THE WATERS OF NORTH CAROLINA. O 



Inlet and contained marine fishes, but since that time it has had no direct con- 

 nections with the sea and is now inhabited by anadromous and fresh-water 

 species. Black bass and white perch are very abundant, and striped bass and 

 alewives enter it in large numbers. The region is visited by enormous flocks of 

 water fowl, and is one of the most noted hunting resorts on the Atlantic coast. 



Albemarle Sound is said to be the- largest coastal body of fresh water in the 

 world. Its extreme length from east to west is 60 miles and its maximum breadth 

 is 15 miles, the average being 6 to 8 miles; its area is about 450 square miles. The 

 water is normally quite fresh, but in dry weather it may become brackish or salt, 

 especially at its eastern end. Formerly there was direct communication with the 

 sea. The bottom is level, the depth is quite uniform, and strong tides or currents 

 do not exist. Eight rivers enter the sound, 4 on the north, 2 on the west, and 2 

 on the south. The Roanoke and Chowan, which flow into the extreme western 

 end, are among the largest in the state; the others — the North, Pasquotank, 

 Little, and Perquimans on the north, and the Scuppernong and Alligator on the 

 south — are short, wide streams draining extensive low or swampy districts, the 

 most important of these the celebrated Dismal Swamp, which lies partly in North 

 Carolina and partly in Virginia. The sound, with its tributaries, is an exceed- 

 ingly important spawning ground for shad, alewives, striped bass, and ether 

 migratory fishes, and also contains many other valuable species. Its fishery 

 resources exceed those of any of the other sounds, and this fact, together with the 

 facility with which all kinds of nets may be set and operated, makes its fisheries 

 of great importance. 



Poanoke and Croatan sounds extend from the southern part of the eastern 

 end of Albemarle Sound to Pamlico Sound, are parallel with the coast, and are 

 separated by Roanoke Island. Roanoke Sound lies next to the ocean, is 8 miles 

 long and 1.5 to 2 miles wide, and is quite shallow except in a narrow channel 

 skirting the island. Croatan Sound has the same length as Roanoke Sound, but 

 is 2 to 4 miles wide and much deeper; most of the drainage from Albemarle 

 Sound passes through it. The combined area of these two sounds is about 75 

 miles. These waters abound with anadromous and salt-water fishes, and sup- 

 port valuable fisheries; and they are of special interest because they are the 

 routes by which all fish bound into and out of Albemarle Sound must pass. 



Pamlico Sound is an imposing body of water, and, next to Long Island, is 

 the largest sound on the Atlantic coast of the United States. Its length is 75 

 miles and its width from 10 to 30 miles, the area being about 1,860 square miles. 

 The general depth is 15 to 20 feet. The waters of Currituck, Albemarle, Croatan, 

 and Roanoke sounds discharge into it, and on the south Core Sound commu- 

 nicates with it. The long narrow strip of desolate sand with sparse vegetation 

 which separates the sound from the sea is broken by Oregon, New, Loggerhead, 

 Hatteras, and Ocracoke inlets. Two important rivers, the Pamlico and the 

 Neuse, flow into the sound from the west, their mouths being broad estuaries; 

 while several short, wide streams — the Pungo and Bay rivers — also enter the 

 western part of the sound. 



