attempt was made about 1770
to take over certain lands near Cape Henry for private operation, a
vigorous protest ensued:

The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of the county of
Princess Anne in behalf of themselves and the other inhabitants of
this colony, humbly shows: That the point of land called Cape Henry
bounded eastward by the Atlantic Ocean, northwardly by Chesapeake
Bay, westwardly and southwardly by part of Lynnhaven River and by a
creek called Long Creek and the branches thereof, is chiefly desert
banks of sand and unfit for tillage or cultivation and contains
several thousand acres.

And that for many years past a common fishery has been carried on
by many of the inhabitants of said county and others on the shore
of the ocean and bay aforesaid, as far as the western mouth of
Lynnhaven River. And that during the fishing season the fishermen
usually encamp amongst the said sand hills and get wood for fuel
and stages from the desert, and that very considerable quantities
of fish are annually taken by such fishery which greatly
contributes to the support and maintenance of your petitioners and
their families.

Your petitioners further show that they have been informed that
several gentlemen have petitioned your Honour to have the land
aforesaid granted to them by patent and that one Keeling has lately
surveyed a part thereof situated near the mouth of Long Creek
aforesaid, and that if a patent should be granted for the same, it
would greatly prejudice the said fishery.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that no patent may be
granted to any person or persons for the same lands or any part
thereof; and that the same may remain a common for the benefit of
the inhabitants of this Colony in general for carrying on a fishery
and for such public uses as the same premises shall be found
convenient.

Even when the new United States Government erected a lighthouse at Cape
Henry a careful stipulation was made in the act ce