Subsistence fishing at Jamestown, 1607–24

Abstract

The early 17th-century colonists of Jamestown had limited success in exploiting the abundant marine resources of the James River and Chesapeake Bay. This paper reviews their knowledge of fishing skills and examines the different methods they used in an unfamiliar environment. It presents the major series of archaeological finds of fishing equipment from James Fort dating to 1607–24 and considers whether the colonists may have acquired skills from the local Virginia Indians. Finally, ecological factors, including the impact of a prolonged drought on fish stocks, are discussed.