The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-20
HER FISH INTERESTS
SOURCE OF WEALTH
ALMOST EVERY KIND ABOUNDs'
Waters Of the North Carolina
Streams Abound in the
Best Of Fish.
BY Charles l.. Stevens.

10y Slldk lSS 10 olNVSlAS. tas
North Carolina, with It's more than 4nt
miles OF sea coast frontage on the At
lantic ocean, with It's sounds and rivers,
offers perpetual source Of wealth to
Its people In the numerous varieties and
quantities Of fish, which always abound
In Its waters, and those which visit these y
waters in their migratory trips. From
North Carolina waters the value oflits
fish catch annually runs up into the
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars.
The resources of North Carolina In its
supply and variety OF fish makes Its
sea coast cities and town most nttrac-
tive to lovers of fishing or those GEEK
ing q fish diet for health or for its palat-
nbleness, at every season of the year, for
the supply Is always ample, the quality
ever fresh. because OF Its easy catch in
nearby waters. and the price is always
moderate Shad, shcepshead. mackere!,
blue and black fish. herring bass. nullet,
#cronkers, go to make UP a few OF tho
varieties which are favorites with all
who enjoy fish. And in addition to the
salt water fish, there are the several
species Of fresh water fish which are
the cpcure.
Good Results of Hatcheries.
" The government work in its l,atcheries.
which it has established in the State, Is
proving most valuable in showing the
possibilities which can be accomplished in a
fish culture in North Carolina rivers,
and this means tho greatly increased COM
mercinl results which are already shown,
and which the future Is likely to make
vastly greater. This propagation and
distribution OF fish, III its extent. can best 4
4 be realized and understood by a few
figures from the latest official reports.
Of5thesc, shnd. which In point of food and
commercial value Is more important IL
than all the others put together. were
distributed in the waters of tho State as
follows: Trent River, $4,000: Neuse, 9O0,-
900; Par,lco, 1,2O9.oOO; Cape Fear, 4. 435 600; 4
Pasquotank. $4,000: Six Runs, G0O,OCO;
Chowan, 2345.D00; Roanoke, 1,3l5,OOO; Per-
dnimans, 100000: Newport River. $4,000; d
Salmon Creek, 1905 600; Alhemarle Sound.
a,3tS,0oo; Edenton Bay 100000 total
Of 22,04l,600, and other species of fishes
which We're cultivated and distributed
there, We're. In number, striped bass
3,l25,O00; rainbow trout, S7,S0S; brook trout,
4,Oo0 black bass. 1000; crapped 300; rock
bass, LOO: and $1,000 lake trout eggs and
$500 land rock salmon eggs.
The Shipping Points.
Tho important shipping points are those
at Elizabeth City. Edenton, Nianteo.
\ Washington, Beaufort Morehead City.
| Wilmington and Ncwpern, many smaller.
plnces at which fish are caught for bet
ter convenience sending their product to
some OF the above named places to be
packed and shipped. The outside fisheries
at Beaufort and A1orehead City make
I to1,a tba, had 'GI,a
| on the Cape Fear River above Southport,
employ a fleet OF steamers which so
outside for their catch, bring III to the
| factories established immense Quantities
| or these fish. During the season hun
dreds OF men are employed by these mem
| baden fisheries; the investment repre-
! sents several hundred thousand dollars.
1 tile catch amounting to fifteen million
| hounds annually; the manufactured pro-
duct representing nearly 100000.
In Currituck Sound.
Currttuck Sound to Hatteras is a long
stretch OF sea coast, where fishing
ahounds, representing a large annual
I latch. the blue fish in winter being an
I important industry, while other species
I OF fish caught are trout, spot, mullet,
! drum. whiting, Spanish mackercl ana
| sheepshead, all in great quantities a
| detailed account OF the extent of North
1
I slider unncuuanted with the coastal sec
| ton. to think that the fish business COW
4 cred pretty thoroughly every good point,
( but the fact Is that the fishing inter-
| nss of the State, as to their possibilities
| Of development and cultivation and com
\ mcrcial value are but just beginning to
4 be realized Nlbemarlc Sound, with It's
| ,55 SQUARE miles, is tho largest coastal
/ body Of fresh water In the world, anu
| its fisheries. considering It's area. are
| cnual, IL they do not exceed, those to-
be found anywhere, yet even with TINS
there are still opportunities on this
sound. Willie other sounds aud rivers ca
contributc vast fish wealth. The nat
(. ,lral rich fish productiveness Of North
carolina has resulted In the wasteful
catch of fish, regardless OF season and
size. sSt
The Hatcheries.
The government has established fish
bntchcries at IGdenton and Weldon, which
arc offering a check to the dlmunitlon
of the original fish supply, but even
these hatcherics cannot accomplish the
su! measure OF work needed, unless there
be State legislative action taken to SUI
pervise and restrict the wanton catch OF
fish, which on account or their small
size are not marketaple, and only means
n sappng of q supply which should be
given opportunity to develop In size and
become both a commercial product and
q natural producing factor. To correct
all abuses there will be legislative ac-
tiun taken, and the State will soon es-
tbaIish It's uan fish hatcheries, WMcn VIII
assure a constant renewal of the species OIL
| fish most valuable to It's peoples Interests
as well as make some needed legislative
enaetmchIs. 50 Chat There m4S be no