What do you give the state that has it all? How about a new official saltwater fish?
Virginia's House of Delegates voted 80-16 Tuesday to confer that distinction upon the striped bass.
The striped bass is already the state fish of Maryland, South Carolina and Rhode Island. It's the official saltwater fish of New Hampshire and New York.
The tasty Chesapeake Bay rockfish prized by anglers was not without detractors.
Del. Jackson Miller, R-Manassas came two votes shy of amending the bill to designate the menhaden, an oily, commercially harvested forage fish, as Virginia's official saltwater fish.
His floor amendment failed on a 48-49 vote.
With only days left for the General Assembly to adjourn as scheduled on Saturday, Del. James Shuler, D-Montgomery, voiced dismay that fleeting time was squandered on such small fry.
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