The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter., 1962-06-01
BEACH FISHING PIERS
FAST REPAIR DAMAGE
FROM HEAVIEST STORM
Those at Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills Back
in Operation; Three Others BusiIy At Work
and Hope to Be Back in Business Within
Weeks; Fishermen Getting Break

SITclCH Vi SdIiu, lIle SOUNDS OF
the saw and the hammer are be-
ing heard. Various sources fig
ured the repair job as 80 per
cent complete, though any fig
ure would be largely quesswork.
There is good news for fisher
men in the fact that all five of
the fishing piers along the Nags
Head Banks from Kitty Hawk
to Whalebone will be back in
opeation before the season is far
advanced.
The Kitty Hawk Fishing Pier
was the first to get back in busi-
ness. 1t had $4,000 to $4,000
damage, and this had been re-
paired by Easter.
Fishing Improved
The Avalon Fishing Pier at
Kill Devil Hills was back in
operation May 1, despite the
fact that about 125 feet had
been torn off the ocean end. All
has been rebuilt, and the park
ing lot repaired. Actually, fish
ing off this pier was improved
by the storm, according to P. l..
Powell, owner and operator.
This was due to the fact that
a deep channel was cut there.
Large sea mullets and plenty of
large bluefish are being caught
there, Powell said.
The Nags Head Fishing Pier,
also damaged badly, probably
will be open again by July a,
according to David Mizelle,
manager. This pier is being ex-
tended 100 feet farther to sea,
and will have a "T'' at the end
for the benefit of fishermen, the
only one along the beach with
this feature, he said.
The Nags Head pier had a
physical inventory loss of $62,-
900 from the series of tidal
waves that swept the beach
March 7-S, Mizelle said, ex-
planning that this figure was
arrived at on the basis of costs
Is years ago. Replacement costs
will run much higher, he added.
New Construction
Jennette's Fishing Pier and
Motor Court at the south end of
the Nags Head Beach, is not
only undergoing extensive re-
pairs, but much new construc-
tion also is under way. Work on
the pier should be completed
within Is working days, Warren
H. Jennette Jr., owner and
operator, said Monday.
Already, fishermen are being
permitted to use the pier, free
of charge, with the condition
that they are not to get in the
way of workmen restoring it.
Motel rooms are open now at
Jennette's Motor Court, though
general repairs to the property
are still in progress. Also, Jen-
nette is building nine luxury
cottages which he said will be
open within a week. These feat
ure handsome mahogany panel
ing and the latest in air condi-
tioning and heating equipment.
Pier Heightened
Work is under way also at
the Seaport Fishing Pier, farth-
est south of all along this
stretch of the Banks. Fisher
men are using it free of charge
while repairs are being made. A.
E. "Red" Mitchell, owner and
operator, hopes to have it ready
for business within a few weeks
He is lengthening the pier to
$50 feet. Also, the Seaport Pier
expects to reopen its tackle
shop within two or three weeks.
Fishing piers at Chicamacom-
leo and Frisco, on the Hatteras
Banks south of Oregon Inlet,
already are reported back in
operation. The fury of the storm
apparently was much less there
than to the north, although a
new inlet was cut across the
Banks north of Buxton. This is
crossed now by a temporary
wooden bridge while contro-
versy RACES as whether it is bet
ter to close the inlet or buttress
it to keep it open.
Having learned a costly les
son, many owners of cottages
along the Banks are jacking
them up to permit free flow of
the water under them in the
event another similar storm
hits the area. Many also are re
pairing or rebuilding cottages
ravaged by the Ash Wednesday
blow, and are repairing or re-
placing concete driveways and
parking areas that in many in
stances were damaged heavily,
All in all, business interests
See PIERS Page Six