The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1926-05-14
TO GIVE WILD.
FOWL A CHANCE.
IN NCURRITUCK
War Department To Consider
Plea of Sportsmen to Restore
Locks in "A. & C." Canal

~ llCdl Ili- VI SiNut iiii'oi'
ance to the people Of Currituck
County and OF interest to thou-
sands of sportmcn will be held
in Norfolk, Va. Friday. May
2l, 1926 for the consideration
Of the question OF eliminating
the flow Of salt water from
Curritcuk Sound for the con-
servation Of he feeding
grounds Of millions of migra-
tory birds that inhabit that
sound each winter.
When the government took over
the old Albemarlc and Chesupeake
Canal aud made of If sen level
canal as part Of the great At
lantir intrucoaSlal waterway, it
hcedlrsSIy turned the saline waters
of Chesapeake Bay into the fresh
shadows of Currituck Sound. NO
one thought much about it first,
hut the effect upon the migratory
bird life Of the region became nOti'c-
able within few years. 1t was
found that the under wafer grasses
Of currltuck Sound upon which the
wild fowl feed were surely being de-
stroyed. with the result that the
birds were seeking other feeding
grounds.
investigations were mnde and 1t
has been scientifically and positive
" determined that the salt water
entering Currituck Sound thru the
unlocked canal is destroying the
grasses upon which millions OF
migratory birds rely for food. Tn
less this flow Of salt wnter is inter
rrptcd Currituck Sound will cease
TO ha feeding ground for diving
ducks and a paradise for thousands
Of sportsmen. Cnrrituck will cease
TO derive Thousands Of dollars in
license fpea from Sprrtsmen and
hundreds Of CurritNrk people who
dcupnd upon the entertainment OF
sport smen for q livelihood will be
reduced To state of near penury.
Prominent SpOrtsmpn and others
hive apppaled to the War Depart
mrnt 10 restore the locks in the
canal for the conservation of Cur
rftuck Sound az winter feeding
ground for the migratory water
fowl No direct action OF Congress
is needed IL the War Department
can he impressed with the serious
ness Of the need. Hence the hearing
in Norfolk next Friday. Here then
ia the official notice Of the hearing
Notice of Public Hearing
T. The War Department having under ron-
rideratinn the question Of the construction OF
lock In tho Inland Waterway from Norfolk,
Va, % eseufort IrIet. N. c., In tho re'sh-
horhood OF Greet Bridge. va., for the pur-
pose OF preventing the possible flow OF ssit
water from Hampton Roads through this
waterway Into currltuok Sound, Public Hear
ing tn rcusi'ler the possible effects o' s'ich
a lock on navigation in the waterway and the
. size lp.ation. etc, Of n lock. will he held hy
I ,Lr undersigned in the 4. s. Court Room.
! Second floor. u. s. PnstOfre Ruidin@ r"'l'.
or Of Atlantic and Plume streets. Nprinlb'
/ W" at 1890 O'Clock. A. NJ. Friday May IL
! 1926.
- All interested parties are invited to he
! present or 10 Se represented. az the above
! time aud place. particularly nar:gation intel
! ests and the officials Of any county. CITY,
town. or local association. and any ntherh
! whose interests may DO affected by ~" con-
sir,ction of lock They will he given an
opportunity tp express their views IL the mat
ter. and To suggest such action as may ne
deemed desirable.
3 Oral statements will he heard. nut r't
accuracy of record. all Important iar'' ana
arguments should he submitted ~ wrltns' enu
! in tr'utate as the records of the nearing
will br forwarded for consideration d! Tue
| War DEPARTMENT a. Washington. u. = WI"
! ,,u statement; may be handed in tn the under
.icm,.I aL the hearing, or may oe ma'lcu 10
him previously. ,
/ r. 4. POPE.
H. Col, Corps OF Engineers,
District Engineer.
/. q Eng ueer Ofi"e.
Fort Norfolk,
Norfolk Virginia.