The Wilmingtonian., 1885-01-24
poRPoIsE FISHING INDUSTRY

investigation of Cape Hatteras and its neigh
borhood as the location of proposed Poi-
poise fishing station gives some extremely
interesting information, not alone upon the
exact matter of his mission, but also in re-
gard to the topography OF the county, the
natives, their customs, the products of the
locality, together with variety of miscell-
aneous facts gathered along tee trip.
The exact locality of the proposed fishing
station is upon long stretch of beach ex-
J tending from Hatteras Inlet to Cape Hat
teras covering some 10 or 12 miles 1t is
the Oldest porpoise fishing grounds in the
United States, and the only one that has
steadily maintained that industry. This
fact is not due to any degree of thrift that
may specially mark the porpoise fishers of
Hatteras but to the great natural advan-
tages of the spot, making it peculiarly suit
able for that purpose. The blight extending
| between to the two points named has a
southern exposure, and flom October to
May is a favorite resort for immense shoals
| of herring and shad. These fish are the
common food Of the porpoise, which may
be seen at all times in schools averaging
one hundred chasing their prey here.
The average catch per season for the last
forty years has been about 1000. There are
about "a men engaged in the business repre-
senting one crew. A very large percentage of
the fish are lost, and the average catch, as
stated above is the result of most imperfect
appliances and material. The average por-
poise will yield 10 gallons of oil the season
through October to May). The hides sell
at from $3.50 to So piece according to size,
in the green condition. The porpoise meat
is selling in the Philadelphia market at 12l
cents per pound.
In getting to this out of the way part of
the world from Wilmington, Cape Charles
City, in Accomac Co, Virginia, was the first
point reached; thence to Elizabeth City,
N. c., and there, as the narrator says, the
trouble commences. Maniteo, Roanoke
Island, on the opposite side of the Sound
was the next point to be attained, and to
reach it, it was necessary to 60 aboard the
mail boat, small sailing vessel, some 30 IT.
long that carried the United States Mail,
some half dozen letters, in a leathern
pouch. Ninety-four hours sailing due South
and Maniteo was reached. On this Island
is Raleigh settlement. There are no evil
fasSa asasfs If 9fafdtcafa If fmap#P&R vi ARft tf
shape of the structurc. At this point the
mails and the single passenger were placed
aboard an open canoe, and with crew OF
one, IA hours more sail were made, still going
| due South along the Sound, the spray dash
ing at times clear over the boat. Big KIM
akeet. a settlement Of some 800 people, scat
tered in hamlets through dense woods wa'
then reached. After 12 miles more King
Point appeared in sight. Here the soun'
was literally alive with Waterfowl, swans
ducks. geese, canyas-backs and all kinds
sea-fcwl From Kings Point no furthe
conveyance could be obtained, tn
D water was too rough to venture, on
l 1.
. of the natives offered to hire out b
: cart, and as it was the only means OF gam
= ing the journey end, the pony was hitche
: up. 1t would be difficult to describe I'll
u outfit. The Gait was simply runnn
d gear, without springs, no boards across
Ie sit upon, the axle being the seat The to
J. ture of A ride of nine miles upon such co
Of veyancc can hardly be imagined. At leng
however, Hatteras was reached Frld
night at sunset saw the end of the journe
after having started the previous Sunday,
n journey of five days comprising about
ge miles! Probably the most inaccessible 81
'm ON the Atlantic sea board, entirely isolai
from the mainland by the stormy sound.
ofl Cape Hatteras is situated on an island
ort the same name, which is one of chain
by elongated sandy tongues OF land, form
are the sea barrier Of Pamplico Sound
Sound is of variable width, from 10 to
miles, and is shallow, dangerous strt
of water, access to which is gained from
~ Atlantic by Hatteras Inlet,a narrow chal
" usually avoided by ships when the wea
is rough.
The ''Ba ks" as the chain of island
known in the locality, are about 80 mile
length and from half mile to three
UNI width. 1t is low sandy strip with pat
Wig of timber, trees and tangled vines.
eeis- moth live oaks are occasionally seen,
" large gnarled branches drsped with Sou'
thair moss. Swashways where the sea
alton broken through, divide the strip of Ian
given either side destroying vegetation, and 6
'ivate it the appearance Of chain of Islands.
lie of onr +ba woods and coppi,
buses DssP '''' ~, ho,,.,a
are scattered here and there indiscrimil
kedly lust as Indians build their tepees, one
y the being hardly discernible from the do
al in of another and is reached by tortuous
for its .,o ,roos Tber. ia no ro