lty
ones. The small fish to be found there which would take the hook in
winter were probably the non-migratory species like perch, catfish and
suckers. If some of the names Smith gives seem puzzling today, it
should be remembered that often the same fish name has applied
throughout history to different fish at different times or in different
areas. Contrariwise, different names, in regional usage, may apply to
the same fish. Thus it is virtually impossible to say whether all the
fish named by Colonial reporters are to be found in Virginia waters
today. For example, though no "white salmon" are known in Virginia, it
is possible that Smith referred to a fish that merely resembled a
salmon without belonging to that family. On the other hand, it is
conceivable that Virginia boats caught "white salmon" in the Atlantic
Ocean. "Conyfish" can mean several different fishes, so that it is not
possible to be sure what Smith had in mind; so with "brit." "Crevise"
is an older name for crawfish. Seals still make rare appearances in the
bay. As for the stingrays, he spoke from experience; he was spiked by
one. Almost all of his list are still being caught off Jamestown. The
"St. George's dragon" or sea horse, is among them.

There are many more varieties of fish caught by Virginia fishermen
today than were ever mentioned in Colonial records. This is due to
superior gear and the more intensive use of it.

Captain Christopher Newport was among the earliest observers confirming
Smith. He wrote in 1607:

The main river [James] abounds with sturgeon, very large and
excellent good, having also at the mouth of every brook and in
every creek both store and exceedingly good fish of divers kinds.
In the large sounds near the sea are multitudes of fish, banks of
oysters, and many great crabs rather better, in fact, than ours and
able to suffice four men. And within sight of land into the sea we
expect at time of year to have a good fishing for cod, as both at
our entering we might perceive by palpable conjectures, seeing the
cod follow the ship ... as also out of my own experience not far
off to the northward the fishing I found in my first voyage to
Virginia....

The commodities of the country, what they are in else, is not much
to be regarded, the inhabitants having no concern with any nation,
no respect of profit.... Yet this for the present, by the consent
of all our seamen, me