The Wilmington morning star., 1946-03-13
SHRIMP INDUSTRY
TAKING UPSURGE
Southport Fishing Interests
Active In Buying, Build
ing Boats

- SOU OUIEROhI, MSTCu Ia ouA
Fodale of the Universal Fish and
Prawn company received delivery
on seven $50 hip. diesel engines
Wednesday and Thursday. All are
to be equipped with superchargers,
which will give them a maximum
Of $50 horse power. That is ample
for any shrimp, boat in use any
where.
Wednesday Mr.. Fodale also re-
ceived delivery Of the Captain Phil,
a 47-foot traWler which he recently
bought in Lake Charles, La. The
craft was built in 1914 and has a
95 hip. Mack diesel that gives 1t
ample power. Mr.. Fodale said
Wednesday that another and larger
trawler, purchased in Lake Charles,
was also en- route and would arrive
within few days. This boat, like
the Captain Phil, already has its
power.
Within a month he expects to
also get delivery on three brand
new trawlers, now being built in a
ward in the north. All are said to
be above so feet but their exact
size has not been stated. They will
come already equipped with new
engines.
Engines Puzzling
Although he discloses the receipt
Of the new boats and the early de-
livery of more, to the number OF
five and all already powered, Mr..
Fondale is noncommittal regarding
the use Of the four big engines
delivered Wednesday and three
more today.
It is understood that all seven
were excess government property
that was never used or even I'M
Grated. There are very few shrimp
trawlers along this coast needing
all Of the power which such en-
gines can furnish
Lucian Fulford Of Supply took
his so foot Yuvan Dale to Whining
ton to have a new $50 h.p. diesel in
stalled. W. S. Wells is now finish
ing the task of installing five
heavy duty diesels on boats which
he acquired in Florida. Charles
and Wiley Wells, 1t is understood,
will also get two or three new die
sells. They are now having new
55-foot boat built. Four other big
boats for various parties are being
built on Lockwoods Folly river and
all will be equipped with diesels,
according to information.
Information regarding boats be-
ing bought at other points, built or
old boats being rebuilt is coming
in daily from all along the coast.
Unless more new shrimp buying
houses are constructed this year, it
seems that upstate boats may be
out Of luck in the matter OF COM
ing here to shrimp.
During previous seasons local
buying houses have always taken
care Of the catches Of the Down
Homer" boats. Some seasons there
have been as many as 30 or W
boats here from Carteret county
and points all along the coast
above there.
This year, unless there are more
buying houses, the buyers are going
to have all they can do to take
care of local boats. Brunswick
county will have more than twice
as many boats as it had two years
ago and, with the increase in size
of boats and nets the average pro-
duction capacity per boat IS about
doubled.
The home boats will naturally be
taken care of first. Last season
many Carteret county boats were
unable to work here because OF a
lack of buyers to handle their
catches.
The shrimping interests have
hunted boats along both coasts,
buying them wherever they could
be found, if they were built or
were suitable for shrimping. The
demand apparently runs entirely
to boats upwards OF 40 feet in
Length, with 50-footers being the
tfavorite.
Where boats could not be found
ready for sale, the fishermen and
shrimp buying interests turned to
having new boats built, both To-
callv and in various boat yards.