The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1923-10-19
FISHERIES COMMISSION
CALLS FOR INLET PLANS
Significant Secrecy Maintained In Asking
Engineers To Draw Plans At Once
For New Inlet

This newspaper has just
learned from All authoritative
source that the North Carolina
Fisheries Commission Board
has called TO- us for the con-
st.", iuH ~ ~ inlet connect
ing the waters OF the Atlantic
Ocean and the waters Of Pan
leo Sound at what WAS New
Inlet, about 20 miles southeast
iof Croatan Sound. The plans
and estimate o. ccst arc to be
submitted to the Board at its
next meeting in Dcccmber.
Utmost secrecy seems TO have
been used In calling for theS" plans
and one Of the upstate members Of
the Board IL quoted as having
whispered that the fact thai plans
were called for does not necessarily
commit the Board to the letting Of a
contract for the cutting of the in
let. The Board seems tO have lost
sight of the fact that ii was Gov
ernOr MOrrisOn's promise among
other things to open one or more
inlets on the North Carolina coast
that got the Inst legislative appro-
printion of S5O0,OOO for the Fisher
les Commission to spend In behalf
of the fishing industry.
And so. while plans for New In
let have been called for, this news
paper has a hunch that the Fisher
les Commission Board as now con-
stituted isn't going to make haste
In getting the inlet constructed un-
less the fishermen Of the East get
busy and make loud and insistent
demands for it. This newspapers
information Is that the East is 60
ing to have to fight for everything
it's gets from Governor MorrisoD's
Board.
Many places for the proposed ex-
pertinent ut inlet making have
their advocates, l5ut New Inlet has
always appealed to the older mcm-
bers of the Board. Chairman J. X.
Dixon himself has set forth his
reasons for favOring New Inlet.
Mr.. Dixon says
First. II Is so situated geographic
cnlly that it's natural advantages
for Il permanent opening are far
superior TO those of the others. in
that its location places It in a direct
line with all the great forces OF
water from Albemafle Sound and Its
tributaries. It is situated about 20
miles southeast of Croatan Sound,
through which Albemarle Sound
cmpties its entire flow % fresh
water: and while it is but 33 miles
north Of IIatteras Inlet, it is so
situated that the flow of tide from
the Ncrlse. Bay and Pamlico Rivers
through the PamlicO Sound north
ward and passing Hattcras Inlet.
continues directly, or almost so, to
New Inlet by reason of an extend
ed neck or arm of land j. miles
north Of IIatteras Inlet and I'M
mcdately southwest of the Cape
Channel, which forces the tide well
into PamlicO Sound at that point
and directs it toward New Inlet.
1T Is by fur the Oldest inlet in
the northern section of the State!
having been in existence, according
to available records, since about
100, and so far rs we know. much
longer. 1t in. therefore, no expert
ment but an actual fact.
1T might he well to mention here
why, In my opinion, New Inlet clos
ed. IN -" :a. 1OO years New
iur la. ",rr.i south about five
m.i;S. Thirty years ago it had on
liz >"vLh side a strong marsh rein
forced by the roots of heavy rushes
and grass, which served rs wall
or jctty. which was not susceptible
to tidal influences. As the inlet
gradually moved sOnthward the
marsh narrowed on the ocean side
and the inlet came in contact with
an unusually low beach which
flooded every inflow of the tide and
therefore. greatly lcsscned the force
of tide out Of the inlet. As 1t con-
tiDued sOuthward and the beach be-
came only sand bar covered by
water, he force of tide gradually
IcSsened until it was not sufficient
TO discharge the sand caused by the
inflow from the ocean.
Second. Its location Is such that
Shad. herring. and other anadro-
NOUS fish. which are the most valu-
able in our waters, pass through ir
into the various sounds and rivers
| of the State more generally than
they would at any inlet farther
south, but more especially in the
counties of Hyde, Dare, Cnrrituck.
Camden, Washington and Tyrrell.
Migratory fish entering this inlet
would, Of course, find all the
streams, rivers and sounds Of tho
State In accordance with their r"cri-
! lar habits, conditions Of the waIer
having much t1 do with same.
Third. On its r.urth side Il larrG