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A Poem: Fish at Norfolk, Circa 1800
(For more Norfolk geography tidbits, click here.)
"Of fish they’re many sorts, it’s true,
But none that’s very fine to view;
The firmest sort that can be found,
Are rocks, from seven to forty pound;
They are a white and solid fish,
Making a truly valued dish;
In shape like cod, from head to tail,
And cover’d with a shining scale.
But all fish lovers most admire,
And more than any sort desire,
Their fine sheep’s-head, which all declare,
Surpasses any turbot here.
Fine mummychog [names of sea fish; the sun-fish the only flat one] are to be had,
With tailors, alewives, drum, and shad,
Sword-fish, sun-fish, dog-fish, skip-jack,
Cat-fish, black-fish, and stickleback.
Another fish, much priz’d, they seek,
Bringing to town from Tanner’s creek;
A horn proclaims the hog-fish near,
Quickly the light horsemen appear;
Upon a shabby nag they ride,
A pannier loaded on each side,
With fish so fresh that people hunt
Their coming in, to hear them grunt;
Declaring, that if fresh they’re found,
You certainly may hear the sound!
Perhaps, being us’d the pigs to hear,
The sound’s for ever in their ear.
Prawns, clams, and crabs, are plenty here,
Soft crabs alone are very dear;
They’re fine if fry’d, and not too large,
For twelve they eighteen pence will charge.
The other crabs you cheap may buy,
Eighteen for fourpence halfpenny;..."
(A Poetical Picture of America: Being observations made during a residence of several years at Alexandria and Norfolk in Virginia…from 1799 to 1807, by A Lady [Anne Ritson], London, 1809, pp. 154-156)
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