446 



MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



TABLE 32 



* Census estimate of civilian population in 1945 is approximately the same as total population 

 enumerated in 1940. 



The natural characteristics of the region which are favorable to seafoods 

 are as follows: of the States making up the region (North Carolina, Ten- 

 nessee, South Carolina, and Georgia), three are coastal; all have excellent 

 roads reaching every potential market place; the median age of the people 

 is the youngest in the country and therefore they consume more protein 

 and their habits should be more readily changeable than they are in most 

 other parts of the country. Disfavoring the market for fish are the following 

 factors: the very large per cent rural (places of less than 2,500 people) 

 population; of all the States the lowest percentage of foreign born and mixed 

 parentage (less than one per cent), and of religious groups which require 

 or restrict fish in the dieta'-y (Catholics, Jews, each less than one per cent 

 in all four states) ; the mild climate and long, hot summers. 



When examined in the light of national figures, it is seen that Virginia 

 produces about three times as much fish per capita of her own population 

 as the national average production of the national population (around 22 

 pounds), and allowing for the somewhat higher than average consumption 

 that is expected of a coastal State, Virginia still finds it necessary to export 

 a large part of her production. North Carolina production per capita of her 

 own population is one-half to three-fourths of the national average, South 

 Carolina and Georgia around a fifth and a fourth, respectively, and Tennes- 

 see, none (except a small amount of fresh water fish). If the four States, 

 North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia (three of them 

 coastal) consumed an amount equal to national average per capita, they 

 would require two or three times their present combined commercial pro- 



