The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
LEADS ALL NORTH CAROLINA DAMES DIM NEWS AND CIRCULATION
THE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA
The States Splendid Varieties of EatabIe Fish Command
Every Year a Wider Market,

Worth, of the u. 5. Fish COmmiSSlOn,)
Edenton, Plymouth, Hartford, Elizabeth
City, Manteo Washington, Newbern,
etc. In the Currituck Sound is the great
wild water fowl rendezvous, swan, geese,
ducks, brant, etc, they collecting these
in winter in numbers which create
amazement. In this sound, too, is a
special fishery for black bass C'welsh-
man" "trout') which are sold in cities
northwara. On historic Roanoke Island
is Il unique bodybuilding industry
canoe in which all the fishing, travel and
trafficking is done These boats are butt
entirely of juniper wood with copper or
else galvanized iron tastenngs. They
are 20 to 80 feet long, and in sailing and
seaworthy qualities are unsurpassed.
ABOUT tins island, a special rockhsh fish
cry exists. Inc fish are found in schools
and located by the Sticks" the rising
blood and oil from small fish being eaten
and are encrcled with purse seines.
Nearly every man ON Roanoke Island,
1900 inhabitants), fishes or is engaged
Gin an allied industry. In 1897 the State
had II ,045 persons engaged in the fish
ing business.
To view the banks region one should,
in summer, go to Mays Head or More
head City and at all other seasons he
can reach out from Manteo, Beaufort,
Wilmington and Southport. In summer.
Mays Head has a daily steamer from
Elizabeth City Norfolk and Southern
Rairoad). The larger water represen-
tatives are the shark and porpoise, the
latter a mammal. The whale is also oc-
casionally taken. Among edible salt
water reptiles, are the sea turtles and
diamond-back terrapin, the latter being
eXterminated, now retailing at $50 to
$120 per dozen; among shell-fish, oysters,
two kinds of CLAIMS, escallops, ETC.;
among crustacea, the stone and common
crab (hard and soft prawn and shrimp.
SHAD FISHERY.
1t is chiefly above salt water that the
shad fishery is carried on, though many
are taken near the inlets. The run eX-
tends a hundred or more miles interior.
being checked by dams or natural falls
only.
Owing to the preference by consumers
for fresh fish over those in brine, nearly
the entire catch is shipped on ice, along
with the shad, the rock-tish (striped basSl
and white perch being sent The build
ing of the Norfolk and Southern Rail
road twenty years ago has given great
impetus to the business, aiding all the
section from Newbern. Washington and
Manteo to Colerain, Edenton, Hartford
and Elizabeth City. Ice being more
handy local factories) everything worth
more than the freight is saved from
loss. North Carolina shad go on the
market about the Easter season and
bring the best price. They rank above
the shad of Florida. Along with the
shad the herring are taken in numbers
almost incredible. Owing to an imper.
feet knowledge of soaking ont the excess
of salt and properly cooking the salt her
ring, the fish is not appreciated and the
low price at times causes many to be
thrown away. This is wrong, and in
vites the attention of economists and hui
manitarians.
IN THE PINE BELT.
From the sounds to the western border
of the turpentine pine belt-say 100
miles-there is good supply of fish in
the shaa season and good local angling
al the year. Especially is this the case
where the fresh water shrimp is found,
which is in most streams and ponds. In
this sections the Sunfish family is inn
pOIldnl--- the bluG anu the COppCI-GOlOTCu
Dream; also black bass, strawberry or
"speckled perch CCrappie). red-eye and
Yarmouth and white perch, jack fish
(pickereD, ETC.
Farther west are the black bass, rcd
eye and round fish At the foot of the
Blue Ridge we find the brook C'moun-
tain') trout and also the rainbow Cali
formal trout, the latter having been IN
troduced. In this section these two are
found westward to the Tennessee line,
but not in all streams. Here are found
the black bass (black perch'O, red-eye
and photographic called Salmon and
Jack salmon'D, weighing several pounds.
For stocking East Tennessee and the
Western North Carolina counties,
United States Hatchery has just been
erected at Erwin, Tennessee.
s @ WORTH