Elijah W. Reed (November 27, 1827 – January 27, 1888) was a ship captain from Brooklin, Maine, who is credited with establishment of the menhaden fishing industry in Virginia's Northern Neck region.
In 1874, Captain Reed moved his business to Northumberland County, Virginia, along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, an area where local watermen had been long established. He introduced a method of extracting large quantities of oil from the fish, by rendering millions of fish. Their oil was used as a lubricant and in lighting, as whale oil was; and the leftover bones and carcasses were valuable as fertilizer. Reed opened the first processing plant in the area. By 1885, Reedville was heavily engaged in the menhaden fishing industry. Menhaden factories on Cockrell Creek produced fish oil, meal, and fertilizer from menhaden. The menhaden fishing industry brought tremendous wealth to Reedville and to Northumberland County.
The unincorporated town of Reedville, Virginia, was named in his honor.
External linksedit
Reedville Fisherman's Museum
This article about an American businessperson born in the 1820s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
elijah, reed, also, reedville, virginia, november, 1827, january, 1888, ship, captain, from, brooklin, maine, credited, with, establishment, menhaden, fishing, industry, virginia, northern, neck, region, 1874, captain, reed, moved, business, northumberland, co. See also Reedville Virginia Elijah W Reed November 27 1827 January 27 1888 was a ship captain from Brooklin Maine who is credited with establishment of the menhaden fishing industry in Virginia s Northern Neck region In 1874 Captain Reed moved his business to Northumberland County Virginia along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay an area where local watermen had been long established He introduced a method of extracting large quantities of oil from the fish by rendering millions of fish Their oil was used as a lubricant and in lighting as whale oil was and the leftover bones and carcasses were valuable as fertilizer Reed opened the first processing plant in the area By 1885 Reedville was heavily engaged in the menhaden fishing industry Menhaden factories on Cockrell Creek produced fish oil meal and fertilizer from menhaden The menhaden fishing industry brought tremendous wealth to Reedville and to Northumberland County The unincorporated town of Reedville Virginia was named in his honor External links editReedville Fisherman s Museum nbsp This article about an American businessperson born in the 1820s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elijah W Reed amp oldid 1169454071, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
