The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-08-26

dangerously low, it may be many
years before we can carry out a
| program of expanded ferry op-
erations. Meanwhile, we are hold
ing up progress on opening an all
seashore highway or a combina-
ton of highways and bridges.
"The whole area along our
coast from Virginia to South
Carolina needs developing, with
everybody helping. This means To-
cal governments, individuals and
general popular opinions to help
bring about this development. A
full study should be made of
what is needed mad how it can be
handled, and the various seashore
organizations and other groups
should cooperate to the limit.
"The National Seashore Park,
now operated by the Federal Gov
eminent is God-send to the re-
gion and over the next so years
will be a wonderful magnet for
tourists from all over Eastern
America. 1t has great potential.
The marlin fishing at Hatteras,
with the Hatteras Marlin Club
having put on an International
Tournament, is most attractive
and has resulted in wide and ia
vorable publicity for the great
fishing areas We are now so near
as we meet here on tabled Mays
Head. The winner of the marlin
tournament-namely, Puerto Rico
with their Captain Esteban A.
Bird, made a statement at the end
of the tournament last June that
Hatteras was the greatest marlin
fishing ground in the world.
"There is also good marlin fish
ing off Oregon Inlet and More
head City. And martins caught
are not wasted, either. l am glad
that Captain Otis Purifoy of
Morehead City is seeking to de-
velop a smoked fish for the State,
and one of the species of fish he
has been using is the marlin. 1t
is a good product have tried
it.
The whole Outer Banks furnish
a great attraction but they need
attention. A large portion of the
Outer Banks, particularly Ocra-
coke Island and the area extend
ing from Ocracoke Inlet to Beau
fort Inlet, is slowly being eaten
away by erosion. Man-made de-
struction of the original trees, the
destruction of sand dunes, the de-
struction of vegetation by live
stock running at large, and the
effects of hurricanes and severe
storms have been the principal
causes of this condition.
This is a matter of Statewide
concern, as the Outer Banks are
one of our most important assets.
The principal reasons are:
l. This barrier reef has, in the
past, provided a large degree of
protection to the mainland from
damage as a result of tidal action
caused by hurricanes and severe
storms. Formerly, this reef was
covered with trees and other veg
citation, along with immense dunes
created by wind action made the
Outer Banks a natural breakwater.
2. They are a major element in
the States vast tourist industry.
3. They protect the important
Pamlico Sound commercial and
sport fisheries.
At my request, the 1857 Gener-
al Assembly enacted legislation
prohibiting grazing and the de-
struction of dunes and vegetation.
That legislation was essential as
the first step in saving that area.
Livestock are still grazing on
Shackleford Banks, but / am in
formed that this practice will be
stopped in the next few weeks.
The rehabilitation of approxi-
mately 76 miles of the Outer
Banks-extending from Whalebone
Junction to Ocracoke Inlet--is the
responsibility Of the National
Park Service, which handles the
J Seashore National Park. That
agency is taking action to restore