A Whale of a Tail (Tale)!
I cannot not help myself! Every time I drive by the famous old Route 66 landmark, I think of Washington’s fishing industry. The “Blue Whale” was built by Hugh Davis in the early 1970s as an anniversary gift to his wife Zelta (http://www.theroadwanderer.net/66Oklahoma/catoosa.htm ). The azure metal goliath and its pond became a favorite stop and swimming hole for both locals and travelers. No one swims in the pond anymore, but the gargantuan sea mammal still makes for a great photo op! George Washington’s fishing operation was also mammoth! “In the Spring the Washington described the Potomac with ‘the greatest profusion of Shad, Herring, Bass, Carp, Perch, Sturgeon & ca (George Washington Pioneer Farmer, pg. 47). ‘” The Pioneer Farmer book goes on to describe how the fish “provided a source of meat for the slaves and income for Mount Vernon as the salted fish were sold locally and abroad. . . Washington owned waterfront approaching ten miles in length! Every spring, herring and shad swam up the rivers of Tidewater Virginia and Maryland in order to spawn near the Great falls. . . During the opportune moments when the schools were running, Washington’s slaves stretched nets-some hundreds of feet in length and up to 12 feet in depth—across the water. This was an annual event for which all hands at Mount Vernon—slaves, indentured servants, overseers—dropped their work to help in the intensive fish harvest. Washington also allowed the poor in the neighborhood to fish form his shoreline for free if they first obtained permission fro an overseer. Of all Washington’s commercial ventures, his fisheries remained the most consistently profitable. . . In 1772 one and a half million herring were hauled ashore to be salted and barreled for export (Pioneer Farmer, pg. 47-49).” One and a half million fish caught in six weeks from his front lawn? That certainly is a WHALE OF A TALE! 
