Fisheries.-The fishes which inhabit the river Potomac at and near Washington, are sturgeon, rockfish, shad, gar, eel, carp, herring, pike, perch, mullet, smelt. *

1807, July 17.-89° greatest temperature.

Oct. 14.58° A. M. at 2 P. M. 88°.

Oct. 19.-A severe frost, which destroyed garden vines.

1808. June 22-88° greatest temperature.

July91 greatest temperature.

About the close of July musquitoes, ants, and various insects, give great annoyance. On the borders of the Potomac the light of houses, after the close of day, attracts swarms of ephemeral insects of aquatic origin, of different size, and every variety of colour. One evening about ten o'clock the author saw the chimney of Mr. Jones's parlour completely covered with them.

* The mean weight of each, as communicated by Mr Blodget, is

In a distance of about 100 miles above and below Washington, 400,000 barrels of herrings are caught annually, of which a considerable quantity are cured, and exported. They are salted without being gutted, and the blood mixes with the brine, which in a few days is poured off, when the herrings are taken out, washed, and salted anew. The fisheries continue during the month of April. In 1768 an act was passed by the legislature, which, in 1798, became a permanent law, to prevent the destruction of young fish by wears or dams.

Population. The population of the territory of Columbia in 1800 was 14,093; in 1810 it amounted to 24,023; that of the city was 8208; of Georgetown, 4948; of Alexandria, 7227; of Washington county, exclusive of towns, 2315; that of Alexandria county, 1325. In 1817 Georgetown and Washington were supposed to contain 20,000 inhabitants, and the whole district 30,000. *

Sturgeon, (Accipenser sturio,) 40 to 150 lbs.; rock-fish, (Sparrus calocephalus,) 1 to 75 lb. ; shad, (Clupea alosa.) 6 lb. ; white shad, taylor shad, 3 lb.; winter shad, oz.; gar, (Esʊx belone,) 6 lb. ; green gar, 2 oz. ; eel; fresh water eel, (Muræna anguilla,) 3 lb.; common eel, 11⁄2 lb.; carp, (Cyprinus carpio,) 3 lb.; herring, (Clupea harengus,) 2 ib. ; pike, (Esox lucius,) 2 lb.; perch, (Persa fluviatilis) white perch, 1 lb. ; yellow perch, 1 lb. ; sun perch, lb.; mullet, (Mugil cephalus ;) tine scaled mullet, 1 lb.; coarse scaled mullet, lb.; smelt, (Salmo eperlanus.)

* Birkbeck's Notes, p. 28. Palmer's Travels, p. 34.

6

Abstract from the Returns made by the Principal Assessor of the District to the Treasury Department

in 1815:

Alexandria county contains 782 assessable persons, whose houses, lands, and slaves, are valued at 3,259,901 Dils. 3,667 Quota Dlls. Georgetown, 645 assessable per

On each valuation of 100 dollars the tax levied is 11 cents.

Congress has wisely permitted foreigners, not citizens, to hold lands within the territory, which must powerfully contribute to its population and improvement. Foreign tradesmen, artificers, and manufactures, having taken the oath of citizenship, are free from taxes for five years. Nearly one half of the population of Washington is of Irish origin. The la bouring class is chiefly Irish, and many of them have no acquaintance with the English language. They have cut the canal, made, and repaired the streets, and executed most of the manual labour of the city. t

*

Lynchburg Press, and inserted in the National Register of Washington.

In one of the streets of Washington we observed a sign-board with the following inscription: "Peter Rodgers, saddler, from the green fields of Erin and tyranny, to the green streets of Washington and liberty.See Copenhagen; view the seas, 'tis all blockade 'tis all a blaze. The seas shall be free-Yankee Doodle, keep it up."-It appears that this saddler is a native of Cork, from

City of Washington.-The city of Washington is situated on the Potomac, at the confluence of this river with its Eastern branch, which formerly bore the name of Annakostia, in latitude 38° 55′ north, and in longitude 76° 53' from Greenwich.

From Washington to Philadelphia the distance is 144 miles. To Baltimore,

To Richmond,

To Annapolis,

43

132

40

The meridional line which passes through the capitol was drawn by Mr Ellicot. The longitude was calculated by Mr Lambert.

It is scarcely possible to imagine a situation more beautiful, healthy, and convenient, than that of Washington. The gently undulating surface produces a pleasing and varied effect. The rising hills on each side of the Potomac are truly picturesque; the river is seen broken and interrupted by the sinuosities of its course, and the sails of large vessels gliding through the majestic trees which adorn its banks, give additional beauty to the scenery.

The site of the city extends from north-west to south-east about four miles and a half, and from northeast to south-west about two miles and a half. * The

which he was banished at the age of seventy-five, for no other reason, as he states, than that of having worn a "green coloured coat,” and vented sighs for his " dear native country."

A late intelligent traveller, speaking of the city and the proposed University, says, "The plan supposes an immense growth, but even if this were attainable, it seems doubtful how far an over

houses are thinly scattered over this space; the greatest number are in the Pennsylvania avenue between the capitol and the president's house, from the latter towards Georgetown, and near the barracks and navyyard on the eastern branch. The public buildings occupy the most elevated and convenient situations, to which the waters of the Tiber creek may be easily conducted, as well as to every other part of the city not already watered by springs. The streets run from north to south, and from east to west, crossing each other at right angles, with the exception of fifteen, named after the different states, and which run in an angular direction. The Pennsylvania street, or avenue, which stretches in a direct line from the president's house to the capitol, is a mile in length, and 160 feet in breadth; the breadth of the narrowest streets is from 90 to 100 feet.

grown luxurious capital would be the fittest seat for learning or even legislation. Perhaps the true interest of the Union would rather hold Washington sacred to science, philosophy, and the arts; a spot in some degree kept holy from commercial avarice, to which the members of the different states may repair to breathe an atmosphere untainted with local prejudices, and find golden leisure for pursuits and speculations of public utility. Such fancies would be day dreams elsewhere, and are so perhaps here; but America is young in the career of knowledge; she has the light of former ages, and the sufferings of the present to guide her; she has not crushed the spirits of the many to build up the tyranny of the few, and the eye of imagination may dwell upon her smilingly."-Hall's Tra vels, p. 328.

*The source of Tiber creek is 236 feet above the level of the tide.