The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-03-11
FISH SHIPMENTS PICK
UP IN PAST FEW DAYS
Bat High Express Rates and Run of
Grabs Offset Much Fisher
man Luck.

No apparent increase TO date marks
the fishing business for this season, ac-
cording to the estimates of many old
fish men of this section, but at the rate
the shipments are picking MP these days,
everything indicates that the season will
wind up with a decided increase over
the totals of last year. Prices in most
cities seem to hold up very well as the
catches increase, altho perceptible
| drop has been noted on the New York
markets within the past week. Shad
were selling there a week ago for so
and 75 cents pound, bucks and roes
respectively, and a slump in the sales
during the first of the week brought
| bucks down to 35 cents and roes down
to 65 cents a pound.
| During the month of january only
449 shipments of fish passed the Eliza
beth City Express Office. The total of
| these shipments was approximately 500
boxes In addition a few boxes were
sold on the local markets, but the num-
Der was negligible. In February, ship
| ments increased materially and the to-
tai for that month was 1,154 shipments,
estimated at about 1,500 boxes. 1t is
estimated that about five8 to six boxes
extra lper day were sold son the retail
markets of this city During these pc
riods covered, there were about $50
boxes of fish shipped to Norfolk by 9TH
er routes.
During the first five days of March,
shipments made rapid strides thru the
local express Office and doubled the gross
business for the entire month of Jan
uary, or a total of $50 shipments which
average in the neighborhoed of LOCO
boxes.
In order that the fishermen may re-
ceive a fair return for their efforts it
is necessary that prices range higher
this season, since express rates are con-
sderably higher than those Of last year.
1t now costs 81 cents expressage, in
cluding war tax, on 1255pound box
of fish from Elizabeth City to Nor
folk, not to speak of chafges between
the shipping points and this city and
between Norfolk and Balt1nore, Fhila-
delphia or New York, wherever the
package may be consigned The in
creased rates this year have made the
fishermen more cautious and very lit
tie new. gear was riessd that reasa
on. Few pound nets were made and
last years gill nets were patched W
the fishermen believing the old stands
sufficient to tide them over if there
should be plenty of fish, and more than
enough with a scarcity.
The hopes of a good season on the
parts of the gill net fishermen have been
of crabs which spoil a great many shad
and promise to be a serious menace
should the shad run thicker later on.
Many people down the sounds are turn
ing their attention to Grabbing altogeth
er since the scarcity of crabs in Ches
apeake Bay has driven buyers to the
North Carolina waters. Crabs sell for
about $3.50 a barrel and on good days
two men with 1000 yards of line may
make a catch of from four to ten bar
rels.
Thick water contributes to the sue |
cessful fishing of gill nets as the shad |
are not able to see the twine and are |
shared before they are aware of the |
danger. This thick water is occasioned |
by foods of water from the highlands
which run down in the sounds, driving |
out the sea water which is salt and clear
and a big asset to the pound net fish
ermen. Fish are entrapped in pound
nets after following a lead to the pocket
of the net and unless the water. is clear
the lead is not visible and being tied
in large meshes, the fish slip thru be-
fore they observe it's presence. At pres
ent the largest catches of shad have
been taken by gill net fishermen as the
water down the sounds has been thick
and fresh all spring, even around the in
let's where the sea water usually floods
inside and makes things salt for miles
around