The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-09-28
MARKETS
Continued from Page One)

son, William f. Huff, the present
owner. The Huff Fish Company,
known for its fair dealing, enjoys
the confidence and the business
of North Carolina fishermen. Mr..
Huff is personally on the job
every day, and being a man of
youthful vigor and energy will be
able to carry on many more years.
In Baltimore the best known
and best liked firm on the Coast
land is the Seaboard Fish Co.
operated by VIM. F. Hilgenberg.
While some of the markets are
operated under old names on this
market, all of these firms are new
in. ownership. Mr.. Hilgenberg has
been on the market about the
longest of any of them. A young
man of great personality, he is
prominent in civic and fraternal
circles in Baltimore, and few
years ago was in the limelight
when much effort was made to
bring him out for Mayor of Balti-
more. He has served as potentate
of the Baltimore Shrine temple.
He has contributed literally to
many worthy causes in this coast
land.
Change in Marketing
There has been a great decline
in the Importance of the northern
markets to North Carolina fisher
men, since the old days of boat
transportation and before good
roads. Twenty five years ago all
fish went out by boats, and from
Elizabeth City or Norfolk they
went on by rail to the northern
markets. The best markets in
shad season were New York, and
Philadelphia; and in autumn these
three markets got all our rock
fish and founders. Some fish were
shipped to Washington, D. c., also,
but that market never competed
with Baltimore, New York and
Philadelphia.
A great change was brought
about by the construction of mod
ern roads, and gradually truck
loads of fish began being diverted
from the packing houses to vari-
Gus towns and cities throughout
North Carolina, whereby a brand
new market was created right at
home, and this arrangement
brought fresh fish in top condi-
ton to many North Carolinians
for the first time in their lives.
Heretofore, nearly all N. C. fish
had been shipped on consignment
to the Northern markets. Fisher
men must wait several days to
get paid for the fish, and they
never knew what the market
would bring. The dealers would
sell the fish on the day market
for commission. They would de-
duct the commission, the freight
charges and send the fisherman
the balance. In some cases, when
markets would go bad, there
would be nothing left for the fish
erman. If the weather conditions
caused the fish to spoil en- route,
and be unmarketable, the fisher
man would be billed for the
freight.
For many years the freight
boats had been the lifeline be-
tween the sound and river COM
munities, and their sources of
supply. But good roads gradually
took away fish which were the
most important freight these boats
carried until there wasn't enough
revenue to keep the boats going,
so one by one the boats disappear
ed until none are now left in
operation. Trucks and truck lines
have taken over, and any fish
sent to Northern markets must go
in special trucks. AS conse-
quence, very few fish go to the
northern markets direct from fish
ermen. Local buyers take up just
about the entire catch, and they
in turn sell in any direction which
offers the best price.
The advent of good roads made
more intensive fishing operations
possible. With many nearby mar
kets in the state open, whereby
fish could be quickly delivered
the fishing season was much
longer. Operations could begin
earlier in the warm days of Au-
tumn and last longer in Spring
Fish did not have to move so far
and were not subject to spelling
The building of nearby elephants
also made possible better shipping
facilities.
Not only could fishermen oper-
ate longer and operate more
equipment, but they got paid cash
for their crop most of the time
after trucks began picking up the
fish at the packing houses. But
fishermen lost one thing on which
they had leaned long time. II
ho. boan +ha oucfoYo for manu-